1850 Towers Crescent Plaza | Tysons, VA
Be part of the 11th Annual DC Sustainability Summit (DCSS)—a premier event bringing together leaders in sustainable design and construction. Discover breakthrough innovations at the Green Product Expo and hear from passionate experts who are shaping the future of green building. Explore the powerful connection between safety and sustainability through thought-provoking sessions and presentations.
Throughout the day, you’ll engage in dynamic seminars and discussions that will equip you with practical strategies to advance sustainability in your work. Learn how to reduce carbon emissions creatively and explore the latest technologies and solutions in green building—many of which you’ll see demonstrated live at the Innovative Green Product Expo.
Don’t miss this energizing, full-day conference where you’ll connect with like-minded professionals committed to environmental progress. Your registration includes full access to all sessions, lunch, beverages, a networking happy hour with appetizers, and continuing education credits (earn up to 5.5 AIA/HSW and GBCI credits).
9:00 am – 10:00 am
BREAKFAST AND NETWORKING
10:00 am – 10:15 am
OPENING REMARKS
Kathy Lawson | DCS Design
10:15 am – 11:15 am
BUILDING FASTER, SMARTER, AND WITH 90% LESS WASTE
The demand for sustainable housing continues to grow, and modular construction is emerging as a powerful tool in both reducing environmental impact and accelerating project delivery. Greystar’s Andy Mest is helping lead this transition with a vertically integrated approach to factory-built, light-gauge steel-framed multifamily housing. Greystar’s wholly owned subsidiary, Modern Living Solutions, recently completed its first U.S. modular development, Ltd. Findlay. 40% faster than traditional construction, with 90% less waste and a 10% cost reduction — the environmental and economic advantages of modular housing cannot be ignored. Modern Living Solutions’ system relies on steel modules composed of approximately 75% recycled content, and the buildings themselves are designed with circularity in mind: once decommissioned, the structure can be fully recycled. This shift not only reduces landfill burden and carbon footprint but offers long-term resilience against volatile labor and material supply chains.
In this session, we will share lessons from Modern Living Solutions’ growing pipeline of projects and explore how sustainable modular construction can address housing needs while reducing costs, and expediting project schedules. As the built environment faces mounting pressure to reduce its lifecycle impacts, modular offers scalable, low-waste, and future-forward solutions to the housing crisis.
Session Speakers
Andy Mest | Greystar
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
PREPARING FOR LEED V5: INSIGHTS FROM THE FRONT LINES OF GREEN BUILDING CONSULTING
As the green building industry anticipates the rollout of LEED v5, staying ahead of the curve is critical for project teams aiming for certification. This panel will explore the latest developments in the LEED v5 rating systems.
Drawing on firsthand experience with early pilot projects and pre-submission planning, the panel will discuss major updates to the framework, with a focus on key changes in carbon accountability, equity, and performance metrics. Attendees will gain practical recommendations on how to prepare for LEED v5, what common pitfalls to avoid, and how to align project goals with the evolving sustainability landscape.
Whether you’re a project manager, architect, engineer, or sustainability consultant, this session offers valuable insights to help you navigate LEED v5 with confidence and clarity.
Session Speakers
Hailee Griesmar | Lorax Partnerships, LLC
Casey Ross | Lorax Partnerships, LLC
Corey Enck | USGBC
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
LUNCH BREAK
Lunch to be served
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
GETTING TO NET-ZERO: LESSONS FROM CALIFORNIA’S AGGRESSIVE BUILDING ENERGY CODES
California has long been recognized as a national leader in environmental policy, and its Building Energy Efficiency Standards—Title 24—have become a model for energy conservation in the built environment. With each code cycle, California pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable design, electrification, and grid integration.
This presentation explores how Title 24 not only reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in residential and commercial buildings, but also influences national standards, market trends, and technological innovation. From mandatory rooftop solar and electric-ready infrastructure to advanced performance modeling and envelope requirements, the code is transforming how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated.
Attendees will gain insights into the intent, evolution, and measurable impact of California’s energy code, including real-world examples of how these regulations are shaping more resilient, efficient, and future-ready buildings. As states across the country look for proven strategies to meet climate goals, California’s approach offers a blueprint for sustainable success.
Session Speakers
Olivia Parker-Swenson | NRG Compliance
Ben Montalbano | NRG Compliance
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
BIOPHILIC DESIGN: NATURE-INSPIRED INNOVATION FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Discover how new research and real-world applications are transforming buildings into living ecosystems that enhance occupant well-being, boost productivity, and reduce environmental impact.
Kathy Lawson | DCS Design
Joanna Adams DeCastro | DCS Design
Patrick Bartlett | DCS Design
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
INNOVATIVE GREEN PRODUCT EXPO
Explore cutting-edge green building technologies and products firsthand—and get your questions answered—at the Innovative Green Product Expo.
