HJKessler associates works with teams to co-create futures that support the health and vitality of human communities and our ecosystems.

Who We Are

HJKessler Associates has shifted its emphasis on sustainability to the next level, focusing on regenerative design, development, and practice, including teaching regenerative living systems thinking at Northwestern University.

For over two decades, HJKessler Associates has been the premier green building and sustainability consulting firm in Chicago and Illinois, facilitating integrative design processes and LEED certification for building projects. 

HJKessler Associates is also doing business as UpFront Regenerative Design, www.upfrontregen.com.

What We Do

Have you ever wondered how your project or idea could become a catalyst for supporting the health and vitality of a community?

This is our work, and our aim is to co-evolve projects and communities that support their human and natural ecosystems.  

Our first step may include developing a deep understanding of the place (the community) and what makes it special.  We then support you to develop a group consensus embracing beliefs and values resulting in a set of principles and a compelling image for moving forward with concepts and strategies for design. 

"Helen was a valuable member of the Owner/Architect/Engineer/Contractor team identifying opportunities to improve the energy usage of the building..."

Sue Budinsky, AIA, Project Manager, Northwestern University

For the past three years I have had the opportunity to work with Helen Kessler on a major renovation for one of Northwestern University’s Chicago Campus Buildings. Helen was a valuable member of the Owner/Architect/Engineer/Contractor team identifying opportunities to improve the energy usage of the building, improve student, faculty and staff comfort, to identify ways to minimize material waste through the use of recycling demolition debris and use of recycled materials in products we purchased.

As a result of Helen’s work and advice, Northwestern University achieved a Gold rating for LEED Commercial Interiors.

Her knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm, and persistence contributed greatly to elevating the project from a LEED Certification to a LEED Gold Certification. I enjoyed working with her and appreciate her willingness to share her knowledge with others.

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Carving a Path toward a Regenerative Future

Imagine - what if your project(s) continued to evolve long after they were declared complete -- 

Consider these questions:

  • How have your projects enhanced or embraced their communities and their history?
  • What would you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell if your projects ongoingly supported the health and vitality of the human and natural communities in which they are nested?
  • How could you cause a project to continue to evolve?
  • What has been the long-term impact of projects you've worked on? 
  • Do you know? 
  • How would addressing these questions impact a project's outcome?

This is the beginning of thinking regeneratively.

68409d276b803_Orland Park Police Headquarters

Accreditations

HJKessler Associates is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise, both locally and nationally. Based on our excellent record relating to LEED submissions, HJKessler Associates was recognized as a LEED® Proven ProviderTM for the Building Design and Construction rating system family by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). HJKessler Associates also operates under the name of UpFront Regenerative Design.

"Helen’s knowledge, common sense and integrated approach demystified the process for our team and inspired everyone from engineers to owners to start expanding their limits and expectations..."

Jake Davis, AIA, LEED AP, Project Architect, SRBL Architects, Ltd. ~

When our client was looking for sustainability in their new police headquarters, HJ Kessler Associates provided our entire design team with vision, inspiration and the necessary focus to turn that desire into green reality. Helen’s knowledge, common sense and integrated approach demystified the process for our team and inspired everyone from engineers to owners to start expanding their limits and expectations. Our client’s desire for sustainability soon became LEED Gold Certification.

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