Jason F. McLennan to Become Chair of Board, Appoints Executive Director Amanda Sturgeon as New CEO

SEATTLE, September 14, 2015 /3BL Media/ - After a decade as CEO of both the Cascadia Green Building Council and the International Living Future Institute (the Institute), Jason F. McLennan is now shifting his role from CEO to Chair of the Board of Directors. Under his leadership the organization has grown exponentionally and registered Living Building Challenge projects have grown to over 10 million square feet in 13 countries around the world.

McLennan created the Living Building Challenge in 2006, has helped transform the building industry and garnered significant recognition including winning the 2012 Buckminster Fuller Prize. Under McLennan, the Institute launched multiple groundbreaking programs and innovations at a variety of scales spanning from products to entire communities.

“Jason is responsible for some of the most important innovations in the entire building industry” said Richard Piacentini, current Institute board Chair. “It’s a natural progression—Jason’s leadership for our movement and industry is nearly unprecedented and it now takes him around the world helping others rethink their designs of communities, buildings and products.” As board Chair and Founder, McLennan plans to stay deeply connected to the Institute—continuing to help with innovation and leading edge ideas.

“The work of the Institute and the entire Living Future vision and mission will always be central to my thinking and passion. The time has come to put my own vision into practice more directly and to expand and broaden the leadership within the Institute,” said McLennan.

Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA and LEED Fellow will become the new Institute CEO effective January 1, 2016. Amanda is currently the Executive Director of the Institute and has served with the organization since 2010. She was also a founding board member of the Cascadia Green Building Council in 2000.

“I am honored to take the role as CEO of the Institute, as one of the founders of Cascadia the organization has been close to my heart for the last 15 years. Jason has gifted me with an incredible legacy to lead into the future. The next 15 years are an opportunity for us to see Living Buildings, Living Communities and Living Products in every city around the world,” said Amanda Sturgeon.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL LIVING FUTURE INSTITUTE:

The International Living Future Institute is an environmental NGO committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. Composed of leading green building experts and thought-leaders, the Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute runs the Living Building Challenge, Living Community Challenge, Living Product Challenge, Net Zero Energy Certification, the Cascadia Green Building Council, Ecotone Publishing, Declare, JUST and other leading-edge programs. A global network of more than 350 volunteers across nearly 30 countries drive the local adoption of restorative principles in their communities.

Contacts:

International Living Future Institute

Lisa Lilienthal

404-661-3679

lisalilienthal@earthlink.net

McLennan Designs

Joanie Parsons

206-789-5668

info@parsonsandco.com