Chrissy Hill Rogers, Principal, Arcturis
Missouri Gateway Green Building Council Member since June 2006
Description of your work in green building: Since joining Arcturis in 2005, I have been an advocate and one of the leaders of our green building initiatives, including helping to form our original Green Team, ongoing participation in the Green Business Challenge, and greening up our own business practices, and more recently to leading the firm to become signatories to the AIA 2030 Commitment. I have also joined the AIA St. Louis Board of Directors to advocate for further integration of the Framework of Excellence into the work coming out of our region.
As Principal of the firm, I am able to lead a wide range of efforts, both strategic and project focused. I believe that the impact of design can be transformative for all people, communities and the planet. I am focused on developing a design culture with an integrated and holistic project approach – resulting in projects with intentional planning, deeper meaning, and lighter footprints.
Recent Green Building recognition:
• STLCC – Emerging Technology Center (tracking LEED Silver)
• STLCC – Financial Services Education Center (tracking LEED Silver)
Sustainability passion:
Sustainable design has been a passion and priority for me since spending a summer in Italy working to rebuild farmhouses with local craftspeople. Their commitment to reusing materials, and to approaching design decisions logically inspires a lot of my thinking today.
More recently, I have re-prioritized my focus on efficient building footprints and working to approach my work with inherent design strategies (orientation, impact of natural light, use of site topography, longevity and impact of material selection) in mind before layering on additional strategies.
Most meaningful experience with MGGBC Chapter:
I previously served as chair of the communications committee and met some of the greatest people that I still admire today. I also helped to bring and host the Greening the Heartland conference to St. Louis during this time – which was an impactful event for the area and opened my eyes to the extensive planning that is needed for these events!
What will most impact the future of green building:
Focus on decarbonization and how to prioritize this in every single project. At Arcturis, we are constantly working on the best way to build measuring and tracking carbon into our project work in a more seamless manner to ensure this is considered and continually reduced in all of our work. More regionally – I would like to see sustainable strategies and technologies embraced at a broader level by developers, contractors and clients to help further our efforts to decarbonize our work.
Favorite LEED (or sustainability) Project:
Impossible to choose! I am very inspired by the outward expression of sustainable strategies as well as the ambition of the Kendeda Building. The interior spaces are bright, warm and appealing – and the direct connection of education spaces to outdoor space has inspired some planning strategies on my projects. It has also opened my eyes to different types of sustainability data to track.
I also find myself constantly drawn to the design for the Amherst New Science Center by Payette. The minimalism in form paired with materiality of both the interior and exterior is stunning, and I love the playful roof line that draws in light.
Favorite place in the St. Louis region or Missouri Gateway GBC territory:
Missouri Botanical Gardens! I have adored this place since I was little and have loved experiencing it with my family through all seasons (both of life, and of the weather!). It seems we have explored every inch of it, and then always manage to find something new.