You and your team have exceeded my expectations so far for this project. I really didn’t expect much from this building due to the simplistic nature, but I’m certainly pleasantly surprised with what you’ve presented so far.

You (Alan Hautman) have consistently exceeded my expectations as well as those attributes that the Corps typically evaluates. I have always enjoyed our working relationship which is marked by honestly and integrity as well as the knowledge and expertise of your entire staff. On any given project you have found the one true innovation to success for our military customers that go beyond the standards of quality, schedule and budget.

I wanted to personally thank you (Chad Edwards) for all your efforts on the University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center while employed at your previous firm. Your fortitude and pursuit for accuracy and completeness proved essential to the LEED Certification process of the Recreation Center, our most complex project to date.

But Jim went beyond our requirements. His concept for the building honored its history which originally housed a company that manufactured cigar boxes as well as a variety of other light industries. He designed a new stair tower to clearly announce the “front” of the building, which originally had been its back, walls separating office spaces that honored the integrity of the original building, and even a color scheme that made the outside of the building fit well into the community but still give it distinction. The building has won a number of architectural awards, but just as important, it functions smoothly, engaging our students, their caregivers, our staff and teachers.  

In each instance related to Shawn’s teaching over the past 5 years, I have been impressed by his thorough knowledge of USGBC and LEED. Because of his passion for green building, Shawn is at the same time engaged and engaging, humble but confident, articulate but a great listener, and an inspiring speaker and person.  In summary, I can only speak of Shawn in the very highest of terms, and it has been my great honor to know him as a friend and USGBC colleague.