Lara Kaufman

Architect Lara Kaufman is a Design Principal based in the Studio’s New York office. As Studio Gang’s Sustainability Lead, she oversees the Studio’s Sustainability Task Force and directs project teams on implementation of holistic design approaches for decarbonization, water conservation, site ecologies, and healthy materials. She has advanced initiatives for the Marlboro Agricultural Education Center, the Clinton Presidential Center expansion, and the David Rubenstein Treehouse, which is targeting Living Building Challenge’s Core Green Building Certification and Materials Petal.

A committed advocate for urgent climate action within the building industry, she is currently serving as co-lead for the Carbon Leadership Forum’s NYC hub and contributes to other working groups promoting environmental policy, best practices and education. She also leads the Studio’s ongoing research into sustainability, including a whole life carbon analysis of the Beloit College Powerhouse, and has joined numerous industry conferences, summits and university studio courses as an invited speaker.

Lara additionally brings over twenty years of experience stewarding complex cultural and institutional projects from conceptualization to completion. Prior to Studio Gang, she led the expansion project for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) from kickoff to opening while at Snøhetta.

She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies from Columbia University.