Maria Perez is a Senior Associate and Director of Sustainable Design for Gensler, a global architecture and design firm. In this role, she serves as one of the firm’s leading sustainability ambassadors and promoters, engaging staff, clients, and the public on innovative and sustainable design, construction, and operational thinking.

She is an accomplished educator with dynamic and practical insights that have been inspiring audiences since she established the first sustainability class for Gensler in 2003. A recognized expert in LEED standards and sustainability rating systems, Maria is a leading advocate for performance-based design.

Maria plays a pivotal role in the development of sustainable tools and is now actively involved in the development and implementation of new standards and guidelines for LEEDv4, which is leading to greater sustainability performance in every project in the region.

Maria is a licensed architect. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico and a Master of Science in Architecture from the University of Houston. In 2015, she was named a LEED Fellow for her exemplary  leadership, impactful commitment, service, and advocacy in green building and sustainability. She is a LEED AP+ ( BD+C, ID+C, O+M, and ND).

Maria has worked with USGBC National in the GREENBUILD Special Programs Working Group as well as the LEED v4 test development program. Currently she is actively participating in the GBCI LEED credentialing committee and is currently serving as Vice President of the USGBC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. Finally, as Gensler’s Regional Sustainable Design Director, she helps designers and architects discover how they can design more energy-efficient buildings with lower building and operating costs.