• Sustainability Part 1: Designing for the New Climate Reality

    In this first of a three-part series on sustainability, we assess where the A&D industry is in the fight against climate change and how we can accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality.
    Jan. 4, 2023
    3 min read
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    We are kicking off the new year with a three-part series on sustainability and design, in which we explore a variety of topics ranging from how to design for the new climate reality we’re facing to the most current tools and resources that architects and designers can use to reduce the carbon footprints of their projects, and wrapping up by focusing on sustainability higher education and how a number of universities are making commitments to curbing the climate crisis on a global scale. In this episode, Chief Content Director Robert Nieminen sits down with Jay Valgora, principal and founder of STUDIO V, and Jonce Walker, global director of sustainability and wellness at HLW, for a lively conversation in which they shared their passion for and perspectives on how to design for the new climate reality. 

    Meet Our Guests

    Jay Valgora, principal and founder, STUDIO V 

    Jay Valgora Head Shot
    Jay Valgora, FAIA, AICP, WEDG, is founder and principal of STUDIO V, where his designs combine architecture, urban design, public spaces, and interiors. Jay leads the Studio’s initiatives to reinvent the 21st-century city, reconnecting innovative architecture and urbanism. His designs focus on the edges and gaps of cities—industrial and contaminated sites, former infrastructure, historic artifacts, and the potential of waterfronts to address climate change and reconnect communities.

    Jay was born in Buffalo where the abandoned grain elevators and the industrial waterfront where his father worked inspired him to become an architect. He is a graduate of Harvard and Cornell Universities and a Fulbright Fellow. Jay was appointed to NYC’s Waterfront Management Advisory Board, advised on the NYC’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, headed the New York AIA Waterfront Initiative, and sits on the advisory board of the Urban Land Institute. He has lived in multiple cities and has never owned a car. 

     Jonce Walker, global director of sustainability and wellness, HLW

    Jonce Walker
    Jonce Walker, LEED AP, CSBA, Fitwel Ambassador, is the global director of sustainability and wellness at HLW where he oversees the coordination of a holistic, integrated design process –– from managing BEYOND, HLW's in-house sustainability, resilience, and building performance consultancy, to reinforcing the firm's pledge to the AIA 2030 Commitment, which advocates for carbon-neutral construction in the next 10 years. Utilizing nearly two decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, Jonce is responsible for weaving sustainability into each stage of design, working to transcend project goals to maximize value for clients, repair ecology, reduce carbon, and improve end-user health and wellness.

    About the Author

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    Robert Nieminen

    Chief Content Director

    Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources

    Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.

    He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.

    Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.

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