This episode features insights from leading architectural firm HED’s Susan King, exploring  paradigm shifts in the building designs of residential communities.

The Crexi Podcast explores various aspects of the commercial real estate industry in conversation with some of the top CRE professionals in the space. In each episode, we feature different guests to tap into their wealth of CRE expertise and explore the latest trends and updates from the world of commercial real estate. 

Host Jessica LaRusso interviews Susan, an advocate for attainable housing and green market transformation with over 35 years of experience. Susan discusses her career trajectory from her early interest in architecture to her significant contributions in housing and community work. 

Highlighting her achievements, including being the third woman principal at HED and holding the prestigious FAIA designation, Susan shares insights into the challenges and advancements in senior living facilities, the importance of sustainable design, and the evolving landscape of affordable and market-rate housing. Discussions also cover the impact of COVID-19 on building design, particularly in air quality and ventilation, and the future of housing amidst macroeconomic pressures such as inflation.

Their wide-ranging conversation includes:

• Meet Susan King, A Trailblazer in Architecture and Housing
• Susan's Journey From Art to Architecture
• Breaking into Housing and Community Work
• The Evolution of Senior Living: Trends and Insights
• Exploring the Future of Housing and Senior Living
• Sustainability and Innovation in Senior Housing
• The Challenges and Opportunities in Affordable Senior Living
• Looking Ahead: The Impact of Economic Factors on Housing
• Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Inspirations
• Closing Thoughts and How to Connect

Susan is a registered architect and a principal at HED, one of the country's oldest and most prominent architecture and engineering firms, with over 400 staff across the country with revenues in excess of $100M.  

With 35+ years of experience, Susan became the third woman principal at HED in 2007, and she oversees the firm's housing and community work across the Midwest, advocating for attainable housing and green market transformation of the building industry.

She holds the FAIA designation, the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) highest membership honor, bestowed on architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and exemplify architectural excellence. Only 3% of AIA members hold the FAIA distinction, and Susan was the eighteenth woman from Illinois to attain this recognition.

She has received many awards for her work, including the University of Cincinnati's Alumni of the Year award in 2018 and the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award from Green Building & Design magazine in 2016, which placed her among an elite group of women to have received that award. 

Susan is also a past Chair of the AIA Chicago Committee on the Environment and past President of Chicago Women in Architecture.

For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi’s blog.

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