Topaz Medallion

Harrison Fraker, Assoc. AIA
Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, UC Berkeley
A pioneer in sustainability circles, Fraker founded the Center for Environmental Studies in conjunction with the engineering department at Princeton University in 1972. The center, now a part of the Princeton Environmental Institute, was created to explore how buildings interact with the environment. Fraker launched two professional practices, Princeton Energy Group (PEG) and Harrison Fraker Architects (HFA), to partner with the center to use research in the application of energy-efficient building design. PEG developed energy-monitoring tools; HFA designed passive solar buildings. In 2013, Fraker published a book, The Hidden Potential of Sustainable Neighborhoods: Lessons from Low-Carbon Communities, which explores how sustainable design in Europe can be applied in the U.S. Last year, he was also appointed chair of the UC Berkeley Energy and Resources Group.