SESSION four
Adopting the Building Equity Standard: A Case Study of Norman-Sims Elementary School
Nicola Springer, AIA, Partner, Managing Director pK-12 Practice, Kirksey Architecture
Nicola Springer, AIA, LEED AP, is Managing Director of pK-12 Practice at Kirksey Architecture. With over 25 years of educational design experience, Nicola believes that architecture and the process of design should inspire creativity, engage all users, and promote a sustainable, healthy and happy existence. Her educational work has received AIA Houston, and AIA Austin Design Awards, the prestigious TASA/TASB Caudill Award for Texas School Architecture, and most recently a 2024 TxA Design Award. Nicola has spoken professionally on 21st century education as well implementing many of the criteria for the AIA Framework for Excellence at Regional and National Conferences.
Catherine Callaway, AIA, Director of Sustainability and Building Performance, Kirksey Architecture
Catherine advocates for resilient, sustainable, equitable design. Her experience as an architect and community leader enhances Kirksey’s leadership in high-performance design and informs her role as Director of Sustainability and Building Performance. Catherine leads a team of specialists who help integrate sustainable design strategies across Kirksey’s portfolio. Her dedication to green building advocacy and advancing sustainable design in Houston and the industry has garnered multiple awards, including the 2020 National AIA Young Architect Award, 2019 AIA Houston Ben Brewer Award, and the 2019 Texas Society of Architects Honor Award for Young Professional Achievement.
Victoria Lanteigne, PhD, WELL AP, Principal, Research, Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Victoria Lanteigne, Ph.D., Principal, Research, has been working to improve the built environment through equity, inclusive design, and health and wellness for the past 20 years. With a background in public policy, Victoria brings an interdisciplinary lens to building research with the aim of developing industry standards and frameworks for practical application. Victoria is passionate about championing the connection between equity, inclusive design, and building performance and was instrumental in the development of the universal/inclusive design credits in LEEDv4 and WELLv2. Through her research, she recently developed and launched the Building Equity Standard.
Designing the Edge: Lessons from Houston’s Tricentennial Futures
Eric Pratum, Chief Operating Officer, Bigwidesky
With more than 15 years of experience, Eric spearheads Bigwidesky’s digital practice by shaping foresight-driven strategies that help clients imagine and prepare for tomorrow’s brand realities. Focused on coupling data with storytelling, he develops robust models that measure a brand’s influence and demonstrate how future-focused thinking can fuel transformational growth.
Eric arrived in marketing after earning an MA in Germanics from Portland State University and an MBA from Western Washington University. His study of language and systems sparked an early passion for data-driven analysis, eventually leading him to code as a digital implementation specialist. Over the course of his career, Eric moved beyond technical roles to guide cross-functional teams in multi-channel marketing, systems development, and holistic brand strategy, including establishing an online auction system for RunningShoes.com, overseeing e-commerce websites for Hilton, and creating Microsoft’s social media analytics practice.
Before joining Bigwidesky, Eric led digital strategy for a 200-person, 1,600-client agency, honing his ability to forecast market shifts and design brand frameworks that thrive in complex environments. He has been featured as a thought leader and speaker at conferences and organizations like Digital Marketing Agency, Moz, and Full Sail University. Today, Eric channels that expertise into Bigwidesky’s mission: helping visionary brands harness strategic foresight to craft narratives that shape, rather than simply react to, the future.
Bridging Disciplines for a Sustainable Future
Yas Ahmadi, Energy Manager, Harris County, Office of Sustainability
Yas Ahmadi serves as an Energy Manager for Harris County, where she drives initiatives to optimize energy consumption, enhance sustainability, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. She is strongly committed to achieving Harris County’s Climate Action Plan goals, including achieving a 50% reduction in GHG emissions across County buildings in the third most populous County in the US. She brings over seven years of expertise in energy management within commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. Prior to joining Harris County, she contributed to innovative research at the Texas A&M Energy Systems Lab.
Yas holds a master’s degree in Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University, an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. In addition to her professional achievements, Yas is passionate about community engagement and advancing equitable energy solutions.
Pilar Fuentes, Climate Justice Analyst, Harris County Office of Sustainability
Pilar currently serves as a Climate Justice Analyst at the Harris County Office of Sustainability, where she leads stakeholder engagement and conducts research to advance the County’s Climate Justice Plan. Previously, she worked as an Ecological Monitoring Crew Lead for the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico, monitoring resource use and acting as a liaison between the federal government and local communities. A dedicated critical ecologist, Pilar integrates her passion for social justice and environmental stewardship into her work in public service.
