The post Kathryn Schlesinger joins evolveEA appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>We’re excited to welcome Kathryn Schlesinger to the team.
Kathryn is a Project Manager in evolveEA’s Mobility Studio and brings a people-first, data-driven approach to mobility, land use, and infrastructure planning, informed by more than a decade of public and private sector experience across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
The post Kathryn Schlesinger joins evolveEA appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>Regenerative Design is being defined and promoted by the American Institute of Architects, with usable guidance available later this year. These concepts are timely in our need to address weather extremes, resiliency, and create low impact environments.
The use of this process adds triple bottom line value to our projects and adds value to our services as an industry.
If we’re serious about 2030, we have to design systems that evolve and improve—not just buildings that check a box on day one.
Climate science is clear and the built environment is a major contributor to emissions. At the same time, we’re seeing the social impacts of inequity, disinvestment, and environmental injustice. Regenerative design addresses both—it’s a more complete response to the challenges we’re facing.
Regenerative Design creates a paradigm where design decisions are considered in their larger community and ecological contexts using five principles:
Buildings don’t exist in isolation. They’re connected to ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities. Regenerative design looks at those relationships—how water moves through a site, how energy is generated and used, how people interact with space. When you understand those connections, you can design solutions that create multiple benefits at once. That means engaging communities early, understanding local needs, and designing in a way that creates opportunity—whether that’s better health outcomes, access to resources, or economic resilience.
The act of designing responsibly requires an understanding of the larger scale and time-
bound impacts of design decisions. This paradigm enables us to shift our thinking to:
Further, this working definition of Regenerative Design works well with the Framework for Design Excellence and provides guidance in resiliency planning.
Regenerative Design is not a trend. It is a shift in mindset. As our communities face increasing environmental, social, and economic pressures, the opportunity before us is no longer simply to sustain what exists, but to design systems that actively restore, reconnect, and regenerate. The question is no longer how do we minimize harm — it’s how much good can design do?
The post The Rise of Regenerative Design :: A Positive Force For Change appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post Building Performance Analyst appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>evolve environment :: architecture (evolveEA) is a mission-driven design, planning, and sustainability firm working at the intersection of infrastructure, community, and environment. As a carbon-neutral, woman-owned (WBE) practice and certified B Corp and Just organization, we integrate equity, resilience, and systems thinking into projects ranging from urban design and mobility planning to infrastructure, policy, and implementation.
We are a small, collaborative practice. Our staff work across disciplines, scales, and phases, and we value team members who are adaptable, curious, and comfortable wearing multiple hats as project needs evolve.
evolveEA is responding to an increased and sustained demand and interest in sustainability services.
We seek a Building Performance Analyst to join our multidisciplinary team to support and manage securing green building certifications, as well as participate in sustainability strategy for buildings, organizations, campuses and communities. We are looking for a motivated, proactive, and detail oriented team member who understands the ins and outs of green building design, construction and operations. This position is an opportunity to shape green buildings and sustainability consulting projects that are socially equitable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.
The Building Performance Analyst is responsible for helping determine appropriate sustainability goals for building inception, design, construction and operations; managing green building projects seeking certification under rating systems, particularly USGBC LEED, but also with exposure to Living Building Challenge, WELL, WELL Health Safety Rating, Net Zero and Energy Star certifications. The position will use evolveEA’s body of successfully submitted and certified projects as a resource and will work with our ongoing district planning and sustainability work. The individual will report to the Principal level and must be a quick learner, collaborative, and have strong quantitative skills.
The nationally recognized Building Performance Studio strives to shift practices in project expectations and delivery towards low carbon and healthy environments. We work with organizations who are expanding the definition of best practices and who welcome innovative goals and approaches. Our BPS is the Pittsburgh Region’s foremost green building and sustainability consultancy. We have managed the successful certifications of over one hundred LEED projects, including a diversity of clients with increasing geographic diversity. For more information about the BPS, please visit https://evolveea.com/work/building-green/.
In the first year, success in this role means:
If you are interested in this opportunity please complete our employment application below. A work sample or portfolio submission is required for this position.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The position will be filled once a suitable candidate is selected. An interview will be required. This position has an anticipated start date of Spring 2026.
evolveEA reserves the right to remove or modify this position in order to reflect our strategic needs and personnel strengths.
