Speakers

Arthur Andersson

Andersson / Wise

Arthur Andersson was born in Gillette, WY. He studied architecture at the University of Kansas and The Bartlett, University College London and has taught design at Tulane University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston. He co-founded Moore/Andersson Architects in 1990 with Charles Moore and is currently a principal of Andersson / Wise.

Chris Wise

Andersson / Wise

Chris Wise was born in Lancaster, PA. He studied at the University of Texas in Austin and Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. He worked with Venturi, Rauch, and Scott Brown before becoming a senior Associate in Moore/Andersson Architects. He is currently a principal of Andersson / Wise.

Larry Speck

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Larry Speck received all three of his degrees from M.I.T. where he also served as a faculty member for three years. Since joining the faculty at UT Austin, he has served as Founding Director of the Center for American Architecture and Design, Associate Dean for three years, and Dean for nine years. As an educator, he has received over 40 teaching and service awards including the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion given to one individual in North America each year in recognition of their contribution to excellence in architectural education.

Professor Speck has helped lead six major master planning projects for his home city, Austin, including master plans for a seven-mile stretch of the Colorado River as it moves through downtown Austin, for a 40-block area around the Texas State Capital and for the University of Texas at Austin campus. He has also been the lead architect for two major park projects in Houston—Discovery Green in the heart of downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park just north of downtown. In addition to designing many urban commercial and residential buildings, Professor Speck was also the lead designer for Austin Bergstrom International Airport Terminal (3 phases), Austin Convention Center (2 phases) as well as academic buildings on six university campuses.

His work has been profiled in such popular publications as The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Business Week; in American architectural publications such as Architectural Record, Architecture, Architectural Digest, Architect, Interior Design, Contract, and Progressive Architecture; and in international architectural journals such as The Architectural Review (England), OFX (Italy), Design Community (China), Baumeister (Germany), Projeto (Brazil), Tasarim (Turkey), Ottagano (Italy), Nikkei Construction (Japan) and Architectural Design (England). In the last 25 years, Speck’s design work has won over 120 design awards including more than 30 awards from the American Institute of Architects.

Speck is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and served as chair of the jury to select fellows in 2005. He has also served on the Architectural Advisory Board for the U.S. State Department Overseas Building Operations, as a National Peer Reviewer for the U.S. General Services Administration Design Excellence Program, and on the boards of national environmental groups such as Greenguard Environmental Institute and Air Quality Sciences.

Gail Vittori

Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems

Gail Vittori, LEED Fellow, Co-director of Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, works at the intersection of sustainable design and human health. Ms. Vittori coordinates The Center’s Sustainable Design Program and has been a catalyst for several national initiatives to green the healthcare sector and advance fundamental human health considerations in green building. She was Chair of the U. S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc. board of directors, is a Founding Member and Vice-Chair of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative board and a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Scott Ginder

Forge Craft Architecture + Design

Meet Scott Ginder, Founding Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Forge Craft Architecture + Design. Leveraging wide-ranging expertise in design, building technology and performance, Scott founded Forge Craft with Rommel Sulit to create spaces where people can be happier, healthier, safer, and more connected to one another and to nature. Scott brings a wealth of experience with projects of varying types and scales, leading a team defined by the determination to relentlessly push for design that inspires a new way of thinking about the built environment.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Scott earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Pittsburg and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Before founding Forge Craft, Scott spent 14 years in the office of Dick Clark, designing commercial projects, multifamily developments, custom homes, affordable housing, restaurants and retail spaces.

As CEO at Forge Craft, Scott takes special interest in supporting a work culture and environment that values health, creativity and excellence.

Scott’s approach reflects an equal focus on the art and science of our craft. An athlete at heart, Scott has always found fulfillment in unlocking full potential — a persistence he developed through decades of competitive cycling. He is constantly pushing for design and performance solutions that contribute to whole building health, encouraging our team to explore new territory in pursuit of advancing our craft.

Scott’s passion for design and appreciation of the natural world was largely influenced by his experience growing up in upstate New York, where he learned to live off the land, making maple syrup, harvesting honey, raising chickens, hunting, and foraging. In his continued mission to live in harmony with nature, Scott enjoys cultivating his home garden, which is powered by the family’s compost and rainwater collection system.

