In 2025, Andi Sklar stands as a testament to a new paradigm of success in architecture and urban development. Her audacious vision for carbon-negative cities and her firm’s groundbreaking work in regenerative design have not only yielded iconic projects but have also inspired a generation. Sklar’s journey offers a unique blueprint, revealing that true success isn’t just about financial gain or recognition, but about profound impact, unwavering integrity, and a relentless pursuit of purpose. Here are some of the defining rules that have guided her ascent.
Rule 1: Cultivate a Core Ethical Purpose
At the heart of Andi Sklar success lies a deep-seated ethical conviction. Her academic grounding in philosophy, with a focus on ethical systems and environmental justice, shaped her belief that architecture is an inherently moral act. She fundamentally redefined a building’s success to include its long-term social and ecological responsibility.
The Rule: Your career must be rooted in a purpose greater than personal ambition. Define the core ethical values that drive you and let them be the non-negotiable filter for every decision. For Sklar, this meant adopting a stringent “no greenwashing” policy, ensuring every project truly served environmental well-being, not just perceived sustainability. This integrity builds trust and distinguishes your work.
Rule 2: Embrace a Holistic, Regenerative Mindset
Sklar’s transformative approach stems from her unique ability to view the “city as a living organism.” Influenced by her permaculture background, she designs structures not in isolation, but as interconnected parts of larger ecosystems. This holistic perspective enables radically integrated solutions.
The Rule: Look beyond the immediate problem. Understand the entire system in which your work operates. Sklar’s success comes from designing with the entire lifecycle in mind—from bio-materials that actively sequester carbon to systems that plan for future deconstruction and reuse. This comprehensive view unlocks innovative and truly sustainable solutions.
Rule 3: Challenge the Status Quo with Unwavering Conviction
Sklar famously confronted the “concrete ceiling”—the industry’s pervasive resistance to genuinely sustainable methods. Rather than compromising, she maintained an unyielding commitment to her principles, even when it meant friction.
The Rule: Be prepared to be a disruptor. If existing norms hinder progress, challenge them directly and with conviction. True success often requires the courage to stand firm against prevailing conventions, proving that a principled approach can achieve what incremental changes cannot. Your unwavering belief in your vision will ultimately attract the right allies and enable breakthrough achievements.
Rule 4: Design for Life, Not Just for Looks or Profit
Sklar’s projects are celebrated for their tangible contributions to the environment. She moved beyond abstract concepts to integrate features like vertical farms, advanced greywater recycling, and passive climate control, transforming buildings into active, breathing ecosystems.
The Rule: Ensure your work creates measurable, positive impact in the real world. Focus on solutions that enhance life, foster well-being, and contribute actively to regeneration. For Sklar, this means designing structures that are symbiotic with nature, proving that truly impactful work translates vision into living, functional realities that generate lasting value beyond conventional metrics.
Rule 5: Leverage Technology as an Enabler for Good
While Sklar is a proponent of cutting-edge technology and innovative materials, she views them as means to an end, not ends in themselves. She embraces advancements like mycelium composites because they serve the greater purpose of regeneration.
The Rule: Harness technology strategically and ethically. See it as a powerful tool to achieve your core purpose, rather than chasing every new trend. Success comes from discerning how technological advancements can genuinely enhance your mission, ensuring innovation is guided by a clear vision for positive impact.
Rule 6: Think Beyond the Project: Aspire to Systemic Change
Sklar’s ultimate vision extends to “fully regenerative urban ecosystems”—entire self-sustaining, carbon-negative city districts. This audacious long-term goal guides all her efforts.
The Rule: Don’t limit your ambition to individual achievements. Aspire to create systemic, transformative change within your industry or beyond. Sklar’s success is not just in building great projects, but in inspiring a global shift towards a more ethical, sustainable, and harmonious future. This expansive vision provides continuous motivation and elevates individual accomplishments to monumental impact.
Andi Sklar’s rules for success demonstrate that true leadership in a complex world combines profound purpose with relentless action, creating a legacy that resonates far beyond the blueprints.
