MEET THE TEAM
Project Manager
HANNAH
BLAKE
Hi, my name is Hannah and I am so excited to be one of the leaders of CU Boulder's Solar Decathlon team. As a CU Boulder Architectural Engineering student in an interdisciplinary program, I have dedicated my entire college career to learning about issues surrounding energy use/efficiency and sustainability.
Project Manager
GABRIELLA
ABELLO
Hi, my name is Gabi. I’m in my fourth year of studying Architectural Engineering in an experiential program at CU. I’m passionate about integrating sustainable solutions and human-centered design, and am very excited to push this project as far as it can go. I’m fascinated by residential builds and its role in planning for a greener future.
Finance Lead
WESTON
MORAN
Hi my name is Wes and I am excited to solve the housing crisis within the Rocky Mountain region through the Solar Decathlon competition. I am currently a Senior in Leeds Business School studying Real Estate and Finance.
Marketing Lead
Hello, my name is Nate Hottenstein and I am from the Greater Philadelphia Area. I am a community based architect and designer in the school of ENVD. I will be graduating with a specialization in architecture. As a designer, I have run and designed graphics for several branding campaigns.
NATHANIEL HOTTENSTEIN
Structural Lead
JUSTIN
RIMBACH
Howdy, I'm Justin, and I'm a senior in Architectural Engineering. I'm a co-lead of the Structural Engineering team with Eric, and am honored to be a part of the Solar Decathlon competition. I love architecture and design, and hope that our build can push the limits of sustainable building practices and confront the issues that affect so many people throughout the world.
Foreman
Robin
Walz
Robin.Walz@colorado.edu
Structural Co-Lead
ERIC
SIPOCZ
My name is Eric Sipocz and I am a co-lead on the structures team, and a student in the school of architectural engineering at CU Boulder. I joined the team to gain experience designing and building a house, and to be part of a team which will work to help people in Colorado.
Project Superintendent
NIKET
VASAVADA
Hi, my name is Niket Vasavada and I am from India. I recently graduated from CU with a Master's degree in Mechanical and I am really passionate about working in Renewable Energy & Sustainability Engineering projects, may it be residential, communal or commercial.
Hydraulic Systems Lead
RACHEL
CORNWELL
Hi! My name is Rachel and I am so excited to be a part of the CU Solar Decathlon team. I am currently a junior in Environmental Engineering with a certificate in Techonology, Arts, and Media. I am excited to work with faculty and industry mentors to apply my knowledge of sustainability and water systems to this house.
Mechanical Engineering Lead
EDDIE
HERRICK
REYNOLDS
My name is Eddie, I am a junior in mechanical engineering. Originally from the D.C area, looking forward to being able to apply in-class knowledge to innovate on a real world problem.
System Design Lead
BRANDON
WALLACE
ERIC
SIPOCZ
Hi my name is Brandon Wallace, I am a junior studying product design and business. I race triathlons competitively and am also the collegiate club conference commissioner for the mountain region. I'm passionate about design and enjoy learning new things, and have grown up surrounded by the real estate industry and remodels.
BRENTON
KREIGER
Graduate Advisor
My name is Brenton Kreiger and I am a graduate student at CU Boulder studying Architectural Engineering. My research is in material-based optimization of building-to-grid interactions, and I am the graduate student advisor for the CU Solar Decathlon team. I participated in the UC Berkeley - Denver University team in 2017 and hope to start my own off-grid design-build firm one day!
Electrical Lead
NATALIE
BETTS
Hi, my name is Natalie Betts and I am a senior studying Electrical Engineering. I am passionate about creating a world that has lower carbon emissions and responsible energy use. I'm excited to build a net-zero home that supports sustainable living.
Measurement Team
RYAN
TASTO
HEATHER WALKER
JACOB APPLE
(top)
(left)
(right)
Homeowners
KRISTEN TADDONIO
JOE SMYTH
ERIC
SIPOCZ
JENNIFER
SCHEIB
Faculty Advisor