Arathi Gowda

Arathi Gowda serves as an Adjunct Professor in Northwestern University's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability (MSES) Program while leading ZGF Architects' East Coast Performance Team as Principal and founding Yes Praxes.

Her professional focus centers on integrated sustainable design solutions through passive design and performance analytics, with expertise spanning energy-efficient buildings, net-zero systems, and climate-resilient urban planning across 35+ global cities. She advocates for collective climate action through educational initiatives and industry leadership, emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration in sustainable architecture and building decarbonization.

Key recognitions include:

• Illinois Green Chapter Mission Award (2016)
• Green Building & Design's Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (2019)
• New City Magazines Design 50 (2022)

Gowda actively shapes policy through appointments like Mayor Lightfoot's Chicago Building Decarbonization Task Force (2021) and leadership roles in US Architects Declare, the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment, and Global Philanthropy Partnership Board, driving systemic change in sustainable built environments.