Steven Winter is the founder and president of Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA), one of the nation's most respected and knowledgeable firms in building science, consulting and research for high-performance, sustainable buildings. Founded in 1972, the company provides services to improve commercial, residential and multifamily built environments for both private and public sector clients. As president of the company, Winter manages the firm's operations and provides strategic planning for research and consulting projects. A staunch advocate of the sustainable building movement, Winter guides his team of architects and engineers in the development of innovative, cost-effective solutions and best practices to achieve efficient, high performance structures.
As a young architect, Winter recognized that the building process, from design and construction methods to the utilization of man-made and natural resources, was inefficient. Today, he remains committed to the same mission he spearheaded when he founded Steven Winter Associates forty years ago: to improve buildings and communities by optimizing their construction and operation, improving their systems and building components, and enhancing the services which they house. Winter has championed this philosophy not only in his company, but throughout the industry, helping to shape the future of sustainable design through his involvement in major industry organizations.
Under Winter's leadership, SWA has made significant contributions to the sustainable building and design industry; in many cases, these contributions have literally altered landscapes. One such example is the organization's 20-year involvement with the federally-funded research program, Building America. Their contributions to this program have improved the way housing in the U.S. is constructed.
SWA has also made major advances in building product innovation through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, for which the company was recently recognized by both Connecticut's governor Dannell Malloy and state senator Richard Blumenthal. Contributions to this area have resulted in the issuance of four patents, including fiber optic day lighting and advanced duct sealing.
Over the past two years, SWA has been appointed to the New York City Greener, Greater Buildings Plan task force, to help form new local laws that have been put into action and are already having a positive impact on energy efficiency citywide. Additionally, following the recent Superstorm Sandy, SWA was appointed by mayor Bloomberg to join the Resiliency Task Force, assembled to implement preventative measures to avoid structural damage due to natural disasters.
Winter's dedication to sustainable design has led to his membership and leadership in several national councils and committees. From 1999 to 2003, Winter served as chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council, leading the organization through a period of rapid growth in its membership and influence, including the launch of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.
Beyond his active involvement in industry organizations, Winter is committed to sharing best practices and building science innovation through teaching and frequent contributions to publications. An expert in program management, green systems and products, energy-efficient housing and the U.S. housing industry, Winter has taken a role in educating the next generation of architects and engineers by teaching at Columbia University and the Pratt Institute. Internally at SWA, he promotes a culture of continued education though the one-on-one mentoring of staff, as well as encouraging employees to devote time to share best practices, research and learn new techniques.
Winter's contributions to sustainable building in the U.S. have added to his prestige nationwide. In 2009, he earned the Evergreen Awards Perspective, and in 2002 was named a "Hero of the Planet" by Builder Magazine for his contributions to green building practices in the U.S. Winter is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and is a licensed architect in 12 states. He received a master of science degree in Architectural Technology from Columbia University and his bachelor of architecture degree from Sydney University in Australia.
In his spare time, Winter is an avid cyclist, having recently completed a bicycle tour across Europe. He also enjoys scuba diving along his native Australian coastline, and is a food and wine enthusiast.

Steven Winter Associates, Inc. provides research, consulting and advisory services to improve commercial, residential and multifamily built environments for private and public sector clients. We specialize in energy, sustainability and accessibility consulting as well as certification, research & development and compliance services. Our engineers and architects have led the way since 1972 in the development of best practices to achieve high performance buildings. As a matter of course, we collaborate with our clients to produce the most cost-effective and innovative solutions. Tags: