Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C is the principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, recognized as one of Chicago’s premier green and sustainable architectural practices. Mr. Kipnis received his Master of Architecture with an emphasis in Energy Conscious Design from Arizona State University in 1985 and his undergraduate Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1983.

Mr. Kipnis currently serves on the National AIA’s 2030 Commitment Working Group to represent the small practice area and to help encourage smaller firms to join the 2030 Commitment. Additionally, Mr. Kipnis was enlisted early on in the formation of the Chicago 2030 Commitment Working Group Committee to assist with the development of the 2030 Reporting Tool. He helps promote the benefits of the 2030 Commitment though various outreach methods including extensive lectures and webinars.

Mr. Kipnis also lectures frequently on topics related to sustainable design, historically derived climatically based architectural design, and renewable energy. He has been an invited speaker at numerous professional and academic venues and his opinions and projects have been extensively sought for publication both locally and nationally. Additionally, through his work with Citizens' Greener Evanston, Mr. Kipnis was instrumental in developing the concept of the Evanston offshore wind park. Furthermore, Mr. Kipnis has consulted with the Cambridge based nonprofit Civil Society Institute where he helped craft the American Clean Energy Agenda (ACEA), whose goal is to promote a renewable energy future that goes beyond “business as usual”.

Jessica’s career has delved into every phase of design and construction, and led to her current role as Technical Director at DMAC where she leads construction documentation, administration, and specification writing across all project types, sizes, and programs. Her enthusiasm for design detailing is only rivaled by her investment in code knowledge and constructability. Jessica is passionate about building performance and building science. She is the past Chair of the Leadership Group for the National AIA Building Performance Knowledge Community. In addition, she serves on the National AIA Codes and Standards Committee, as Chair of the Chicago Chapter of the Building Enclosure Council, and as Chair of the Education Committee for the Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council. She lives in a 100-year-old house in Evanston, IL with her husband, three kids, and two dogs.

Paola Capo is Senior Manager of Climate Action and Resilient Communities for AIA. She strives to provide architects and communities with the resources they need to create healthier, more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environments. In her current role, she divides her time between managing the Disaster Assistance Program (assisting architects and AIA chapters before and after disaster events occur) and supporting Communities by Design, a program of the Architects Foundation that matches communities with interdisciplinary expertise to achieve community aspirations. In her time at AIA, Paola has supported several other portfolios related to sustainability and climate action including the 2030 Commitment program, the Materials Pledge, and the Committee on the Environment with a focus on capacity-building for architects, firms, and chapters.

Paola is currently pursuing a Masters in Emergency Management from Tulane University. In 2020, she completed IAP2’s Foundations in Public Participation Program, and in 2019 she participated in UC Berkeley’s [IN]City program to expand on her knowledge in urban design. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a degree in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, concentrating in Energy and the Environment.