Sydney Mainster

Biography: Sydney brings over 16 years of professional and academic architecture, design, and construction experience to The Durst Organization. As Vice President of Sustainability & Design Management, her primary role is to support the company leadership’s vision for sustainability in ground-up development projects, existing building renovations, and building management. In addition, Sydney is responsible for our Design Management team that ensures high quality documentation and execution of all new construction, capital improvements, and tenant projects. The team is responsible for maintaining consistency and high-quality services in the management of a project’s development from inception to operation. Working cross-functionally with the Marketing, Leasing, Engineering, Operations, and the Construction Departments, Sydney develops strategies for implementing guidelines, setting targets, and maximizing tenant engagement. She defines and refines design and construction sustainability criteria utilizing data from current green building rating systems health research and chemical red lists; and sustainability best practices in energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and cradle-to-cradle product manufacturing, use, and disposal. Sydney works closely with design consultants, construction teams, and manufacturers to ensure product selection, procurement, and installation all meet established design, performance, and sustainability criteria—not only to achieve outcomes on current building projects, but also to improve environmental standards and innovation in the industry at large. Sydney is a board member of the Building Energy Exchange and the NYLCV. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UC Berkeley and a Master of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.