Williams Tsien Architects

Billie Tsien is a founding partner of the New York-based practice Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners. Their practice is committed to reflecting the values of non-profit, cultural and academic institutions toward an architecture of enduring vision. A sense of rootedness, light, texture, detail, and most of all, experience, are at the heart of what they design. Some of their notable projects include The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, the Asia Society Hong Kong Center in Hong Kong, and

the renovations of the public spaces in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Currently in construction are The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago.

Their dedication to this work has garnered numerous awards and citations including the National Medal of Arts from President Obama, the 2013 AIA Architecture Firm Award, and the 2019 Praemium Imperiale presented by the Japan Art Association.

In parallel to her practice, Billie teaches at Yale University, and is a devoted participant in the broader cultural community. She currently serves as the first Woman and Asian-American Chair of the Commission of Fine Arts, appointed by President Biden in 2021. As an educator and practitioner, she is steadfast in her mission to create a better world through architecture.

Principal Hawaii Off-Grid, Architect

David Sellers’ architectural journey began while working on commercial fishing boats in Alaska, serving as a ship’s engineer to finance his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University. This hands-on experience gave him a deep understanding of battery systems, potable and wastewater systems, and generators. He later earned a master’s degree in architecture, Urbanism, and Building Science from the Technical University Delft in the Netherlands. After living abroad for a decade, David returned to the United States and joined The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, where he served as Operations Manager and Interim Director of the Palmyra Atoll program. In this role, he managed a world-renowned research station and led the Palmyra Renewable Energy Project, transitioning the station from diesel generators to a renewable microgrid—saving over one million dollars annually and freeing funds for conservation and research. 

In 2015, David co-founded Hawaii Off-Grid (HIOG) with architect Rick McGovern and civil engineer Jacob Freeman. Building on McGovern’s established practice, HIOG evolved into a pioneering architectural firm focused on sustainable and resilient design. As President of AIA Maui in 2024, David played a key role in Maui wildfire recovery efforts, partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and serving as a county-deputized safety assessor for damaged structures within the burn zone. He also leads the design of Ohana Hope Village, a mid-term housing project providing relief for displaced Lahaina residents. 

David serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Maui, where he champions innovative construction materials and methods. He has been a driving force behind introducing mass timber solutions to the Hawaiian Islands, incorporating this sustainable technology into new residential projects and other developments. 

Hawaii State Senator District 9, Chair, Housing Committee

Stanley Chang represents East Honolulu, Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai, in the Hawaii State Senate. A lifelong resident of Waialae-Kahala, Stanley attended Wai-Kahala Preschool, Kahala Elementary School, and Iolani School before attending college and law school at Harvard University. He practiced real estate law at Cades Schutte in Honolulu. Stanley served four years on the Honolulu City Council from 2011 to 2015. In 2016, he was elected to the State Senate as its youngest member, As chair of the Committee on Housing since 2018, Stanley has pursued an innovative public sector housing program modeled on the successful Singapore and Vienna, Austria models to solve Hawaii’s decades-long affordable housing shortage.