through design

ABOUT THROUGH DESIGN

Design. Consulting. Education. Advocacy.

through design specializes in to-scale consulting: providing ecologically and socially conscious solutions on projects that range in scope from single family residences to comprehensive public policy. Using the practice of design thinking, the processes of design and building construction can extend beyond architecture into broader spheres, including education and activism. Work includes, but is not limited to:

• Design, research, and technical assistance for projects, programs, or people;

• Education in the form of seminars and workshops, for professionals and organizations, design-based or otherwise;

• Locally-focused public advocacy and public policy work;

• Energy modeling and building performance analysis.

through design seeks projects with a particular aim to correct inequity and reach underserved populations. The ultimate goal of this work is justice.

ABOUT RACHEL

Rachel Wagner has been a practicing designer since 1987. A licensed architect in Wisconsin, she has a degree in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University. Rachel is also a BPI certified Building Analyst-Professional (BA-P).

Rachel launched her career working for renowned playground architect Bob Leathers, co-creating community-built play spaces across the United States. She became an entrepreneur in 1996, and focused her practice on energy conservation and solar-optimized design, particularly in single-family residential construction.

In 2018 Rachel re-focused her practice to blend her concentration on sustainability with her commitment to community equity and social justice. She is also the owner of Just Housing SBC, a Minnesota public benefit corporation that provides zero energy home designs and workforce training with a focus on underserved communities.

Her work has been featured in Fine Homebuilding magazine and Green Building Advisor online, and she is a regular presenter at regional and national conferences. She has training and experience in Passive House and zero-net energy design, and is a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps.

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