2026 Conference Speaker: Keith A. Simon, FAIA

Keith A. Simon, FAIA

Biography

Keith A. Simon, FAIA, is a leading architectural strategist whose career blends high performance building expertise, global service, and a human centered design philosophy.

As VP of Design Phase Services at Salas O’Brien, he guides the durability and integrity of building enclosures across complex projects, drawing on credentials that include Certified Passive House Consultant, LEED AP, and Building Enclosure Commissioning Provider. For the past 15 years, he has also shaped future practitioners as adjunct faculty at the University of Texas School of Architecture, teaching courses in Environmental Controls, Enclosures, Detailing, Building Science, Design Studio, and Sustainability.

Keith’s path into architecture has been circuitous. After earning his BA in Architecture from Columbia University, he stepped away from traditional practice to work as a construction laborer and barista before joining the Peace Corps. His service—first managing rural sanitation projects in Bolivia, then providing earthquake-relief housing in El Salvador with the Crisis Corps—became a defining chapter. These immersive experiences taught him more about the fundamental purpose of architecture than any classroom: that design must begin with people.

Keith championed a people-centric, environmentally responsible approach to architecture that once made him a “black sheep” in the profession. Today, his leadership and impact are widely recognized. He was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he is the founder and a current board member of the Austin Building Enclosure Council, and he serves as Chair of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council (BETEC) executive committee.

Despite being denied admission to the UT School of Architecture as a student, Keith has been a dedicated educator there since 2011—known for hands-on, relevant teaching that connects building science to real-world performance. His career continues to reflect the same values that shaped his early journey: service, curiosity, and a commitment to architecture that protects both people and the planet.

conference session overview

Architecture Out of Balance

Architecture today often mirrors fast fashion – designed quickly, consumed rapidly, and discarded without reflection. In Architecture Out of Balance, architect and professor Keith Simon challenges this cycle, urging a shift toward performance-driven design that prioritizes longevity, sustainability, and human experience. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding at speed, this talk calls for a more thoughtful approach; one that values adaptation, environmental responsibility, and the emotional impact of the space we inhabit. By rethinking what makes architecture meaningful, Keith invites designers to restore balance – creating buildings that not only function efficiently, but also endure, connect, and enrich our lives over time.

Learning Objectives:

Learn the latest research on how long buildings last and what the primary factors are that lead to premature demolition of buildings.
Explain why adaptive reuse is a critical sustainability strategy and evaluate its environmental benefits.
Learn why connections between new and old construction are more meaningful, healthy, and impactful places for human beings.
Analyze the concept of building obsolescence and distinguish between functional failure and perceived outdatedness.
Evaluate design strategies that support long-term adaptability and extended building lifespans.
Compare adaptation and preservation as approaches to architectural longevity and cultural continuity.