Rogers of SWBR earns LEED certification

Nicole Rogers, a design technician at SWBR Architects, has recently received her Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, offered through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This certification recognizes those who have completed the necessary training, education and testing to apply green architecture standards to their designs. Green architecture is a term used to describe economical, energy saving, environmentally friendly, and sustainable development. Sustainable architecture meets the needs of people today without destroying the resources that will be needed in the future. For the designer, this means being aware of the consequences of choosing particular materials, the waste created, the impact on immediate and future environments, and the health of those involved (the manufacturers, suppliers, installers, building occupants), over the life of the facility. "We're thrilled for Nicole and proud of her accomplishment in obtaining her LEED(r) certification. LEED principles are an everyday part of our firm's designs and she truly stands behind what we believe in as a company," said David Beinetti, president of SWBR. "We're strongly committed to training our entire staff in sustainable design and encourage them all to get certification to help us improve on the best practices we have used for years. There are a myriad of benefits to sustainable design including increased environmental quality; economic benefits such as lower operating costs; and health and community benefits including enhanced occupant health and comfort." Rogers earned her B.S. in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University and her masters in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati, where she received an Excellence in Design Award for her graduate thesis project.