The post Building Performance Analyst appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post 2026 Summer Internship :: Building Performance, Climate + Sustainability appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>evolve environment::architecture (evolveEA) is a mission-driven design, planning, and sustainability firm working at the intersection of infrastructure, community, and environment. As a carbon-neutral, woman-owned (WBE) practice and certified B Corp and Just organization, we integrate equity, resilience, and systems thinking into projects ranging from urban design and mobility planning to infrastructure, policy, and implementation.
We are a small, collaborative practice. Our staff work across disciplines, scales, and phases, and we value team members who are adaptable, curious, and comfortable wearing multiple hats as project needs evolve. For more information about our firm, please visit www.evolveEA.com.
evolveEA is seeking a summer intern who can join our multidisciplinary team to support our Building Performance Studio (BPS) and Climate & Sustainability Studio (CSS). We are looking for a motivated problem solver with strong organizational skills, who will work on projects at the building scale up to the community, county, and state scales. This 3-4 month position is an opportunity to participate in projects that reshape the places where we live, work, and play to be socially equitable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.
The nationally recognized Building Performance Studio strives to shift practices in project expectations and delivery towards low carbon and healthy environments. We work with organizations who are expanding the definition of best practices and who welcome innovative goals and approaches. Our BPS is the Pittsburgh Region’s foremost green building and sustainability consultancy. We have managed the successful certifications of over one hundred LEED projects, including a diversity of clients with increasing geographic diversity. For more information about the BPS, please visit https://evolveea.com/work/building-green/.
The Climate & Sustainability Studio accelerates the transition to a low carbon and resilient future that is people-centered and reflects the uniqueness of place. We empower communities and organizations through catalytic planning, authentic engagement, and a strategic focus on implementation. We manage climate action plans, resilience plans, and sustainability projects from the building scale to the state scale. Our work is rooted in community and stakeholder engagement that meets people where they are and invites them to have a seat at the decision-making table. For more information about the CSS, please visit https://evolveea.com/climate-and-sustainability/
The BPS & CSS intern will split their time between both studios, with the exact percentage to be determined based on project needs. The intern will collaborate with both studios to establish an internship theme that will guide up to 15% of the intern’s efforts at evolveEA. Themes should reflect the intern’s interests or desired area of future study, as well as firm needs. Themes could include materials, health and wellness, energy performance, or other considerations.
As an intern you will support the CSS and BPS teams by completing discrete tasks under the guidance of the BPS Studio Lead and CSS Studio Lead. Interns are typically exposed to a variety of efforts and support on multiple projects. The applicant should be able to support or lead the following tasks with minimal assistance or supervision, as listed below:
During the 3-4 month internship, success in this role means:
If you are interested in this opportunity please complete our employment application below.
A work sample or portfolio submission is required for this position
Our Process:
The internship has an anticipated start date of May 19, 2026. The position will be filled once a suitable candidate is selected. An interview will be required. evolveEA reserves the right to remove or modify this position in order to reflect our strategic needs and personnel strengths.
Intern positions are not benefits eligible. We are seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds.
The post 2026 Summer Internship :: Building Performance, Climate + Sustainability appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post 2026 Summer Internship :: Design + Planning appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>evolve environment::architecture (evolveEA) is a mission-driven design, planning, and sustainability firm working at the intersection of infrastructure, community, and environment. As a carbon-neutral, woman-owned (WBE) practice and certified B Corp and Just organization, we integrate equity, resilience, and systems thinking into projects ranging from urban design and mobility planning to infrastructure, policy, and implementation.
We are a small, collaborative practice. Our staff work across disciplines, scales, and phases, and we value team members who are adaptable, curious, and comfortable wearing multiple hats as project needs evolve. For more information about our firm, please visit www.evolveEA.com.
evolveEA is seeking a summer intern to provide design and research support on architecture, landscape, urban design and community planning projects. This role is well suited for current students who are motivated problem solvers with strong visualization skills. This position requires someone who can:
evolveEA is seeking a summer intern who can join our multidisciplinary team to support our Architecture and Landscape Architecture Studio (ALA) and Planning Studio (PLAN). We are looking for a motivated problem solver with strong organizational skills, who will work on projects at the building scale up to the community, and county scales. This 3-4 month position is an opportunity to participate in projects that reshape the places where we live, work, and play to be socially equitable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.
