Rooted in Nature, Built for the Future: How Elizabeth Carmichael is Leading a Biophilic Revolution in Urban Development

Elizabeth Carmichael didn’t set out to become one of Southern California’s most recognized advocates for sustainable urban development. But from her early days in the lush, wooded communities of the Northeast to her role as founder of THE LAB SD (Living Adaptive Build – Sustainable Developments), the seeds of a greener vision were always there, quietly rooted, waiting to grow.

“I grew up surrounded by trees, greenery, and quiet. Later, when I moved into cities, I noticed something missing,” says Carmichael. “It wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was how those environments felt. I started to ask: What’s behind all of this? Why does nature change the way we feel? That curiosity became a calling.”

That calling led Carmichael through a journey of discovery, from co-founding an architecture firm that lacked a sustainable focus, to launching ECOhouse, and finally evolving into her current venture, THE LAB SD, a full-service development consultancy dedicated to bringing biophilic, sustainable, and adaptive design to multifamily and mixed-use housing across San Diego and beyond.

Before her current work with developers, Carmichael’s fascination with nature took on experimental form. She created a ‘plant lab,’ a conceptual testing ground for exploring how human-to-nature connection can deepen human-to-human connection.

“I started realizing that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, when you’re planting together, everyone’s equal. There’s laughter, shared purpose, and this sense of community that forms through a shared interaction with nature,” she says.

This ethos found its way into one of her most meaningful projects—a community garden built within a housing development. THE LAB SD provided the space, but the residents brought it to life. “We had this big kickoff party where people planted the garden themselves. They took ownership of it. That’s what biophilic design really denotes: bringing people together.”

She soon became involved with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Around the same time, she co-founded ECOhouse, which marked her first dedicated foray into sustainable residential design.

One of Carmichael’s most beloved projects is a modern luxury home that pays tribute to the land it stands on. Two aging juniper trees, one barely held up by a makeshift crutch, stood on the site. Rather than discarding them, Carmichael collaborated with local artisans to harvest and preserve the trees’ legacy. For her, this project wasn’t just about woodwork but of storytelling, respect, and keeping a sense of place alive in a world of transitional development.

Carmichael isn’t slowing down. Her newest venture, BLUHVN, short for Biophilic Living and Urban Habitat Visionary Network, represents her next big leap: developing her own projects grounded in the same values she promotes at THE LAB SD.

“I’m partnering with a broker, a general contractor, and a site supervisor,” she says. “We want to develop spaces that live and breathe with their environment, where sustainability and community aren’t extras; they’re the foundation.” Honored with multiple awards and featured in the San Diego Business Journal, Carmichael is gaining recognition not just as a designer but as a changemaker.

For Carmichael, sustainability is more than just a checklist. It is a belief in the healing power of design, and a bold stance in a world that too often favors speed over soul. “When you create spaces that honor nature, you honor people. You create wellness, connection, and a legacy worth leaving behind,” she says. “That’s what I want my work to do.”

Disclaimer: Written in partnership with APG.