It’s a hot, humid day in downtown St. Louis and another workday for an eco-friendly architect. Steven Vollenweider, STLCC-Meramec alumnus, stands by a nearly finished parking lot at the new William J. Harrison North Side Education Center. He steps back, takes a deep breath and admires the building.
Vollenweider observes the sit from a distance. "Every day when i walk out of the trailer," he said. "I see the sit and I am shocked at the progress."
Vollenweider, an employee of KWAME Building Group, works to fulfill requirements for the LEED Gold standards.
“LEED Gold is a benchmark system where one ensures compliances with LEED Gold certification status through the USA Green Building Certification requirements,” said Vollenweider.
Vollenweider fulfills these requirements not only because it is his job, but because it is an important part of his life. While attending Meramec, Vollenweider took several courses involving green architecture, an important part of his job.
“It seems to me when people talk about sustained living they are not talking about protecting the earth, they are talking about preserving mankind,” said Vollenweider. “I believe in preserving the natural way of life, and that goes into my work.”
Vollenweider considers his work to be part of the solution to a better tomorrow for Earth.
"There are problems int he world, and if there is social issue involving it, I want to be on the positive side of the battle," said Vollenweider. "Our relationship with nature, delicate, it's a give and take sort of thing."
Around the William J. Harrison North Side Education Center, Vollenweider points out several different ways KWAME Building Group has met LEED Gold requirements. Whether it be the seven different recycling bins, or that the foundation of the building was reinforced by the foundations from the homes that previously inhibited the site.
KWAME provided Vollenweider with an experience he explains as “something that you could never learn in a class.” He also says that just working for KWAME has given him a different perspective on life.
“With KWAME being a minority operated business, it’s given me a side to life that I had not seen before,” said Vollenweider. He leans back in his chair and smiles. “KWAME took me under their wing, honestly, we are a big family, and I owe them so much.”
Vollenweider explained why STLCC was also very important in finding his career path.
"The extracurricular courses available at STLCC have been a great opportunity for me and anyone else, to develop team building and leadership," said Vollenweider.
Vollenweider is humble about his achievements, when he talks about what he has accomplished; he mentions how important KWAME and STLCC have been to him.
“When I look back, I’m happy to see where I’m at, it wasn’t only me. There are so many people who have helped me, KWAME being one of them, and STLCC being another,” said Vollenweider.
Vollenweider spends every day ensuring that STLCC’s newest education center lives alongside the planet in harmony.
“I work every day to be a part of the solution and improve the quality of life around me. At the end of the day, I lie in bed and think what did I do today and what can I do better tomorrow,” said Vollenweider.
 "Photo: Kavahn Mansouri")
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