Perkins+Will announces that Robin Guenther, FAIA, an international leader in sustainable healthcare architecture, has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as a 2014 LEED Fellow, the group’s most prestigious designation.

Achieving LEED Fellow signifies the professional is part of an elite class of accomplished green-building experts. To earn the title, professionals with a LEED AP and at least a decade of experience must be nominated by their peers and undergo an extensive portfolio review.

Guenther, a principal at Perkins+Will and the firm’s Sustainable Healthcare Design Leader, is a long-term advocate at the intersection of public health, restorative design and environmental stewardship. She led the design of several notable facilities including the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Discovery Health Center in Harris, N.Y.—the latter the first ambulatory care facility in the United States to be certified LEED-NC.

Outside of her built work, Robin is a tireless proponent of advancing sustainable, healthy environments. She spoke at TEDMED 2014 in late September and works with a range of non-profit and advocacy groups including Health Care Without Harm. Guenther has also contributed to several prominent industry standards, including LEED for Healthcare and ASHRAE's Advanced Indoor Air Quality Guide.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has tapped Guenther and Perkins+Will to prepare a Healthcare Climate and Resilience Guide and Toolkit as part of President Obama's 2013 Climate Action Plan.

Guenther was recently included in Fast Company’s “100 most creative people in business” and she also received Interior Design Magazine's HIP Award for being a design leader in sustainable healthcare. Guenther is co-author of the authoritative book Sustainable Healthcare Architecture, now in its second printing.

According to the USGBC, the LEED Fellow evaluation process is carried out by the LEED Fellow Evaluation Committee and supported by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). This year’s 48 Fellows are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the green building community as well as for their significant achievements among LEED Professionals. “The 2014 LEED Fellows are utilizing their extensive knowledge and experience in green building to engage their colleagues, clients and communities to create a better built environment throughout the world,” said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC's president, CEO and founding chair.

“We recognize Robin’s commitment to LEED and celebrate her achievements,” Fedrizzi added.

The 2014 LEED Fellows will be recognized in New Orleans at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, October 22-24, 2014.