Victoria Watson leads ArchTam’s High-Performance Buildings team in California, overseeing sustainability consulting, high-performance and net zero building design, and energy simulation. With over 17 years’ experience working in both North America and Europe, she has spearheaded numerous net zero energy projects. Victoria partners with clients to realize their net-zero ambitions such as LEED Platinum, carbon neutrality, and resilience.

Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey.

My journey into sustainability engineering was unexpected—I initially planned to attend medical school but soon realized my true career path lay elsewhere.

I didn’t realize it at the time but a key moment that led me to choose a career in engineering came when I was at high school and I heard a female engineer speak about her career. Her experiences of travel and innovation sparked my interest in engineering, though my real passion for it developed gradually over time. While studying engineering at the University of Manchester, I secured a six-month internship in ArchTam’s Advanced Design Group where I worked on performance-based design, renewable energy, and sustainability. This led to ArchTam sponsoring my last year of study and offering me a full-time position after graduation. That was 17 years ago!

My desire to grow led me to seek new opportunities and, through a timely connection, transitioned to ArchTam’s High-Performance Buildings team in Orange County, California, moving to the U.S. in 2013, where I now live with my husband and two children Noah and Sophie. Initially, I faced challenges adapting, but over the past decade, I’ve embraced them, growing into my current role as co-lead of ArchTam’s High-Performance Buildings and Communities Team in U.S. West.  Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with remarkable individuals on transformative projects, further solidifying my passion for sustainability engineering.

Talk to us about a sustainable design or high-performance building project that has impacted or been a major highlight of your career. How is it solving the challenges and issues our clients and communities are facing today?

So many exciting projects come to mind, but one that stands out is the Intuit Dome, the new home of the LA Clippers located in Inglewood, California. I led the high-performance and sustainable design analytics for this incredible new NBA arena. Venues like Intuit Dome present invaluable opportunities for honing new skills and pioneering innovative processes. A significant challenge faced by our clients today is the imperative to decarbonize their assets and operations. In response, the Intuit Dome is not merely aiming for excellence; it has set a new standard as the first LEED v4/4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C): New Construction (NC) sports arena in the world.

Notably, its 2-megawatt solar panel array and 11-megawatt hour battery storage system underscores not only the arena’s and client’s commitment to sustainability but also ensures resilience and reliability in its energy infrastructure. Moreover, the vision for Intuit Dome wasn’t just focused on environmental impact during its design phase; it was equally dedicated to sustainable operations, leveraging their zero-waste room to sort and reduce waste from events.

Being part of this endeavor has been immensely fulfilling, emphasizing the significance of sustainability in our work and local impact.

What are some key design principles that you take into consideration when creating sustainable, high-performance buildings? 

The ethos behind high performance building design champions a collaborative, process-driven approach aimed at crystallizing a project’s vision and establishing tangible performance benchmarks. Our role involves translating our clients’ definition of what performance means for a project into a performance-based approach leveraging our multidisciplinary integrated teams to track and meet performance goals.   

In recent years, there’s been a notable pivot from energy efficiency towards addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprint comprehensively. This includes scrutinizing embodied and operational carbon, integrating renewable energy solutions, and exploring avenues for carbon offsetting.

Looking ahead, I anticipate a heightened emphasis on waste management, occupant well-being, resilience, and optimizing building controls. It’s imperative to recognize that we’re not designing for today alone; we’re shaping the built environment for future generations. As such, we must continue to evolve our approach to meet the ever-changing needs and priorities of tomorrow.

As the global lead for ArchTam’s High Performance Buildings Technical Practice Group (TPG), I am very fortunate to work with amazing colleagues who remain committed to delving deeper into these critical areas, driving innovation, and staying at the forefront of sustainable building design.

The US and California in particular is facing a host of environmental issues, such as wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, and extreme heat. How are we embedding resilience into our designs and engineering to mitigate the impact of these issues? Can you give any examples?

Resilience encompasses the capacity to prepare for, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse circumstances successfully. In our approach to design and engineering, we view resilience through the lens of encouraging resilient communities. For example, we recently completed Integrated Energy Resource Plans for three campuses within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the largest community college system in the United States, catering to over 80 percent of students from underserved populations.

Central to these plans is the concept of a microgrid, leveraging innovative infrastructure that integrates renewable energy sources and battery energy storage systems to enable continuous operation of critical campus facilities, even in the face of extreme conditions or utility blackouts. For instance, during heatwaves or power outages, designated areas of the campus can function as cooling centers, providing essential relief to the community.

By prioritizing resilience in our designs and engineering solutions, we not only fortify the physical infrastructure of campuses but also strengthen the social fabric of the communities they serve, ensuring their ability to withstand and thrive in the face of adversity.

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Introducing LEED Version 5: A new era in sustainable building

The next evolution in sustainable building is here: LEED Version 5 (V5). After nearly two years of development and a second public comment period that closed on October 28, 2024, LEED V5 officially opened for project registrations on April 28, 2025.

This new version marks a bold shift in how green buildings are designed, constructed and operated, with a renewed focus on climate, health and nature. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s new in LEED V5?

LEED V5 brings sweeping updates across all rating systems including Building Design and Construction (BD+C), Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) and Operations and Maintenance (O+M), anchored in three critical areas:

1. Decarbonization

LEED V5 takes a decisive step toward eliminating carbon emissions, addressing operational energy use, embodied carbon, refrigerants and transportation. Over 50 percent of credits in V5 now focus on decarbonization.

2. Quality of life

Health, well-being, resilience and equity take center stage. LEED V5 recognizes that sustainable buildings should also be people-centered, supporting communities both inside and beyond the building envelope.

3. Ecological conservation and restoration

This version emphasizes environmental protection and restoration. It encourages designs that support ecosystems and reduce ecological damage.

