Case Study: Kipnis Architecture + Planning achieves realistic 3D presentations and sustainable, high‑design results with VectorWorks

Bringing Style to the World of Environmental Sustainability

Kipnis Architecture + Planning (KAP), an Evanston, Illinois firm founded by Nathan Kipnis in 1993, specializes in integrating high design with low‑carbon, energy‑conscious architecture. Facing clients who wanted beautiful, regionally rooted homes and vibrant office space that were also genuinely sustainable, KAP needed to prove that green strategies could be integral to — not tacked onto — great design while overcoming skepticism about passive systems and energy performance.

KAP responded with site‑driven solutions: a modern “barn” vacation home near Sturgeon Bay that uses natural ventilation, daylighting, radiant floor heating, local materials and is pre‑wired for solar (earning ENERGY STAR status and Natural Home Magazine recognition), and a playful, collaborative CraftJack office modeled in 3D with Vectorworks featuring NEST thermostats, Solatube daylighting, LED lighting and recycled furnishings. The result: delighted clients and occupants, highly accurate design-to-built fidelity, measurable energy efficiency, and strengthened reputation as a leader in beautiful, practical sustainable design.

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Nathan Kipnis

Principal