In addition to his firm leadership, Scott is actively involved in Austin’s creative community, previously serving as a board member for the Austin Playhouse, an organization for which he has designed a new theatre. His wife, Andrea, is an esteemed actor in the Austin theatre community, and his children, Olivia and Julian, continue to be an inspiration for his work and motivation to enhance the quality of life for all people – now and in the future — through design. In his free time, Scott can be found spending time with his family, sharing his love for nature and the arts.

Erika Bonfanti

Acton Partners

Erika Bonfanti is an Associate Principal with Acton Partners and licensed structural engineer with over 14 years of experience in building enclosure consulting. Her work primarily includes peer review and design for new construction and forensic assessment of existing and historic building problems related to moisture issues and material distress. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.12 and on the Board of Preservation Austin and is passionate about improving enclosure performance at all levels.

Kristof Irwin

Positive Energy

Meet Kristof Irwin, the visionary behind Positive Energy and its journey toward better buildings, passive house, and sustainability. Kristof is the principal of Positive Energy. In that role he works to rethink the way society delivers conditioned space to itself and recognizes the potential of homes and buildings to impact human and planetary thriving.

With a Masters of Science in Electrophysics, Kristof’s expertise extends to the intersection of building science and MEP engineering. Kristof’s background includes 12 years of experience as a custom builder (including deep energy retrofits and zero-net energy projects) and 11 years as a building science consultant. He worked for 14 years as an engineer, research scientist, and physicist for government and university research labs.

As an owner, Kristof sets the tone for Positive Energy’s culture – a blend of kindness, inspiration, and aspiration. He thrives on building long-term, trusting relationships within the AEC industry and beyond. In his role, Kristof advocates for electrification and human health, viewing homes as intricate systems that play a vital role in society. He finds immense joy in witnessing project teams elevate their game, delivering exceptional outcomes that prioritize electrification, health, durability, and resilience.

He is active in the local and national high-performance building community including his role as past Chair of AIA Austin’s Building Enclosure Committee, Advisor to the AIA Austin COTE Committee, as well as several ASHRAE committees – ASHRAE TC-2.1 (Physiology & Human Environment), ASHRAE SSPC-55 (Thermal comfort), ASHRAE SSPC-62.2 (Ventilation/IAQ) – and serves on the Board of Passive House Austin Chapter (PHAUS). Kristof hosts The Building Science Podcast to promote education, advocacy and understanding for the public and within the AEC industry.

The camaraderie among colleagues at Positive Energy resonates deeply with Kristof. The culture of caring for each other as people fuels collaboration and drives the company’s success.

When away from work, Kristof relishes the simple joys of spending time with family, exploring nature, and engaging in water sports like surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and wing foiling. He also enjoys delving into books that expand his horizons, from systems ecology to mindfulness. His favorite quote, “Fill your bowl to the brim, and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife, and it will blunt. Chase after money and security, and your heart will never unclench. Care about people’s approval, and you will be their prisoner. Do you work, then step back. The only path to serenity.” by Lao Tsu, reflects his philosophy of balance and mindfulness.

Kristof’s intriguing quirk lies in his unusual reaction to peaches – the furry skin gives him goosebumps! Yet, it’s this unique blend of expertise and quirks that make him a captivating and impactful leader. With Kristof’s leadership and unwavering commitment to a better, sustainable future, Positive Energy continues to thrive as a beacon of innovation in the building industry.

Eric Rauser

Rauser Construction

Eric began his construction career as a laborer in the early 1990s, while on summer breaks from architecture school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He practiced architecture before returning to construction in 2008. Eric advocates for close coordination between architects and builders, a movement now producing the most successful residential projects in Austin. He is honored to have been elected AIA Austin Chapter President for 2020. Shaping an environment where everyone can do their best work is what drives him. That and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Dionne Darling

The Architect's Newspaper

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As A|N’s Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.

