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HELD Architecture Becomes Accelerator Partner

We’re excited to announce that HELD Architecture is our latest Accelerator Partner! Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and founded by Kristina Held, AIA, the firm provides full-service design solutions for commercial, residential, mixed-use, and institutional projects. These projects include a mix of new construction and adaptive reuse projects in North Carolina and beyond. HELD has also done Passive House consulting work and helped guide master planning processes, partnering with private developers, institutions, and communities to create vibrant, human-centric community spaces that also preserve resources for the future.

While cognizant of local vernaculars and respectful of regional design traditions, HELD’s work is also deeply informed by cutting-edge building science and passive principles, resulting in a body of work that is enduring and resilient even in the face of a changing climate. The firm is passionate about making more durable and efficient buildings that allows clients and occupants to enjoy benefits like healthier indoor air quality and greater resiliency.

Moreover, HELD’s use of biophilic design, combined with better daylighting, more connectivity with nature, and enhanced comfort due to Passive House design, creates a built environment that can impact the mood of those who live and work inside. “We like to build buildings that are really well done,” Held says of the firm. “They are quality buildings. But, in addition, people feel good when they’re there. They don’t want to leave.”

Examples of their work include the headquarters for Pester PAC USA, the Cannery, and Nevils Creek Passive House. For a deeper dive into Nevils Creek, you can check out the Kristina's recent appearance on PHA LIVE!. You can also listen to her recent interview on the Passive House Podcast.

The Pester PAC USA headquarters outside of Charlotte, NC.
The Pester PAC USA headquarters outside of Charlotte, NC.
Look Inside
Click on the image to learn about the design features of the Pester PAC USA headquarters.
Click on the image to learn about the design features of the Pester PAC USA headquarters.

Pester PAC: Biophilia and Passive House Design

Pester PAC USA is a socially responsible company with a 150 year history and roots in Bavaria, Germany. Their New Jersey office decided it needed to grow and came to find that Charlotte has everything they had been looking for. The main concept is based on the idea that the manufacturing and office components are treated as equals and that here will be a constant visual connection between the two.

The 23,000-square-foot building has been located with minimum environmental impact and most of the mature trees will be saved. A bio-retention pond on the south side will help with water quality management and water retention. The rain garden and front area are landscaped with native, drought resistant plants.

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The Cannery

Set along the picturesque Willamette River in Salem, Oregon, the Cannery is an adaptive reuse project on a former industrial site that includes six buildings. Three of the buildings are set to be mixed-use and will be conditioned by geothermal energy.

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The buildings will be built using mass plywood panels, which are harvested and manufactured 45 minutes from the job site. Designed to Passive House standards of performance, the buildings will be complemented by a rooftop solar system.

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Nevils Creek Passive House

Set beside Nevils Creek near New Bern, NC, this off-grid, Passive House-certified home is a standout example of sustainable living that reflects the traditional form of the North Carolina tobacco barn.

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The 2,027-square-foot residence that combines regional heritage with cutting-edge sustainability to create a seamless blend of energy-efficient Passive House design and serene natural surroundings.

Accelerator Partners are Passive House practitioners who share our commitment to building better, building cleaner, and sharing knowledge about Passive House methodologies with wider audiences. They allow us to reach new builders, developers, architects, and policymakers who want the benefits associated with Passive House construction (lower energy bills, a continuous supply of filtered air, more durable construction, and happier occupants!), but have yet to learn that there are passive design principles and established, performance-based building standards that can provide them.

If you want to learn how to become an Accelerator Partner, please email [email protected] to see how you can help us accelerate the wider adoption of passive design and construction.

Learn More About HELD Architecture

Published: February 23, 2026
Author: Passive House Accelerator Team
Categories: Article, Sponsored