The Challenge

Creating a standard is only the beginning. For practitioners to successfully apply LEED, they need guidance that helps translate technical requirements into real-world action.

The challenge was transforming highly technical content developed by some of the greatest minds in green building into resources that were accessible, practical, and useful for project teams, consultants, and building owners. At the same time, the guides needed to maintain technical accuracy and reflect the integrity of the LEED rating system.

My Role

I led the development and production of two generations of LEED Reference Guides, first in 2012 and again in 2025. Working across technical development teams, subject matter experts, writers, editors, designers, and production partners, I helped guide these complex publications from concept through delivery.

The Approach

• Created content frameworks that translated complex sustainability concepts into practitioner-friendly resources.

• Partnered with education team leadership to coordinate the development of content, design, production, and quality assurance efforts.

• Established the visual and verbal narratives used to introduce the reference guides to the market, supporting pre-launch communications and launch activities.

• Identified, selected, and managed external design, editing, and production partners.

• Oversaw production and delivery of resources designed to support adoption and implementation of LEED standards.

The Impact

Each generation of the LEED Reference Guides was designed to address a different market need while building on lessons learned from previous iterations.

The 2012 guides helped practitioners understand how LEED functions as an integrated ecosystem spanning multiple project types, building uses, and stages of the building lifecycle.

The 2025 guides were designed around how project teams actually interact with content and work together in practice—reflecting evolving team dynamics, new approaches to content consumption, and changing user expectations.

Together, these efforts made complex technical content more accessible and supported education, implementation, and adoption across the global LEED community.

Key Capabilities

Content Strategy • Technical Translation • Editorial Leadership • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Vendor Management • Stakeholder Engagement