Our nationally recognized studios have made huge contributions in how the profession approaches the design and planning of resilient communities at multiple scales. We create compelling and thought provoking landscapes, buildings, experiences, and objects to reexamine our relationship to our environment. We enable communities to create more livable places, systems and economies by addressing the ecological, social and economic issues. Our work includes commercial & residential architecture, urban design & placemaking, ecodistrict planning and living city planning, human factors concept & design, and community/user engagement.
For more information on our work, please visit www.evolveea.com/work/placemaking/.
Your time may be split between both studios, with the exact percentage to be determined based on project needs and candidate skillset. As an intern you will support the project team by completing discrete tasks under the guidance of a Senior Project Architect or Senior Project Manager. Interns will typically focus on 1 or 2 major projects and may be called into a variety of efforts depending on project phase and firm workload over the summer. The applicant should be able to support or lead the following tasks with minimal assistance or supervision, as listed below:
Support the design of architectural, landscape, and/or urban design projects,including participation in collaborative design efforts and workshops
This role requires a blend of design skills, analytical thinking, and project coordination. Successful candidates will bring most of the following experience and capabilities.
A successful 2026 Designer/Analyst Intern will have made a meaningful contribution to evolveEA’s mission and projects over their 3-4 month tenure. Success will be demonstrated by:
If you are interested in this opportunity please complete our employment application below.
A work sample or portfolio submission is required for this position.
Our Process:
The internship has an anticipated start date of May 19, 2026. The position will be filled once a suitable candidate is selected. An interview will be required. evolveEA reserves the right to remove or modify this position in order to reflect our strategic needs and personnel strengths.
Intern positions are not benefits eligible. We are seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds.
The post 2026 Summer Internship :: Design + Planning appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>Recently, I sat down with Anna Rosenblum, evolveEA’s Climate + Sustainability Studio Lead, to talk about her path to this work and how communities are reducing their carbon footprint and preparing for the impacts of climate change.
Q: What first drew you to this line of work?
AR: While it might sound cliche, LEGO building blocks and Frank Lloyd Wright. I was fascinated by how things were built, and Wright’s emphasis on harmony between buildings and their environment stuck with me. An interest in designing green buildings led me to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master’s in Sustainable Design at Carnegie Mellon.
Q: How did you find your way to evolveEA?
AR: A third-year studio led by Christine Mondor turned into a summer internship in 2012 that completely shifted my perspective. I worked on the Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot 1.0 Plan that summer, focusing on the energy chapter, and saw firsthand the power of grassroots action and community collaboration. That experience showed me how much greater the impact can be at the community scale. I joined evolveEA fulltime in 2014, and the Climate + Sustainability Studio launched a decade later as the culmination of much of our community scale sustainability work.
Q: What is the focus of the Climate + Sustainability Studio today?
AR: The Studio exists to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, resilient future that’s people-centered and grounded in place. We turn climate ambition into action through catalytic planning, authentic engagement, and a strong focus on implementation. We don’t produce plans that sit on shelves; our recommendations are shaped by the realities of implementation (capacity, funding, and decision-making structures) so clients can act immediately. Our work in Solebury Township is a great example of this – it’s focused on moving from planning to action by understanding the realities of implementation. We draw on expertise from across evolveEA, from building performance and urban systems analysis to mobility, landscape, and community identity. We bring these perspectives together to address climate action and resilience as two sides of the same coin.
Q: “Climate” and “sustainability” can mean different things to different people. How do you approach that?
AR: We lead with shared values, not politics or jargon. Healthy communities, affordable energy, good jobs, and reducing flooding risk resonate with everyone. Our work with the Etna EcoDistrict started by understanding what sustainability means to the community, what their values are, and what their vision for the future is. Over the course of a two-year education and planning process we distilled a set of common goals and actions that reduce the community’s carbon footprint while improving quality of life. This led to a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and the distinguished designation as the world’s first certified EcoDistrict. Establishing shared values and community-specific definitions made that possible.
