Monthly Chapter Meetings
The monthly luncheon meeting of the Chapter features presentations of interest to the architectural profession.
April 2025 Chapter Meeting
Thursday April 10, 2025
11:45 am to 1:15 pm
Restaurant Julia
La Posada de Santa Fe
330 E Palace Avenue
Meeting Sponsor
Sustainable Design Strategies
in Public Architecture:
Insights from the Obama Presidential Center
1.0 LU/HSW (pending)
Course Summary:
This course will feature the sustainable design strategies in the development of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Participants will examine strategies for improving indoor air quality through natural ventilation, utilizing courtyards for daylighting, and integrating buildings with natural landscapes to promote environmental and cultural sustainability.
The course will also highlight the benefits of incorporating productive gardens for community engagement and selecting natural materials for durability and aesthetic value. By analyzing real-world applications of these strategies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how sustainable design can create healthier, more resilient, and more socially responsible spaces. This course will address key factors that contribute to occupant well-being, energy efficiency, and long-term sustainability in architectural practice.
Presenter:
Evan Ripley AIA is an accomplished architect who has built an extensive career leading significant architectural projects that blend innovation, sustainability, and cultural impact.
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Evan began his career in New York, working at firms such as Ennead (formerly Polshek Partnership), where he contributed to the renovation of the American Museum of Natural History, and Samuel Anderson Architects, where he played a key role in restoring a historic brownstone at the Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum.
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In 2002 Evan began working with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. He played a leading role in the design and execution of several landmark projects, including Skirkanich Hall at the University of Pennsylvania, the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, and the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. His expertise in master planning and competition-winning designs is exemplified by his leadership on the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago and the Columbus Museum of Art expansion.
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Now based in Santa Fe, NM, Evan is bringing his passion to local projects, including a new building for the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of New Mexico with Billie Tsien. Evan also teaches Architectural Design Studio at the University of New Mexico and mentors high school students through UNM S+P Architecture + Design’s Summer Academy Program.
Additionally, he serves on the Santa Fe Water Conservation Committee, applying his architectural insight to local sustainability initiatives. As a registered architect in New York and New Mexico, Evan remains dedicated to designing thoughtful, enduring, and environmentally responsive spaces.