Lucia’s Bio
Recognized in 2004 by the Sustainable Industries Journal as one of the 25 most influential people in Green Building in the Northwest, Lucia Athens is a licensed Landscape Architect with over twenty years of experience integrating innovative, cost effective solutions for public and private clients. Lucia led the development of the City of Seattle’s award-winning green building program. Seattle has been a recognized leader in implementing LEED™ since 2000 when they adopted the first public policy of its kind in the nation, which guides over 40 projects targeted at Silver LEED, 14 of which are already certified. Lucia also served on the initial development team for the City of Austin Green Builder program, the first such program in the US.
She previously served on the National Board of Directors of the US Green Building Council, and currently serves on the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) Board. During the development of LEED Version 2 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design sustainable design rating tool), Lucia chaired the LEED Technical Committee on Site and Water Issues.
Previously Lucia was Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia. She has worked on sustainable design projects with various NGO’s, including the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, Rocky Mountain Institute, and US Global Green. Ms. Athens holds an undergraduate Landscape Architecture degree from Texas A&M University and a graduate Architectural Studies degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Today, Lucia is with CollinsWoerman, a Seattle Architecture and Planning firm, as Senior Sustainable Futures Strategist. Her skills in green strategy and policy development, whole systems thinking, green building tools and effective design process, ensure sustainable solutions that balance client needs with unique ecological, economic, and community contexts.
Lucia may be contacted at Lucia@LuciaAthens.com
