Heather Young is the founder of Heather Young Architects. Prior to establishing HYA, she was a partner in Fergus Garber Young Architects (the “Y” in FGY). The span of Heather’s projects reflect her passion for multiple architectural styles and types. Past projects include Equinox Palo Alto renovation and expansion, mSpot, a Samsung Company, 2555 Park Blvd, the LEED Platinum Bryant Street Residence, and the Foster Art & Wilderness Foundation. She is a green champion and a former Steering Committee member of the Northern California Chapter of the US Green Building Council.
Heather started her professional career with Cesar Pelli & Associates (now Pelli Clarke Pelli) in New Haven, Connecticut where she was an Associate working on the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Gonda Building at the Mayo Clinic. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University and her Master of Architecture from Yale University. Heather is a past Chair and Board member of the Palo Alto Architectural Review Board and past President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Mateo County Chapter. She also represents the AIA as a Commissioner for the CAB (California Architects Board) and NAAB (National Architects Accreditation Board). When not at her desk looking for green solutions or in the field working with contractors, Heather can be found hiking, doing yoga, biking in the local
neighborhoods (usually in search of a donut shop), or watching a classic film (tip: if opposing Heather in Trivial Pursuit, choose a different category).
Yale University M. Arch
1991
Rice University B. Arch
1988
Rice University B.A. Arch
1986
Juror, AIA Montana Design Awards
2023
Juror, Sustainable San Mateo County annual Green Building Award
2019-2023
Juror, The American Institute of Architects, AIA Honor Awards, Architecture 2022
2022
Juror, Carnegie Mellon University Delbert Highlands Travel Fellowship
2022
Board of Directors, AIA San Mateo County (2012-2022); Events Committee Chair (2018-2021); Ex-officio (2018); President (2017); Vice President (2016); Director (2012-2015, 2022)
2012 - 2022
Speaker, Woman's club of Palo Alto "Palo Alto's Housing Shortage"
March 2021
Committee Chair, AIA Committee on Design, “The Innovators and Maintainers”, San Francisco Spring Conference
2019
Presenter, 25-Year Award: Presentation of the Winning Project, SA105, AIA Conference on Architecture
2019 - Las Vegas
Architects Magazine Feature, Best Practices: Maximizing a Trade Show or Conference
2018
Presentor, What is the 25 Year Award? FR514, AIA Conference on Architecture
2018 - New York
Organizer, Twenty-Five Year Award: New York Recipients Walking Tour, ET403, AIA Conference on Architecture
2018 - New York
Co-Chair, AIA 25 Year Award Committee, AIA Conference on Architecture
2016 - 2020
Palo Alto Weekly Feature, Big, Green but Not Modern
2011
Chair, Architectural Review Board for the City of Palo Alto (2012); Vice Chair (2010-2011); Member (2009-2010)
2009 - 2012
Visiting Team Chair, Pennsylvania State University, NAAB Initial Accreditation Visit
2017
Visiting Team Member, The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
2007 - 2018
Commissioner, California Architects Board
2007 - 2014
Visiting Team Chair, Rochester Institute of Technology, NAAB Continued Candidacy Visit
2013
Visiting Team Chair, Andrews University, NAAB Continued Accreditation Visit
2012
Speaker, AIA Seminar, Ontario, “Alternative Management Strategies for the Small Firm”
2008
Steering Committee, U.S. Green Building Council, Northern California Chapter
2004 - 2006
Co-Chair, USGBC Event Committee, Northern California Chapter
2004 - 2006
US Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional
2003 - present
American Institute of Architects Member
2002 - present