Co-creating Communities and Projects that Make Your Heart Sing

We facilitate a synergistic process that supports ongoing co-evolution of people and nature

Co-creating Communities and Projects that Make Your Heart Sing

We facilitate a synergistic process that supports ongoing co-evolution of people and nature

What We Do

We collaborate with you to build your team's capacity to co-create inspiring, vibrant communities and ecosystems that continue to evolve and thrive indefinitely.

We work on projects from early planning to completion, including single buildings, community plans, and green infrastructure.

Finding Essence of Place

We work with your team to understand the unique characteristics of the place where your project is located. We immerse ourselves in that place by reviewing historical data, observing patterns, and interviewing community members and stakeholders. We explore the cultural, geographic, ecological, economic, and climatic characteristics to create a compelling story that resonates with everyone.

Imaging a New Future

Starting from the story of place, we facilitate workshops with your team and community stakeholders. Together we co-create a purpose and vision for what could be – the potential of the place – and make a plan to realize that new vision.

Motivating Creativity

We develop individual capacity for new ways of thinking and being, motivating teams to reach beyond their current practices, patterns and mindsets. We bring teams together throughout the project to keep everyone on track with the purpose, goals and vision.

Who We Are

Genuine Wealth

The UpFront Regenerative Design team is passionate about fostering Genuine Wealth through a living systems, regenerative approach.

Helen J. Kessler FAIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP

Helen is a nationally recognized architect and consultant with both wide and deep knowledge in the fields of sustainability, energy efficiency and green design. She is adept at coaching and facilitating integrative and regenerative design processes. She is passionate about connecting the dots, recognizing complex systems such that stakeholders can identify solutions that work for all. Helen has consulted on over 80 LEED projects and has worked in the sustainability field for most of her career, including university research on passive solar heating and cooling.

helen@upfrontregen.com 773.975.6467

Michelle Halle Stern AIA, LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty

Michelle is passionate about transforming paradigms. As a certified facilitator, public speaker, and strategic thinker she easily connects with different points of view and encourages all to make their voices heard. Michelle is both a licensed architect and engineer, technically minded, yet adept at seeing both the big picture and details. She has directed sustainability at large architecture and engineering firm and managed dozens of LEED certification projects ranging in scale from small interiors to corporate high-rises and hospitals.

michelle@upfrontregen.com 773.924.3036