Oakland, CA &#8211 September 15, 2007 &#8211 A successful Bay Area architect since 1989, Mercedes Corbell has found her professional niche and personal passion. She is a green architect focused on creating environmentally sound designs for residential and commercial spaces. Corbell is founder and principal of Mercedes Corbell Design + Architecture (MCD+A) located in Oakland, and will have an informational booth at the upcoming West Coast Green Residential Building Conference and Expo, September 20-22 at the Bill Graham Auditorium at the Civic Center.

“I really began specializing in green building five years ago when I got more exposed to it and became curious,” said Corbell. “The choice of materials, products and building systems are available and key to achieving a green project. My firm is committed to working with all clients to accomplish their green goals.”

Originally launching her small firm to design residential and commercial spaces, Corbell took her business to the next level in 2002 when she went green. She now specializes in helping clients and contractors stay focused on keeping projects green throughout the process, from design to construction. Working with a green contractor is always ideal, she said, and is becoming more common in the industry due to increasing demand. At the initial design phase, she starts by attending to natural light, ventilation and, in some cases, passive solar gain. With clients’ green priorities in mind, Corbell and her team outline the possibilities, researching what is available, practical and do-able based on six principles.

The “Green Goals” of MCD+A are straightforward, responsible and addressed in each individual project. They are:

? Health and indoor air quality

? Energy efficiency

? Resource conservation

? Water conservation

? Air, water and soil protection

? Wildlife respect

Sharing her knowledge and interest in green building is important to Corbell, who ultimately sees a future where all building is environmentally-mindful and green. She teaches public workshops at Piedmont Adult School and Ecohome Improvement, a retail shop in Oakland featuring green products and building supplies. Corbell also co-authored the book Green Remodeling by David Johnston and Kim Masters, chapter three.Corbell earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of California at Berkeley.

An active member of the East Bay building and design community, she co-founded the Green Remodelers Guild with David Johnston in 2003, and has been a member of the Splinter Group since 1990.

Corbell is also a member of the Northern California Chapter of Architects, Designers, and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR). Be sure to stop by the Mercedes Corbell Design + Architecture booth #10 at West Coast Green to learn more about green building, see and touch green material samples and review Corbell’s portfolio. To schedule an interview with her during the conference, contact 510.390.2630.

Founded in 1989, Mercedes Corbell Design + Architecture (MCD+A) is a small Oakland firm specializing in green design for residential and commercial environments. Originally called Mercedes Corbell Design, founder and architect Mercedes Corbell renamed the firm to its current title in 2002. Since focusing on sustainable design in 2000, Mercedes Corbell Design + Architecture has been the architectural firm for many green projects, including the renovation and expansion of existing homes, outdoor spaces and commercial buildings. For more information call 510.832.8970, or visit www.mercedescorbelldesign.com.