Sustainability Center

Paul Kephart

Restoration Ecologist

Background
Artist, painter, naturalist, biologist, ecologist, teacher; Founder/Director of Elkhorn Ranch (Moss Landing, CA); Executive Director and Lead Design Consultant for Living Architecture, Rana Creek Habitat Restoration (Carmel Valley, CA) Awards

Awards

Professional Award, the American Society of Landscape Architects (2003) Major projects

Major projects

  • The Gap (living roof), San Bruno,
  • CA Chrissy Field (open space and habitat restoration), San Francisco, CA
  • San Bruno Mountain (habitat restoration), San Bruno, CA
  • Vancouver Convention Center (living roof), Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Q&A

What's your philosophy about sustainability?

It's about encouraging biodiversity in the urban world and trying to inspire reverence for the natural world in design. When we come to the table as designers, we too often fail to understand what the ultimate outcome will be. When are we going to design for culture, society, and ecology? That's the consideration I want to bring to the design field.

Why do you do what you do?

It's fun and compelling, and the people are compassionate. That's what makes it worthwhile.

What makes you hopeful?

We're spawning a new economy, and creating jobs and new technologies. We're transforming from extractive to regenerative, which heals the planet. We're on the right track.

Have you seen a change?

It's huge. These concepts (of restoration and regeneration) were unheard of even a few years ago when we did a living roof on The Gap building. We didn't have metrics to know if it worked. And now the spreadsheet is beginning to work. The Bank of America is behind sustainable design because it pencils out. They know that even if they have a 3% increase in costs, they can get a 10% increase in rents.

What worries you?

Not much-I'm really not a worrier. I'm optimistic and solution-driven. What worries me are design details. I stay up, worry about it and find a solution. Yes, we messed up the planet. Let's move beyond that and reconcile.

What do you tell young people who want to make a difference in the world?

Carefully question and discern between what really is sustainable for you in your life and where the industry wants to take you for your profession. We're still in transition, flying and driving in the name of sustainable design. The most critical question is:, How can you create sustainability for yourself? Young people can make a big difference. They have an authentic process-they don't use a lot and are dedicated to their design principles. I love working with them because they are enthusiastic, smart, and articulate. They walk the walk.

What's the role of technology?

The key frontier is in energy efficiency modeling-it will have the greatest impact on the economy and the greatest social and cultural impact, because oil causes conflict. Also, technology helps in modeling the urban metabolism and nutrient flows. We don't have enough baseline information about ecological function in the urban world.