Speakers

Laura is committed to sustainability and educating teams on how design plays such a crucial role in our industry’s contributions to climate change.   During her tenure at NORR, Laura has moved from Project Manager to Studio Manager and Senior Associate, to Senior Designer, Sustainability and has worked on hundreds of projects across multiple sectors.  She represents the U.S. on the firm’s Global Sustainability Committee where NORR maps out strategies for their commitments to AIA 2030, SE2050, and most recently, MEP 2040.   Laura has been actively involved with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in both Michigan and the East North Central Region for over 13 years.  She is past chair of the USGBC Detroit Region’s Market Leadership Advisory Board and has served as a member of its Executive Committee.  She was the founder and chair of the USGBC Midwest Student Design Competition which was designed to encourage students in higher education to learn about LEED and experience how it can help transform our built environment.   After five years, the competition is set to become a national competition in coordination with USGBC National. 

Laura earned her master’s degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University and was honored as a Distinguished Architecture Alumni in 2022.  She received the 2017 USGBC Detroit & Detroit 2030 District Outstanding Leadership in Sustainability Award and the 2021 USGBC Detroit Volunteer of the Year Award.  She has taught architecture and construction courses at both Lawrence Technological University and Eastern Michigan University.  Laura is on the Sustainability Steering Committee for her alma mater, assisting the university in creating and implementing a sustainability plan and pursuing recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.