Bill McDonough is one of the world's leading environmental architects. He is Principal Partner at William McDonough & Partners and co-founder of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry. In 1996 he received America's highest environmental award, the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development. He is a founding member of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment and Chairman of the Board of Councilors of the China-US Center for Sustainable Development. Al Gore has referred to him as 'the mastermind of sustainable design' and Time magazine recognized him as a 'Hero for the Planet' in 1999.