John Penta

GV Facades

John Penta is a VP of Facades Business Development at GV Facades Group. GV Facades is a leading industrial fabricator, and supplier of porcelain façade panels in the USA. John pulls together his porcelain façade technical expertise while facilitating all aspects of project assistance and installation management. He has provided invaluable knowledge for over 33 years to architects and developers by supporting their façade design intent, aesthetics, and façade functionally. His portfolio includes numerous high-rise buildings, and airport façade projects throughout the USA and Canada.

Will Berry

Longboard Architectural Products

Will has lived in Allen, TX since 2014, after living in Louisiana his entire life. He has been in the building materials industry for 7½ years, almost 2 of those have been with Longboard. He enjoys working with architects daily as they design and specify their projects, as well as installers as they bring projects to life. When he’s not chasing his boys around for Club, High School, or soccer he spends what’s left of his time outdoors. You would find him hunting, fishing, or getting prepared for hunting season.

William E. Butler

Pelli Clarke & Partners

AIA, LEED AP

William E. Butler leads design and development for large-scale cultural projects and master planning for higher education campuses and corporate headquarters including Tulane University’s Goldring/Woldenberg Complex and Block 185, Google’s new campus in Austin. A passionate teacher, Bill taught at Yale School of Architecture for fourteen years. He has led of some of the firm’s largest cultural projects, including Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Minneapolis Central Library. Bill holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University.

Brett Bickford

DPR Construction

DPR consistently ranks among the top five commercial office builders in the country with dedicated and experienced teams that know the market, serving global clients by coupling agility with cost and schedule predictability. With over 19 years of experience in project management and commercial construction, Brett is no stranger to steering large-scale successful projects while leading diverse teams with precision and passion. Brett’s career is defined by the ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on execution, ensuring that every project exceeds expectations and result in lasting partnerships.

Benedict Kim

Gensler

Benedict is an experienced Project Architect and Technical Director with a proven track record for delivering quality and effective solutions that maintain project design intent.

Benedict’s responsibilities include full project involvement with deep experience with a wide verity of consultant disciplines. His outstanding technical and communication skills enable him to anticipate and quickly resolve issues, keeping projects within budget and schedule with managing the firm’s risk in an increasingly challenging market. As a former acoustical consultant, he also possesses special knowledge in acoustical design, with insight into sports and entertainment facilities.

Some of Benedict’s notable project work includes the Austin Community College Highland Building and PBS Studio, the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, New York Red Bulls training facility, SXSW headquarters, and the University of Texas at Austin Moody Center.

Mark Waggoner

Walter P Moore

Mark Waggoner is a Senior Principal in Walter P Moore’s Austin Structures Group. He is a leader in the field of long-span roof design and has contributed to the design of more than a dozen long-span roofs for professional sports facilities, including SoFi Stadium. Mark has special expertise in the development of innovative structural systems including kinetic structures and alternative materials as well as delivery of digital design models for downstream manufacturing use. He frequently works with contractors to develop erection plans and design connections for complex structures in collaboration with the firm’s Construction Engineering practice. Mark is licensed as a professional engineer in Texas, California, and Manitoba. Mark is active in a variety of national technical committees including the ASCE/SEI Disproportionate Collapse Standards Committee and the Tensioned Membrane Structures Standard Committee.

Steve Abbring

Permasteelisa Group

Steve Abbring is the Tendering Department Manager for Permasteelisa North America. With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry and approximately 10 years in the facade & glazing industry, Steve comes from a Project Management background. Since first taking on a role within the Tendering Department, Steve has specialized in providing early technical and budgeting advice to architects, contractors and owners during the preconstruction period. Today, Steve and his team are responsible for supporting projects from the early concept phase through contract execution. A Construction Document Technologist, Steve has a wide breadth of experience in different project delivery methods. Steve has a BA in Business from Calvin College and a BS in Construction Management from the University of Minnesota.

Michelle Murray

SAFTI First

Michelle Murray has over 15 years of experience in the architectural glazing industry. As the Architectural Sales Representative at SAFTI FIRST®, she brings her extensive knowledge and expertise of fire rated glazing systems and fenestration in general when working closely with architects, specifiers, glazing contractors and code officials. Michelle is a dynamic presenter and speaker who has been delivering our AIA-registered presentation to various architecture firms, AIA local chapters, CSI local chapters, and at other architectural and glazing industry events.