I Am AIA:

Janet Stephenson, LEED AP

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A well-known AEC industry leader, Janet’s reputation is synonymous with innovation and sustainability. With experience spanning architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing, she has championed energy efficiency, mass timber, and industrialized construction. Currently VP of Sales for Modwall, her career ranges from leading $1B pipeline of multifamily housing at Katerra, to conceiving the AIA+2030 program while at AIA Seattle. She has served on Seattle’s Design Review Board, USGBC’s Greenbuild Program Working Group, and helped launch USGBC-LA. Janet blends business acumen, advocacy and joy to realize bold ideas grounded in human needs, environmental urgency, design excellence, and real-world feasibility.

WHY DID YOU JOIN AIA SEATTLE?

AIA Seattle is the power of community, a collective voice, and our creative conscience. It’s where hierarchy dissipates, relationships are made, careers are catalyzed and passions thrive and effect change. It keeps us honest, forward-thinking, and connected, and makes space for our curiosity while ensuring there is meaning, quality, recognition and value in design.

Which is to say, the people are fantastic and I want to spend more time with you all!

WHAT RELATIONSHIPS HAVE YOU CREATED?

Many, in large part thanks to my time serving AIA Seattle’s membership as program director over 15 years ago. From skeptical developers turned co-conspirators to architects and contractors who became lifelong collaborators (and dance pals), my AIA circle challenges each other, and cheers each other on.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I’m a back stage producer. I operate in the white space: a connector, a facilitator, a strategist, instilling belief in possibility to move vision to viability. Ideally, I am always living up to a comment made of me a long time ago by Ash Awad of McKinstry that I’m a “pleasure and a provocateur”.

WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I’m working with Modwall to rethink and replace one of construction’s most wasteful assumptions: that walls are disposable. We’re designing modular interior systems that evolve with people and place—eliminating drywall, dust, and demolition. It’s circularity made tangible, offering flexibility without the environmental hangover. As needs inevitably change, so can your space—without sending it to the landfill.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE FROM YOUR WORK?

I hope to boost people’s belief in themselves, to challenge people’s beliefs, and,
together, make purposeful progress.

I hope more people will say “and” instead of “but”.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TODAY?

The kindness of a stranger.

CAN DESIGN SAVE THE WORLD?

Hard one! Define “design”. Define “save”. Define “world”. Let’s discuss! For now, I will say that “with great power comes great responsibility”.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEATTLE-AREA STRUCTURE?

Olympic Sculpture Park, designed by Weiss/Manfredi with local input. Transforming a contaminated industrial site into a world class publicly accessible waterfront park that combines environmental restoration, walkability, art, multi-functional space, and open access. Multi-functional circularity, inclusivity, beauty, ecological restoration, and where I walked my dog every day —check, check, check, and check.