The Sustainability Illusion: Why “Green Design” Is Failing People—and What Actually Works – Episode 130 with Jenny Heim
This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Jenny Heim, Sustainable Design Leader at McMillan Pazdan Smith, to explore how truly high-performance buildings emerge at the intersection of environmental responsibility and human well-being.
From her early inspiration shaped by European architecture to leading firm-wide sustainability strategies, Jenny shares how design decisions—especially those made early—can dramatically influence both carbon impact and occupant experience. The conversation dives into embodied carbon, adaptive reuse, and the growing role of mass timber, while highlighting the importance of community-driven design and collaboration across disciplines.
Jenny offers practical insights on aligning client priorities with wellness outcomes, proving that sustainability and human health are not competing goals—but inseparable ones. This episode challenges us to design buildings that people don’t just use—but truly value and preserve.
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More About Jenny Heim
Jenny Heim, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, is a Senior Associate and the Sustainable Design Leader for McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture. Jenny’s role includes serving projects with ambitious design excellence and sustainability goals, assisting clients with feasibility and budgeting, and guiding design teams toward sustainable and regenerative solutions. Her expertise in sustainability and passion for making a positive impact embody the firm’s commitment to design excellence, stewardship, and service.
Jenny has a B.Arch in Architecture from Penn State University and an M.Arch Architecture-Sustainable Design from Texas University at Austin. Jenny loves collaborating with teams and projects in service to clients and communities across the MPS footprint, while leading, developing, and elevating the firm’s Design Excellence and Sustainability goals aligned with the AIA 2030 Commitment and AIA Materials Pledge.
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