David Arkin, AIA, LEED AP, has taught and lectured on the subject of ecological design for over twelve years. He is a board member of the Solar Living Institute (SLI) and a founding member of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA). He is past-president of Architects, Designers, and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR). A licensed architect (CA #22459, 1991; NV #5030, 2004), he spent four years as project architect and planner with Van der Ryn Architects—most notably on the Real Goods Solar Living Center—and apprenticed with Obie Bowman at Sea Ranch. David and his wife and partner Anni Tilt live with their two children in a 100 year old solar and wind-powered home in Albany, California, where he currently serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Anni Tilt, AIA co-founded Arkin Tilt Architects with her husband after successfully collaborating on a number of projects, including their two children. A licensed architect in California, Anni has worked for eight years with internationally-acclaimed Fernau and Hartman Architects, and DEGW, an innovative London-based firm specializing in workplace design.  She has also been a construction coordinator for a major building contractor in Seattle. With a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering from Princeton University, Anni explored ecological use of wood in construction, taught structures and design, and was awarded the prestigious Branner Traveling Fellowship while pursuing an M. Arch. at UC Berkeley. Anni is currently on the board of the Ecological Building Network, and was one of the founding members of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA).