"Helen's breadth of knowledge of green architectural principles, nuances of LEED points, and Credit Interpretation Reviews were invaluable in both the design and construction phases of JRC's LEED Platinum project."

Julie Dorfman, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL ~

Helen Kessler has been a consultant, teacher, mentor, and friend. Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation hired HJ Kessler Associates as LEED consultant on our new construction project. Helen's breadth of knowledge of green architectural principles, nuances of LEED points, and Credit Interpretation Reviews were invaluable in both the design and construction phases of JRC's LEED Platinum project. In addition to her wealth of personal experience and technical expertise, she also brings a wide network of colleagues and associates who can be called upon as specialty consultants when needed.

Helen accepted each team member at his or her own level of LEED experience. With a caring touch, she gently taught, guided and inspired us to build the most efficient, functional, and cost effective building possible. She challenged the whole team to stretch, struggle, persist, and grow. HJ Kessler Associates helped us not only to become the first LEED Platinum house of worship, but to grow into a greener and more committed community!

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wetland at CCGT

Regenerative Practitioner

Regenerative practitioners are those who feel called to intervene at the interface between human systems and the natural systems that support them, to create new potential for our communities and our planet.

At HJKessler Associates, we support teams to begin their work with an understanding of place, including a deep dive into the history and characteristics of place (or location) of a project and its surrounding communities.

We facilitate conversations with stakeholders to become present to their belief systems rather than immediately diving in to solving a design problem. Early on, we work with our teams to “image” a new future, something that doesn’t exist now, but that is rooted in the patterns and history of the project’s location and the stakeholders' principles and aspirations.

We continue to work with the stakeholders using a developmental process to have them achieve their goals.

Integrative Process Facilitator

An integrative approach to design is a holistic, collaborative process that considers all aspects of a project -- including the users, the environment, and the building's systems -- from the very beginning of the design process to ensure a cohesive and sustainable outcome.

As an integrative process facilitator, HJKessler Associates brings stakeholders together through eco-charrettes (workshops), guiding design teams through a collective, iterative process, ensuring inclusive participation and maximizing synergies to achieve project goals.

New Project (2)

Market Transformation and Training

HJKessler Associates continues to be at the forefront of market transformation with its living systems regenerative development educational offerings and work.

As a LEED leader, we have been in the forefront of the green building movement inspired by the USGBC and LEED, training design teams (owners, architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, and others), in the use of an integrative approach to design. Many of those people have established their own sustainable design organizations or have become sustainability leaders in their firms. 

Michael Washington, LEED AP, Project Manager, Oakley Construction ~

"...I worked with Helen on two LEED Gold jobs. In each, her expertise and breadth of knowledge was appreciated, respected, and constantly called on by the team..."

I have had the rare opportunity to know Helen Kessler for five years in my roles as a general contractor, a collegiate masters student, and as a mentee. With respect to each role, Helen has demonstrated the uncanny ability to establish and maintain high expectations, direct and assist fellow team workers, and inspire students. In my role as general contractor, I worked with Helen on two LEED Gold jobs. In each, her expertise and breadth of knowledge was appreciated, respected, and constantly called on by the team. Her drive and commitment to excellence helped propel us to achieve LEED Gold on jobs that were slated for LEED Silver. When I was a collegiate masters student, Helen introduced various trends and technologies in sustainability to the class. Additionally, she motivated me to do intensive research in a field of sustainability I had never previously heard of, trigeneration. Finally, during my research, she mentored me and gave great advice and contacts which undeniably helped my research. I would recommend Helen to anyone who is looking for a focused and passionate professional who has extensive sustainability and energy efficiency experience and can guide, instruct and motivate the team to reach its end goal.

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