Other changes in LEED V5 include new prerequisites that entail projects completing carbon, climate resilience and human impact assessments. Additionally, projects aiming for LEED Platinum certification will need to meet a unique set of elevated prerequisites. Planning for zero-waste operations is also mandatory. There is a stronger focus on resilience and equity as design for climate adaptability, human health and social equity are now essential. The previous “Innovation” and “Regional Priority” credits are now combined into a streamlined “Project Priorities” category. LEED will now follow a five-year update cycle to better align with evolving market demands and regulations.

Tips for succeeding with LEED V5

To achieve successful project delivery, incorporate LEED V5 strategies from day one. The earlier they’re integrated, the more cost-effective and impactful they become. Additionally, begin early with climate resilience, human impact and carbon assessments. These fall under the Integrative Process credit category, and the results can inform key decisions in design, construction and operation.

Another vital tip is to move beyond siloed strategies and think holistically. LEED V5 rewards approaches that create synergies such as improving energy, water and equity outcomes together. Prioritize decarbonizing your project (systems, buildings, campuses) as electrification is one of the most effective strategies to meet decarbonization goals and will be required for LEED Platinum new construction projects.

Designing for resilience and leveraging integrative design are also important for this update. Consider resiliency from the beginning of the project to fully understand potential hazards and incorporate mitigation strategies. This also offers a business case, as investors and insurance companies are increasingly recognizing the long-term benefits of resilient and sustainable design, encouraging businesses to adopt these approaches.

What about LEED V4 projects?

LEED V4 isn’t disappearing overnight. Registrations for LEED V4 remain open through Q1 2026 and all LEED V4 projects can be certified until 2032. If you’re already working on a project under LEED V4, complete a gap analysis with LEED V5. You may find it beneficial or even necessary to transition to the newer version.

LEED V5 isn’t just an update but a strategic pivot. It reflects the urgent need for climate action, equitable development and ecological stewardship. Whether you’re planning a new build or upgrading an existing facility, integrating LEED V5 from the outset will position your project and your team for long-term sustainability and success.

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It’s all about resiliency
Climate change and extreme weather have caused a five-fold increase in natural disasters over the past 50 years, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). As a result, asset resiliency is critical across all scales — from individual buildings to infrastructure and entire communities. Of all natural disasters, extreme heat is one of the most widespread, affecting nearly all regions.

A fascinating paradox lies in balancing resilient design with decarbonization. While future impacts can be anticipated, the exact risks and frequency remain uncertain. Striking the right balance between preparing for future challenges and avoiding over-design is essential, as excessive material use increases embodied carbon and hinders progress toward decarbonization goals.

The financial case for sustainability
Investors and insurance companies are beginning to recognize the long-term benefits of resilient and sustainable design, incentivizing businesses to adopt these measures. Increasingly, funding is linked to emission reduction targets, such as those set by SBTi and GRESB. Third-party certification programs like LEED offer governance and assurance for sustainable and resilient design.

LEED V5
The final version of LEED V5 is anticipated to launch in early 2025, with LEED V4 registrations expected to close by the end of that year. Over 50 percent of LEED V5 credits will emphasize decarbonization, while the other key focus areas include Quality of Life and Ecological Conservation and Restoration. Resiliency will play a prominent role, requiring projects to conduct climate resilience assessments. To support this, the LEED reference manual will offer user-friendly tools for a more streamlined approach to meeting these requirements.

Role of AI in energy use
The use of AI is growing exponentially, yet its significant energy demands often go overlooked. AI is a major driver of increased electricity demand in the U.S., with new data centers emerging to meet this need. Looking ahead, it will be essential to address and account for their energy consumption.

Are aggressive carbon neutrality goals hindering progress?
While Greenbuild unfolded, governments met at COP29 in Azerbaijan to discuss advancing the Paris Agreement goals to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Achieving this requires greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2025 and decline by 43 percent by 2030. This urgency has led some entities to set aggressive targets like carbon neutrality by 2030. Unrealistic timelines often lead to reliance on carbon offsets, which act as self-imposed fines. Alternative strategies like redirecting funds from offsets into green investment funds or decarbonization projects may yield better results. By selling RECs and reinvesting in decarbonization, organizations could achieve more impactful progress. However, the question remains if buildings should aim for carbon neutrality or instead strive for carbon-free operations.

Transparency in building performance accelerates change
Cities are adopting energy efficiency policies to support decarbonization, beginning with benchmarking and progressing to emission targets. Key examples include carbon limits and fines set by Local Law 97 in New York City, 2025 emission standards set by BERDO in Boston and phased reduction of building size threshold that need to meet Building Energy Performance Standards in Washington, DC. Cities like Seattle, Denver and Chicago have similar performance standards in place or planned, with targets due as early as 2025. Transparency through policies like these motivates building owners to improve energy efficiency, driving broader sustainability efforts.

Focus on zero waste
We are generating more waste than ever, especially food waste, and the lack of commercial composting services further aggravates the situation. Working closely with users, operators and vendors to educate them on recycling protocols will reduce contamination and increase recycling rates. The adoption of technology and AI to bolster these initiatives is increasingly prevalent. Communities, agencies and projects worldwide are beginning to work toward zero waste as seen through projects shared at Greenbuild including Intuit Dome where teams work 24/7 to separate waste streams during major events, and Boston’s Carbon Leadership Forum’s Reuse Working Group that aims to reduce environmental impacts, create jobs, lower costs, and promote equity. Such initiatives underscore how waste reduction fosters economic, environmental and social benefits.

As we look to the future, Greenbuild serves as a powerful reminder that ideals like achieving sustainability and zero waste are imperative and require bold innovation, collective action and unwavering commitment to create resilient communities for generations to come.

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