August Professional Member of the Month

Martha Norbeck

C-Wise Design & Consulting LLC

President

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

What makes me most proud is when team members have that ah-ha moment and proceed to embrace green building strategies and tools beyond that single project and I can witness how that shift continues to reverberate within the building community.

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

“No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference” by Greta Thunberg. Her words are succinct and piercing. Such an inspiration.

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

DART Central Station was the first project that solidified my understanding of the way the Integrative Process should work. We were able to achieve LEED Platinum because the whole team was rowing in the same direction. We used LEED to set early measurable goals and stuck with them.

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

I would define success as knowing that I am doing something that makes a difference-making every building that I am affiliated with a little better. I can measure my success by the number of LEED-certified projects I have been associated with, energy targets achieved and occupants who tell me they love working in their space. Ultimately, my success is derived from the conviction that my persistence has value.

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

So many amazing women to choose from. Two particular women come to mind. One is my former structures study partner in grad school, Michelle Teague. Michelle is committed, sharp, kind, and committed to doing excellent work. Most notably, she commanded the space that was rightfully hers in a situation, and never anything less. I aspire to channel her spirit. Second is Jenine Benyus, author of Biomimicry. She is a quiet force who surrounded herself with strong women, found a niche, and flourished within it.