Clark Wieman

Clark Wieman, founder of Planet GBS, has 25 years experience connecting hands-on real estate planning, programming, operations and construction management with high-end sustainability goals, including focused research for investment decision-making and payback analysis.

As Director of Planning and Capital Projects for the Cooper Union in New York City, Wieman oversaw $180 million of capital work, working with Morphosis, Gruzen+Samton, and Sciame construction to design and build the 41 Cooper Square academic building. The LEED Platinum building has received international acclaim as a leading example of both progressive architecture and sustainable designs and technologies.

At the same time, Wieman managed a design and development team implementing upgrades to the college’s historic Foundation Building, including HVAC equipment, space remodeling, with high-level sustainability goals.

Wieman played a central role in defining and implementing sustainability goals, including installing a leading edge Building Management System, overseeing an aggressive Monitoring and Verification system, and conceiving, funding, and implementing two cogeneration plants, which make up the single largest contribution to the Cooper Union surpassing its original sustainability goals.

Wieman launched his career as an environmental researcher and technical editor for research and advocacy organizations in Santa Barbara, CA—focusing on a broad scope of environmental issues, including solid and hazardous waste, sustainable community development, and energy.

After joining Cooper Union in 1990, he helped found an nonprofit think tank, the Infrastructure Institute at Cooper Union, focusing public attention on the economics of public works investment, age and condition of systems, and agency performance, as well as best practices to make best use of finite resources, including energy, materials, and financial assets.

Wieman has taught college level courses at Cooper Union and NYU on the history of New York City public works. He has also lead tours of major infrastructure systems throughout the city, has acted as an expert for media outlets, and has published widely.