Ed Akins II graduated with a Master of Architecture Degree in 1996 from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has worked locally with Atlanta communities to achieve LCI grants and with the Architecture firms Thompson Ventulett Stainback and Smith Dalia Architects. Since 2002, he has taught at both the Georgia Institute of Technology and at Kennesaw State University, where he is currently an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Environmental Technologies.
In 2004 he developed an elective at Georgia Tech (Natural Systems) and he continues to apply these interests to the instruction of Mechanical Systems and Human Comfort within the Architecture department of KSU.
With a focus on reparative planning and solar accommodation in design, Ed continues to expose and explore the delicate relationship between human occupation and nature.
Ed was a lead partner for the Atlanta Sustainable Building Ordinance (ASBO) in 2009 and the moderator for Atlanta’s AIA+ARCH2030 Sessions in 2011. He has received multiple certificates of service from AIA and was the recipient of the Emerging Professional Award in 2007 from AIA Georgia, the Emerging Voices Award in 2008 from AIA Atlanta’s YAF chapter, and the recipient of AIA Atlanta’s John A. Busby Medal in 2010.
Ed has served as Co-Chair and Chair on the President’s Commission for Sustainability at KSU and has taught Ecological Urbanism within the USG European Council Paris program. He was chosen as KSU Sustainability Fellow for the 2016-2017 Academic year and was chosen to attend the 2017 EAO Workshop in Germany focused on the topic “Sustainability – Challenges for the World of Tomorrow.”
Most recently, he was awarded the 2018 R.C. Paul Excellence in Sustainability Award for his outstanding efforts toward promoting environmental sustainability in the educational and operational practices of the Kennesaw State University (KSU) campus community.
