Mae Yuuki, AIA, NCARB, Partner

Mae Yuuki is a licensed Architect in the state of Oregon and specializes in the niche fields of Healthy Homes and Wellness Architecture. Mae graduated with her Bachelor of Architecture and Minor in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon, gaining an understanding of the necessity to sustainably integrate architecture with the landscape. After graduating in 2014, Mae became an integral member of EcoNest as a professional designer, specifying and designing natural, healthy homes. Mae has been working in the field of healthy architecture for many years and has in-depth experience working with Civil and Structural Engineers, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects, and General Contractors. Mae has also been out in the field and has hands-on experience with Straw & Clay, Faswall, Cob, Natural Plasters, and Timber Framing. In addition, she holds a Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building certificate from The New School-Parsons School of Design and is continuing to further her expertise in the creation of healthy indoor environments through courses from the International Institute for Building Biology and Ecology. 

Mae appreciates the capabilities of healthy environments and the home as a sanctuary for healing and respite. She designs with a holistic approach to achieve healthy indoor environments with special considerations given to natural ventilation & daylighting, natural and non-toxic materials, balanced interior temperature & humidity, low electro-climates, and connections with nature. A Pacific Northwest native, Mae’s kinship with nature sprouted early, from hiking, exploring, and camping in the Siuslaw, Umpqua, and Willamette National Forests, to years of cross-country running on the beaches alongside the Pacific Ocean. In 2012, Mae journeyed across the Pacific Ocean and studied abroad in Japan, enriching her passions for early Japanese architectural style, natural woodworking, sublime garden design, and the integration of nature with the built environment. With her cumulative knowledge, expertise, and passions, Mae is solution-oriented with a positive outlook and looks forward to working with you.

Andrea Allen Sis, AIA, NCARB, Partner

Andrea is a licensed Architect in the State of Oregon. She holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Nebraska and a Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building certificate from The New School – Parsons School of Design.  After taking a hiatus from architecture to raise children and pursue other creative passions – photography and graphic design - Andrea joined EcoNest Architecture in 2015 and became the firm’s Materials Research Specialist. She has developed protocols for finding, vetting, and maintaining a database of healthy building materials which is the basis of EcoNest’s Healthy Home Consulting practice.   

Andrea is a faculty member of the International Institute for Building Biology® and co-teaches Healthy Design & Community Planning with Paula Baker-Laporte. She is on a continuous quest for knowledge about the ever-changing world of healthy and sustainable materials and is passionate about sharing this knowledge with other architects as well as contractors, builders, and homeowners. Andrea firmly believes that healthy, nurturing spaces should be accessible to everyone and is consciously focusing her architectural career on creating healthy and sustainable homes for her clients while bringing the practice of building without harmful substances into mainstream design and construction.

Todd Shwayder, Assoc. AIA

Born and raised in Southern California, Todd Shwayder’s deep connection with nature was instilled early on while surfing and scuba diving the Pacific Ocean, rock climbing Yosemite Valley and kayaking the Kern River. After studying and practicing contemporary forms of architecture and construction, his interests flowed into alternative and more natural versions of the craft. Todd has hands-on experience with straw bale, cob, super adobe, natural paints and plasters, and timber framing. Todd received his Masters Degree in Environment and Community enriching his passion for environmental stewardship with tools for mobilizing communities into action. Todd approaches architecture and design with a holistic perspective that reconnects people to the ecosystems that support us.

Lynn Georgens

Lynn joined the EcoNest family in 2018. Her career in accounting and small business administration spans four decades and her friendship with Paula began that long ago as well. Interested in holistic wellness through her adult life, she finds it rewarding to support and be aligned with EcoNest Architecture’s mission. Lynn is passionate about the health of our environment within the home, our community and in nature; and volunteers locally in projects for raising awareness. She enjoys living in a newly built, cozy 400 square foot EcoNest home that Paula and Mae designed; finding that the indoor environment of natural and sustainable materials truly does create a living sanctuary.

Meet our Founders

Founded in 1998, EcoNest began as a design-build collaboration between architect Paula Baker-Laporte and builder, Robert Laporte. With Paula’s background in design and Building Biology and Robert’s experience in timber framing and pioneering development of natural building in North America, the EcoNest concept of natural, healthy timber frame, light straw clay homes was born.

Read more about how EcoNest got its start.