Andy Mest is Managing Director of Modern Living Solutions by Greystar, a vertically integrated modular manufacturer supporting Greystar’s construction and development teams. With over 20 years in the multifamily industry, he has delivered more than 6,500 units in Europe and the U.S. using offsite construction methods such as DfMA, prefabricated façade systems, bathroom pods, and 3D volumetrics. Over his career, Andy has contributed to projects in the U.S., Europe, China, and Australia, totaling over 75,000 apartments. Before joining Greystar in 2014, he held senior roles at AvalonBay Communities and Clark Building Group. A frequent global conference speaker and guest lecturer at Virginia Tech, Clemson, and UNC, Andy earned his BSBA in Finance and Economics from Shippensburg University.
Hailee is the Director of Sustainable Programs at Lorax, a Baltimore-based sustainability consulting firm. With over a decade of experience in the green building industry, she has led efforts on more than 110 LEED projects and has deep expertise in a wide range of rating systems and codes including NGBS, Fitwel, Green Globes, Parksmart, and IgCC. Hailee certified Maryland’s first LEED ND v4 project, a milestone that underscores her leadership in large-scale sustainable neighborhood development. At Lorax, she leads a multidisciplinary team guiding clients through green building and health and wellness certifications, while maximizing financial incentives and rebates to create high-performance projects that meet sustainability goals and stay within budget. She enjoys helping clients find creative solutions to meet push their sustainability efforts a little bit further every day.
In her free time, Hailee enjoys hiking, neighborhood walks, and spending time with her family.
Casey Ross leads the decarbonization and energy services division of Lorax. He joined Lorax in 2023 with the goal of enhancing Lorax’s capabilities in delivering energy models for compliance with LEED and other sustainability certifications, building life-cycle cost analysis, energy conservation measure (ECM) recommendations, full ASHRAE energy audits, utility rebate and incentive programs, Federal 179d incentives, and developing early concept level “box model” energy analysis to help guide client towards their sustainability goals before major design decisions are set.
Corey is USGBC’s VP of Technical Development. In this role, he collaborates with volunteer technical committees and industry stakeholders to evolve and refine USGBC’s LEED green building rating system. For the last few years, he’s been focused on the development and launch of the LEED v5 design and construction rating systems. Previous to his technical development work, Corey managed USGBC’s certification team, where he was responsible for working with project teams through the LEED certification process. Prior to joining USGBC, Corey worked in energy management and building system design. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a LEED AP.
Olivia Parker-Swenson is an Energy Solutions Specialist at NRG Compliance, where she focuses on Title 24 energy code compliance for residential projects. She brings a unique perspective to her work with a background in interior design and a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability from Arizona State University, with an emphasis on sustainable energy, materials, and technology. Since joining NRG in 2024, Olivia has combined her technical knowledge and design sensibility to help clients meet California’s energy efficiency standards. She is driven by a strong passion for sustainability and thoughtful, energy-conscious design, and is currently working toward her Certified Energy Analyst (CEA) certification.
Ben Montalbano is the Lead Energy Analyst at NRG Compliance, where he oversees energy code consulting and compliance documentation for residential and commercial projects across California. Prior to leading NRG, Ben spent three years at Setty & Associates, contributing to HVAC system design for schools, offices, and various institutional buildings. Following Setty’s acquisition of NRG Compliance, Ben was selected to lead the team, bringing his design background and analytical skills to the forefront of Title 24 energy compliance. He has a year and a half of hands-on experience with California’s Title 24 energy code and is currently working toward his CABEC certification. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University and continues to build on his foundation in sustainable building practices and energy efficiency.
Joanna Adams DeCastro, IIDA, LEED AP, WELL AP has over 30 years of experience managing and designing corporate and non-profit office spaces for clients as diverse as Northrop Grumman and American Society for Radiation Oncology. Her extensive portfolio also includes multi-family residential, higher-education, and law firms. Joanna is a Project Director and an Associate with the firm, assisting Ownership in developing overall corporate strategy, firm-wide policies, business development outreach, and employee communication. Joanna is also a WELL Accredited Professional and is leading our firm’s efforts to assist clients with long-term health and safety measures.
Patrick is an Associate and Project Director as well as a registered AIA architect at DCS Design with over 20 years of experience in architectural design and project management, currently pursuing WELL AP accreditation. Patrick’s wide range of project experience includes site analysis, master planning, multi-family residential, commercial office and interiors, retail and entertainment facilities, and tenant interiors.
DCS Design is at the forefront of reimagining and redesigning how commercial amenity and tenant office spaces can help to create a safe, welcoming, and thriving environment for the foreseeable future. With Patrick’s expertise in balancing sustainability, cost effectiveness, selection of quality of materials, space efficiency and functionality, and cultivating strong relations with both the team and the client, he helps DCS continue delivering excellence in design to its clients.
As Director of Sustainability, Kathy guides project teams through the green building process, including preliminary building analyses and energy studies, design coordination, construction phase management, credit tracking and certification documentation submission. Kathy’s expertise and experience on a multitude of LEED, Green Globes, NGBS, and EarthCraft projects allow her to optimize green buildings and allow clients to realize the triple bottom line. Kathy leads DCS Design’s Green Team, manages sustainability initiatives, and hosts the annual DC Sustainability Summit.
