Our panel will bring a broad range of experience and to this topic. Alejandra is a Vice President for Thornton Tomasetti’s Sustainability practice, and has been based in the Boston office since 2017. She combines expertise in mechanical engineering and building science to give clients a clear understanding of the impact design strategies and innovative solutions have on a project’s carbon emissions. Alejandra leverages research and simulations to provide project teams with sustainable design knowledge and energy expertise. She is experienced in the design of both passive buildings and energy-intensive structures such as laboratories and healthcare facilities. Her expertise also includes thermal comfort, energy modeling, daylighting and computational fluid dynamics. Alejandra holds a PhD from MIT in Mechanical Engineering, and has taught courses on natural ventilation and energy in buildings both at MIT and the Harvard GSD. Laurel is a licensed Architect interested in disrupting the status quo within the design and construction industry. Trained in Lean thinking and with a passion for materials health and sustainability, she consistently challenges her peers and project teams to consider the wide ranging impacts of their design and project management decisions. As chair of the mindfulMATERIALS A&D Engagement Working Group she helps drive development and adoption of an industry-led platform for sourcing healthy and sustainable building materials. Through engagement with the Boston-based nonprofit Building AEC Learning (BAECL), she contributes to establishing best practices for project team alignment, decision making, design management, and knowledge management. Alexandra Gadawksi WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C is a designer and sustainability leader at HMFH Architects. She provides integral support to every project she is a part of, applying her passion for building performance to help the project team solve problems and make decisions during every stage of design. Her contributions to lighting design through daylight and energy modeling support student health and reduce energy. She has a background in energy consumption and voluntary building standards and holds a Master of Science in Environmental Design from Cardiff University in Wales and a Master of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. Melissa is an award-winning lighting designer for Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting in Boston, MA. Her focus is on lighting indoor and outdoor public spaces, hospitality, and residential projects ranging from single-family homes to multifamily high-rises. As a designer, teacher, yogi, and dancer, Melissa is continually curious about the parallel relationship between architecture, the human form and what it means to embody space. She is particularly interested in design concerning sustainable living and the interconnectivity of light, space, and its users. She holds a BA in Sociology and Spanish from Anderson University and a MA in Interior Architecture from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University. Melissa has been a guest speaker at multiple national conferences and was named Lighting Magazine’s international class of 2020 40 under 40 top lighting designers. She is NCQLP Lighting Certified, an Associate IALD member, a LEED Green Associate, earned her Living Future Accreditation, is an Ambassador for ILFI, and a member of the Illuminated Engineering Society NE Chapter. When Melissa is not designing or teaching, she loves spending time outdoors and dancing Brazilian Zouk.