we solve
problems
others
think are
impossible.
Since our inception, we have debunked the myth that highly sustainable designs must come with a high price. Over the years, we have sharpened our process, vigilance, and fortitude to redefine what is possible on our quest to make regenerative, healthy design the new status quo.
We are more than award winning architects, designers, and planners. We are national leaders who serve as sustainability consultants to design the future, change building codes, retool office cultures, script guidelines, secure grants, advance organizational strategy, educate the industry, and save dollars while also saving the environment.
leadership
- emersion’s original office was the 1st A/E LEED Platinum office. Ever.
- 1st Net Zero Energy and LEED Platinum police station in the world
- 1st Net Zero Energy renovation with historic tax credits in the nation
- 1st Certified LEED Gold V.4 School in Ohio OFCC History
- 2nd Mass Timber New Construction in Cincinnati
- Midwest’s 1st Net Zero Energy and LEED Platinum school
- Midwest’s 1st WELL Platinum office building and policy plan
outreach
- Cincinnati 2030 District: 1 of 3 co-creators. 3rd member signatory, Advisory Board Member, Professional Partner
- Communities of the Future, MSDGC: Advisory Committee and public engagement facilitator
- Green Business Council of Greater Cincinnati: Past Executive Committee member and Education Chair, Strategic Plan facilitator, large organization best practices and policies
- Green Cincinnati Plan (and subsequent updates): Advisory Committee & Built Environment member
- Green Umbrella: Responsible for reorganizing structure in 2010, Past President, 10-year Board member, Strategic Plan facilitator, Is Action Team Advisor, Co-creator of the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, Cincinnati Public School’s Green Schoolyards
- Signatory of 2030 Commitment: 1 of 6 SW Ohio architects to sign the AIA 2030 Commitment to design toward carbon neutrality, 1 of 4 tracking
- US Green Building Council: Past President of SW Ohio Chapter, USGBC Ohio Advisory Board, past Indiana Board member, President of 2011 14-state Greening the Heartland Conference
- ReBuild Conference Co-host: Annual Midwest Sustainability Conference focused on regenerative solutions for the built environment
services
- Embodied Carbon Reduction
- Charrette Facilitation
- Energy Audits and Analysis
- ESG Strategy and Development
- Grant Writing
- LEED Certification
- Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
- Living Building Challenge (LBC)
- Building/Facility Consultation & Certification
- Net Zero Energy Design
- Research and Document Writing
- Social Equity Consulting
- Sustainability Master Plans
- USGBC LEED Education & Workshops
- WELL Certification
speaking
engagements
- Creating a Sustainable Future, International Education Summit
- Advances in Green Infrastructure, International Cities Alive
- LEED Platinum on the Cheap, GreenBuild
- Net Positive Energy, National Joint Engineer Training Conference
- NZE LEED Platinum Police Station, National Academy of Architecture for Justice
- High Performing Station Design, National FIERO
- Net Zero Energy, National Station Design Conference
- Cost Effective NZE Ready Design, US Army Corps of Engineers
awards
Midwest Regional Best Office/Retail Project, Engineering News-Record
Cincinnati Public Radio
Environmental Award-Business Category, Cincinnati Earth Day
Cincinnati Public Radio
The 2025 Beyond Green High-Performance Building & Community Award, National Institute of Building Sciences
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Ohio Iconic Building Leadership Award, US Green Building Council
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Preservation Merit Award, State of Ohio Historic Preservation Association
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Preservation Excellence Award, Cincinnati Preservation Association
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Midwest Regional Best Project – Sustainability, Engineering News-Record
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Cincinnati 2030 District Energy Impact Award
Pepper Construction Cincinnati Headquarters
Sustainability Award, Cincinnati Design Awards
Bethany School
Ohio Green Building of the Year Award-Honorable Mention, US Green Building Council, Ohio Leadership Award
Bethany School
First & Only LEED V4 Gold Certified OFCC School
Finneytown Elementary School
New Construction Business Award, Sustainability/Energy SMART Awards
District 3 Police Headquarters
Net-Zero Trailblazer Award
District 3 Police Headquarters
Honor Award, Cincinnati Design Awards
District 3 Police Headquarters
Sustainable Design, PCI National Design Awards
District 3 Police Headquarters
National Excellence Award, Design/Build Institute of America
District 3 Police Headquarters
Finalist, Green Building Awards
District 3 Police Headquarters
Green Business Award for Green Advocacy, Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council
emersion DESIGN Headquarters
Federal Energy & Water Management Award
Advanced Power & Thermal Research Lab, WPAFB
Greenest Tri-State Buildings, Cincinnati Business Courier
Highland Medical Office Building
Greenest Tri-State Buildings, Cincinnati Business Courier
American Red Cross Regional HQ
Greenest Tri-State Buildings, Cincinnati Business Courier
Longworth Wing, Cincinnati Art Museum
Merit Award, Cincinnati Design Awards
Lick Run Watershed Master Plan
Green Business Award for Green Advocacy, Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council
Energy Efficiency Training Ohio Architects/Engineers
Greenest Tri-State Buildings, Cincinnati Business Courier
emersion DESIGN Headquarters
Design Non-Profit Winner, Green Business Awards
American Red Cross Regional Headquarters
Design Profit Winner, Green Business Awards
emersion DESIGN Office Expansion




