Rick Harlan Schneider employs an innovative approach to architecture and urban design. His vision takes into consideration the broader needs and long-term impact of design on local communities and the healthy functioning of their natural ecosystems. This forward-thinking approach to “green” architecture is complemented by a firm, pragmatic grasp of the building industry itself. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Rick spent the better part of the 1990’s developing an approach to sustainable architecture and design through practice, writing, travel and research. He began ISTUDIO in 1999 as an architecture firm dedicated to the design of sustainable communities. The process Rick continues to develop toward a smarter, “greener” and more livable built environment emphasizes collaboration, community engagement, and a comprehensive approach to an understanding of site. This approach has lead to richer design solutions for a range of building types and locations.
Rick promotes the discussion and development of sustainable building issues through his work with the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), and with the US Green Building Council (USGBC). He has written on transit-oriented development while at Yokohama National University in Japan and the Washington Alexandria Architecture Consortium in Virginia. He teaches community-based sustainable design in lectures and seminars with such organizations as the Catholic University of America, the Kresge Foundation, the National Building Museum, the American Institute of Architects, the Urban Land Institute, and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. He maintains a mentorship program within the studio to teach at-risk youth about architecture and design. Rick was named “Young Architect of the Year” by the American Institute of Architects in 2005.