Blake Jackson, AIA

Blake Jackson, AIA

Jackson’s journey in architecture began while serving as an apprentice to his father, a mill worker by day and a handyman at night. Through those experiences, Jackon learned how buildings are constructed through wiring, framing, and plumbing. Two trips during eighth grade to Savannah, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., helped solidify his goal of becoming an architect. He attended Kennesaw State University as a HOPE Scholar and the first in his family to go to college.

After achieving LEED accreditation in 2006, Jackson recognized what he calls a “sustainability vacuum” in the profession, spurring him to pursue graduate work in the United Kingdom. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2009, he dedicated himself to becoming a sustainability leader and has become NORR’s global director of sustainability, leading a practice that supports 12 market sectors in the U.S., U.K., and Canada and pursues zero emissions by 2040.

Prior to joining NORR, Jackson was the sustainability practice leader for Tsoi/Kobus & Associates (TKA), where he created the firm’s corporate social responsibility program, which the city of Cambridge recognized with two prestigious GoGreen Awards. While at TKA, Jackson oversaw seven LEED-certified projects across more than five million gross square feet. Together, these projects saved 2.3 million gallons of potable water and 4.1MW of energy each year for a total savings of more than $900,000 annually. His projects have also won numerous national and international awards; the Duke Cancer Center, for example, was recognized as the USGBC-NC Green Building of the Year in 2016.

In addition to his work in the studio, Jackson has authored and contributed to more than 90 publications on topics that greatly impact the built environment. He has been published in four peer-reviewed journals and penned two chapters for Rosemary Botti Salitsky’s book Programming and Research, which is required reading in numerous interior design programs. Jackson is also a frequent speaker and has appeared at more than 150 events around the world, including GreenBuild 2019, CIBSE UAE 2020, and the PLEA International Conference in 2020.

Jackson has been a leader with the Boston Society of Architects, chairing its Sustainability Education Committee and Committee on the Environment for six years. In this role, Jackson highlighted pressing topics on sustainability, attracted expert speakers, and offered forums that provided 16 learning units annually. As the chapter’s vice president for advocacy, he created infrastructure that helps the chapter’s 42 knowledge communities be more intentional in their pursuits and uncover opportunities for collaboration.

While his design work is inspiring and impactful, Jackson shines as a volunteer and mentor. Eager to share his knowledge, he continues to improve the profession through his potent mix of expertise and boundless enthusiasm.