Ralph Bicknese

AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LEED Fellow

Principal

Hellmuth & Bicknese Architects

BIO

Ralph Bicknese is an architect, a member of the AIA, a LEED Fellow and co-founder of Hellmuth-Bicknese Architects. Ralph’s is passionate about integrating design excellence with exemplary environmental performance to evoke positive impact and enrich life.

Mr. Bicknese helped found the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter where he has held numerous leadership positions. He initiated the Katrina Charrettes at Greenbuild 2005, was a contributor to The New Orleans Principles as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and is a founding member of the City of Maplewood Sustainability Commission, Ralph serves on the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group 2016-present, was co-chair in 2019 and chair in 2020-present, on the AIA Sustainable Leadership Group 2019-2020, and serves on the AIA’s Committee for Climate Action and Design Excellence 2021-present. He has participated in over 50 LEED projects, including the LEED Gold certified Gateway Arch Museum and Visitor Center, and 11 projects seeking LBC certification, including Washington University in St. Louis’s Living Learning Center, tied for the first building in the world certified to the Living Building Challenge. Several projects incorporate campus scale site master plans with buildings, site features and landscape elements as significant educational components. H+B was a paid finalist as part of a national team in the competition for the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, at Georgia Tech. Ralph is a frequent mentor, juror, panelist & lecturer at universities, conferences & USGBC and AIA educational sessions.