Bios

Kim Schaefer, Principal, RA, LEED AP
Kim Schaefer founded TerraLogos: eco architecture in January, 2002 with a commitment tproviding sustainable design solutions to the Mid-Atlantic region.  has over 30 years experience in the fields of architecture, project management and environmental design. Kim is particularly concerned with bringing sustainable design practices to the revitalization of communities and their public facilities, and to affordable housing.  To that end she has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Sustainable Washington Alliance, the US Green Building Council, the Amazing Port Street Sacred Commons and with various non-profit housing developers.  She holds a Masters in Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelors in Environmental Design from Texas A & M University. Kim was honored in 2006 as the Innovator of the Year by the Baltimore business newspaper, The Daily Record, for promotion and education of green building practices.

“I’ve been passionate about the environment literally since childhood, when I focused on pollution issues and woodland preservation in high school.  I have dedicated my practice to working in harmony with the site and nature by optimizing the “free” services provided by our natural environment such as sunlight, good soil, fresh water and clean air.  Working for a healthier planet not only restores our natural resource base but creates wonderful places and spaces for people and all the creatures with whom we share our home, Earth.”

Mark W. Sullivan, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
Mark has been practicing architecture for over 20 years, with the last five serving as a project manager, document production supervisor and Senior LEED Coordinator with TerraLogos.  Mark received his Master of Architecture degree from Morgan State University and his BS in Architecture from the University of Maryland.  He has an extensive background in construction, design and management and is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts U.S.A.

“Sustainability, the latest ‘in’ thing:  Everyone seems to be talking about sustainability in the media these days as if it were something new.  But without practicing sustainability, humankind would not have survived many thousands of years.  Sustainability should encompass more than just recycling or composting or buying renewable products or somehow just being ‘green’.  We need to get back to the basic principles – leaving a world to our grandchildren that is intact, livable, and beautiful.” 

Kim Howard, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA
Kim comes to TerraLogos with a background in architectural design and marketing for firms in the Baltimore area.  She serves as the primary LEED Coordinator for our many LEED projects, including public schools, community facilities and libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region. Kim assists Project Teams in designing and building to the USGBC’s LEED rating system, while educating our clients in effective strategies for energy and water conservation, reducing the environmental impact of each project. 

“True architecture is the marriage of design and function.  A building designed efficiently should provide a healthy environment that makes you breathe and feel better. A successful project occurs as a result of the collaborative effort between the client and the project team. This is the part that I enjoy the most. Working closely together as a “team” to creatively produce a great building that works harmoniously with the environment, is visually appealing, serves the occupants  as well as the whole community.”

Michael Stinefelt, Architectural Designer
Mike recently joined TerraLogos as an architect intern and is currently hard at work helping with several design projects and with our current portfolio production.  Mike is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he studied Architecture with an emphasis on sustainability and green home design.

“The essence of all design begins with the function of a space.  We cannot hope to have a successful design without first considering how it will influence each individual user as well as the community as a whole.  It is this principle of function that should govern our designs.”

Alison VanDeursen, Office Administrator
Alison joined TerraLogos in 2009.  She is often the first person you talk to at TerraLogos, and keeps our company calendar, schedules meetings and makes the office run smoothly every day.  With a background in creative writing and a degree from San Francisco State University, she also edits most of our documents and reports.

“A story is concerned with character, tone and plot.  I see buildings developing in a similar way.  All these characters- architects and engineers, builders, the people who use the building, the people who live across the street and have to look at the building from their window-  populate the story.  The setting- site and climate- are specific.  Good architecture avoids gimmicks and clichés.  Like a great story, you enter the building again and again,  and it stays relevant through time.  That is sustainability.”

Morteza Kasmaei,  Architect, LEED AP
Professor Kasmaei registered architect formerly practicing in Iran.  He brings extensive experience in working for the Iranian Housing Authority and is an expert in climate and solar based design with indigenous materials and building technologies.  He is developing climate-based design strategies for the mid-Atlantic region and site design for our climate.   Morteza works with TerraLogos in producing our in-house Energy Analysis Reports for LEED and architectural projects.

Jane Schmidlapp, Intern
Jane has been a valuable addition to the TerraLogos team since June 2009.  She is a Senior at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in History of Art with a minor in Environmental Studies.   Jane intends to pursue a graduate degree in Architecture and Urban Planning. She is especially interested in incorporating sustainable design into low income housing, and incorporating public art into communities.  Jane is currently studying to become a LEED accredited professional.