Good design serves the people who use it and the environment that sustains it. This belief is deeply rooted in our servant leadership philosophy: listening first and prioritizing the needs of others—placing clients, communities, and the planet at the forefront. In that spirit, we introduce the High Performance Group, a cross-disciplinary team advancing sustainable architecture through practical, high-impact strategies. Their mission is clear: integrate high performance design into every project — for people, for the planet, and for future generations.

A foundation of responsibility

High performance design is a mindset rooted in sustainability and focused on specific, measurable impacts:

• Energy efficiency
• Water quality
• Air quality
• Decarbonization
• Human health indicators

As project architect Veena Reddy explains, high-performance design means making deliberate choices — whether it’s reducing embodied carbon in our materials or restoring natural water cycles on site.

“Design to mitigate the impact of architecture on the climate. High-performance design challenges us to think even more deeply about the impact of every decision and pushes us to do more with less.”

project architect Veena Reddy

Our goal is to weave energy-efficient design strategies into every phase of our process so seamlessly that they become instinctual — simply how we do business at Schmidt Associates.

A cross-disciplinary approach

The High Performance Group represents every discipline within the firm and focuses on three key areas:

• Education — Creating learning opportunities and resources across our studios
• Project review — Identifying opportunities to apply high-performance principles to active and upcoming work
• Research — Exploring decarbonization, water conservation, renewable energy strategies, and the best use of energy modeling technology

By drawing on diverse expertise, the team is making practices like early energy modeling and responsible material selection routine parts of our design workflow.

Changing the narrative

One of the group’s goals is to shift perceptions around sustainable architecture.

“High performance design starts with better data and ends with better outcomes. When we help clients see the full lifecycle cost and energy impacts of their choices, sustainable architecture becomes not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do.”

Bill Gruen, energy services manager

Guided by tools, driven by values

The group uses the AIA’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) workbook — not to check boxes, but to guide client conversations, shape design reviews, and ensure every decision reflects our commitment to stewardship over accolades.

Meet the team

The High Performance Group is embedding sustainability into every detail — from design charrettes to material selection — with a shared passion for lasting, positive impact. Each member brings a unique perspective and a deep sense of responsibility:

• Steve Alspaugh believes sustainable architecture is a natural component of design excellence and is committed to teamwide alignment.
• Kathryn Roche focuses on researching and specifying responsibly produced materials.
• Craig Flandermeyer advocates for doing more with less, promoting biodiversity, and challenging consumerism.
• Andrew Eckrich applies a practical, thoughtful lens to green building practices, emphasizing solutions that are elegant, efficient, and truly usable.
• Meghan Wakefield integrates high performance design into digital design tools, embedding sustainability into every model and document.
• Steve Schaecher sees no divide between environmental design solutions and design excellence — only opportunity.
• Bill Gruen brings decades of expertise in renewable energy and energy-efficient design strategies, helping lead strategic initiatives.
• Veena Reddy champions sustainability’s real-world impact and promotes education as a foundation for informed choices.
• Seth Mathis designs efficient power and lighting systems and stays ahead of evolving technology and trends.

Looking forward

From projects like the Louisville Nature Center to performance audits and benchmarking efforts, the High Performance Group is helping align today’s work with tomorrow’s needs through green building practices that make a measurable difference.

The team is also raising awareness of how everyday design decisions — like HVAC sizing or fixture selection — affect long-term performance. By focusing on these tangible choices, they’re helping shape smarter, more sustainable buildings.

They’re also establishing internal benchmarks to track how those decisions improve energy use, occupant comfort, and cost savings. These measurable outcomes keep us accountable and push us to continuously improve.

We are honored to lead this important work and privileged by the trust our clients place in us. Together, we are designing a future that protects people, strengthens communities, and stewards the planet.

Want to integrate high performance strategies into your next project? Start the conversation.