#25: What does it take to win one of the most groundbreaking public school projects in the US? Laura Gwyn, Managing Director at Perkins&Will, joins Tyler Suomala to share how her team secured the first Living Building Certified public school. From building a mission-driven team to delivering a pitch that combined expertise with authenticity, Laura breaks down what it really takes to lead at the highest level.
Here’s what you’ll learn in the episode:
→ What one public school project reveals about the future of sustainable design
→ The truth about Living Building Certification (and why it makes LEED look like a warm-up act)
→ What never gets said about building a winning project team, but made all the difference here
→ The tiny RFP details that actually win high-stakes, sustainability-first projects (most firms overlook these)
→ When Laura’s team tore up the usual interview playbook, and how that bold move sealed the deal
→ What happened when the team got personal – and why storytelling might be your most powerful tool
→ How to “control the controllables” during an unpredictable RFP process, and stay in the driver’s seat
→ The surprising moment during the kickoff site walk that changed everything
→ The one piece of advice Laura gives every firm leader chasing their next seminal win
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03:08) Designing a nature-based learning environment
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08:20) The legacy of Perkins&Will in education
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10:11) Building the right partnerships to win
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14:53) A cultural approach to architecture
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18:28) What soul-searching revealed about the team
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23:01) Creating a growth hub for firm owners
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26:36) Why in-person engagement still matters
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30:01) Behind the scenes of the project kickoff
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31:17) How the perfect site was selected
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36:55) The strategy behind “controlling the controllables”
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41:23) What it means to embrace seminal moments
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42:31) A fresh take on leadership and gratitude
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