Q: What role do communities play as federal support for climate action fluctuates?
AR: A pivotal one. Communities, municipalities, and counties are stepping up in absence of federal leadership. Working at this scale allows us to create meaningful plans that are rooted in the uniqueness of place and meaningfully reflect community values. What excites me most is using climate action to advance broader quality-of-life goals, such as housing affordability and job creation. This is demonstrated in our work on the Allegheny County Climate Action Plan, which is focused on improving quality of life and providing local benefits, while also reducing the county’s carbon footprint. Working at the community-level allows you to understand what is needed on-the-ground to actually implement these actions.
Q: What tangible benefits come from taking climate action with evolveEA?
AR: We know a one-size-fits all approach is not the solution. Solutions for stormwater management in Chemung County, NY are not going to be the same as solutions in Forest Hills, PA. Our Climate & Sustainability Studio creates plans that reflect the unique identities, opportunities, and challenges of each place. We translate technical data into actionable information that can inform decision-making and build knowledge and capacity. We treat the communities we work in as true partners, not only developing compelling plans, but empowering communities to activate them. Last, but most importantly, is that at evolveEA we care deeply about the success of this work and we reflect our firm values (design-forward, centering equity, and net-zero) in all that we do.
Together, we can transform aspiration into meaningful impact, fostering a healthier, more equitable future for people and the planet. To learn more about the work Anna and her team are doing, click here.
The post Climate + Sustainability: How Shared Values Are Shaping a Low-Carbon Future appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post Marc Mondor Elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>
Join us in congratulating evolveEA Principal and CoFounder Marc Mondor, FAIA, LEED Fellow for his recent elevation to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Marc is one of 66 recipients to be elevated, one of only six from the “Led the Institute,” Object and one of three from Pennsylvania. The fellowship program was developed to recognize architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made significant contributions to the profession and society on a national level. Fellows are selected by a 9-member jury.
“I’m happy to celebrate Mr. Mondor’s well deserved elevation to AIA Fellowship. Marc uses architecture as a platform for climate action, sustainability and equity in the profession and has built his practice (evolveEA) around these principles. Those values have motivated his AIA leadership through the relentless pursuit of strategies to help our profession tackle the most critical issues of our generation.”
William Bates, FAIA,
2019 National President : American Institute of Architects
Marc is recognized for his sustained leadership on advancing collaboration across the building industry and the architectural profession through his firm’s work and his extensive volunteer work. Through his service with professional organizations and cross-sector initiatives, he has strengthened connections among practitioners, policymakers, and allied disciplines—aligning design, performance, and sustainability goals at regional, state, and national levels. He is responsible for teaching thousands of people, the passing of meaningful legislation, successful AIA national resolutions, over one hundred building certifications, and contributing to three state climate action plans.
As President of AIA Pennsylvania in 2020, Marc established the thriving COTE (Committee On the Environment) and EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) committees. He currently represents Pennsylvania on the AIA Strategic Council, chairs the Communications Committee, and serves on the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee demonstrating sustained, cooperative leadership with measurable impact on both the Institute and the broader profession.
The post Marc Mondor Elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post Solebury Energy Implementation Plan appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>Solebury Township adopted the Ready for 100 goal, committing to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2035 for electricity and 2050 for transportation and heat. After developing an Energy Transition Plan (ETP), the Township needed guidance to move from planning to action.
evolveEA guided an Energy Transition Committee through a scenario planning exercise that evaluated internal and external driving forces to identify strategies resilient to shifting economic and political conditions. The team identified eight strategies that, together, help Solebury Township to achieve its Ready for 100 goal despite these uncertainties.
The resulting implementation guide follows a four-part framework: Reduce, Replace, Renewable, and Ride. Each strategy addresses aspects of the four-part framework and prepares the Township for implementation with detailed short-, mid-, and long-term actions, responsible parties, timelines, and funding sources. All actions contribute toward the Ready for 100 goals while improving quality of life for residents.
A Community Energy Series was established to build interest in the effort, strengthen technical knowledge, and develop community capacity to implement the plan. Residents provided input and volunteered to support implementation.
