Join AIA Detroit COTE, USGBC Michigan, Detroit 2030 District, & Wayne State for an exclusive screening of Women of Carbon!

Join AIA Detroit‘s Committee on the Environment (COTE), USGBC Michigan, Detroit 2030, and Wayne State for an exclusive Detroit viewing of Women of Carbon A Documentary Film by Basia + Leonard Myszynski, a film about female leaders driving decarbonization in the Built Environment.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with local leaders. Refreshments provided. Wayne State students get in FREE!

Innovative women are redefining our relationship with carbon by repurposing living materials, reengineering waste into valuable chemicals that clean the climate, and driving decarbonization in our built environment. They share life/work challenges while thriving in male-dominated industries. Their collective wisdom comes together to form a singular belief and purpose to restore, protect and ultimately preserve the planet.

The secret lies in the Earth itself. Told through a feminine lens, the film delves into the minds and spirits of dedicated, driven and dynamic 21st century trailblazers whose work is placing them at the core of decarbonization, human health and economic opportunity.

See the trailer at: https://womenofcarbon.solareye.biz/#about

REGISTER HERE

AGENDA:

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Refreshments & Networking

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Film Screening

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Panel Discussion + Q&A

 

MEET THE PANEL:

Najahyia Chinchilla, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a licensed architect that works closely with her clients and project teams to deliver high-performing sustainable solutions at Gensler.

Najahyia’ s first solar house was for the University of Maryland Solar Decathlon in 2007, launching her into a dedication to sustainable building. She now leads projects across Gensler’s Certification, Analytics and Strategy service areas, with a focus on supporting clients in translating their corporate ESG goals to KPI-driven portfolio-wide design and construction standards.

Her extensive experience, over 17 years, as a licensed architect and design manager, leading teams in multiple scale projects, from interiors, to historic buildings and existing building repositioning, gives her a depth of knowledge to help facilitate multi-disciplined coordination and collaboration. She has an appreciation to how well-being and the environment are impacted at multiple scales, from materials to systems.

Within Gensler Najahyia is a champion for resilient design on all projects and is an office and regional lead to infuse projects with sustainable design, creating and sharing tools with design teams.

Najahyia currently serves on the United States Green Building Council, Michigan’s, Market Leadership Advisory Board. In her spare time, she is chasing her kids around the yard, gardening, or biking.

Andrea Reynolds is a Senior Principal and Director of Structural Engineering at SmithGroup, where she leads innovative design strategies with a focus on sustainability. SmithGroup has signed onto various climate commitments and Andrea is their Embodied Carbon Champion for the SE 2050 through which she is driving industry-wide change toward net-zero structures. A passionate advocate for professional engagement, Andrea is the past president of SEAMi, one of the event’s sponsors, and serves on the ASCE/SEI sustainability committee.

 

Madeline Walker Miller is the Founder and CEO of NexTiles, a Detroit-based textile recycling company that converts textile waste into building insulation feedstock and other eco-friendly products. Her company specializes in diverting waste from landfills and engaging Detroiters in creating circular economy solutions. Her professional background focuses on reducing textile waste and its harmful impacts to our natural environment.

She is an alumna of Spelman College and earned a master’s degree in Coastal Management from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Madeline’s passion lies in empowering young Black people and people of color to embrace environmentally sustainable behaviors. She is a PhD candidate in the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), studying in the Urban Energy Justice Lab.

Miller serves on the boards of the Greenhome Institute and the Ecology Center. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In her spare time, she enjoys family outings and time with her dog, Allie.

Maria Galarza is a registered architect and urban planner. She is a passionate local government professional with a diverse range of experiences. In her role as the Deputy Director of the Office of Sustainability she’s focused on reducing energy consumption and incentivizing building efficiency through the Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance. 

 

 

REGISTER HERE!