As the plan was being completed, evolveEA supported the Township in advancing near-term actions, including installing a solar array on the township building, developing resilience hub siting criteria, preparing a sustainable landscape maintenance guide, and integrating active transportation into township planning.
The post Solebury Energy Implementation Plan appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post evolveEA is named an EPiC Firm appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>We’re proud to share that evolveEA has been recognized as an EPiC firm—an honor that celebrates organizations shaping the future of the built environment through Excellence, Performance, Innovation, and Community. To be an EPIC firm means consistently delivering work that is technically rigorous, creatively ambitious, and grounded in purpose. It requires aligning values with action: advancing sustainability and resilience, elevating design quality, investing in people, and engaging deeply with the communities we serve. This recognition affirms evolveEA’s long-standing commitment to thoughtful leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and measurable impact across every project and partnership.
“We are incredibly proud of our team and the culture we’ve built at evolveEA. Being recognized as an EPiC firm affirms our belief that when you lead with values, invest in people, and stay committed to meaningful impact, great things follow. It’s an honor to lead a firm doing work we truly believe in.”
— Marc Mondor, AIA, LEED Fellow
Being named an EPiC firm is especially meaningful because it reflects not just what we do, but how we do it—by leading with integrity, curiosity, and care. It acknowledges the collective effort of a team that believes progress is achieved through listening, learning, and pushing boundaries together. For evolveEA, this honor reinforces our mission to help communities imagine and realize better futures, and it motivates us to keep raising the bar for what the profession can—and should—be.
“Being recognized as an EPiC Firm reflects our commitment to mentorship, professional growth, and cultivating the next generation of design leaders. I’m proud to lead a firm where supporting emerging professionals is part of everything we do.”
— Christine Mondor, FAIA, LEED AP
About the EPiC Firm Recognition:
The EPiC Firm recognition is awarded by the Emerging Professionals Committee (EPiC) of AIA Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). It’s part of AIA Pennsylvania’s annual recognition program that highlights firms showing exceptional commitment to supporting emerging professionals and young architects—assessed through firm culture, mentorship, professional development, licensure support, career advancement, and equity, diversity & inclusion initiatives.
The post evolveEA is named an EPiC Firm appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>The post Highlights from 2025 appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>Want to know what we’ve been up to for the last 12 months? From planning and design to building performance consulting; conference attendance, and presentations check out a collection of media shout-outs and highlights of 2025 in the timeline below!
Build Pittsburgh, AIA Pittsburgh’s annual continuing education conference brings together a community of architects and built industry professionals to engage in institutional learning and networking. Staff of evolveEA participated in four unique panels: LEED V: Impact on Sustainability in Design; Design for Dignity: Housing and Community Development; Building Your Leadership for the Future: How to Become an EPIC Firm; The Rachel Carson EcoVillage.
Firm Principals Christine Mondor, FAIA, LEED AP and Marc Mondor, AIA, LEED FELLOW and Pennsylvania Representative on the AIA Strategic Council, attended the annual forum and convened with practitioners, leaders, and innovators to share ideas, shape policy, explore emerging trends, and strengthen the collective impact of design on communities and the built environment.
evolveEA was on the ground— represented by Christine Mondor, Sarine Sahakian, Valeria Duque-Villegas, and Ashley Cox — joining practitioners from transit agencies, cities, advocates, and industry partners to share lessons and explore tools for equitable, resilient mobility.
Our own Breen Masciotra, AICP, evolveEA’s Mobility Studio leader, facilitated the panel “Not Just Scooting By: Shared Micromobility for Everyone.”
Coming off of our success at the Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal Modernization Program, Project Manager, Grace Cameron, LEED AP headed to Tampa to learn what trends are taking off and shaping the industry’s future.
Principal Christine Mondor, FAIA, LEED AP attended the annual gathering of architects, designers, and technologists focused on “Computing for Resilience,” exploring how computational tools and innovative design can address climate, social, and infrastructural challenges to build more resilient communities.
—
Moving into the new year:
Check out the Ideas section of our site for our latest news and thoughts.
The post Highlights from 2025 appeared first on Evolve EA.
]]>