Hi, my name is Larry Lucas. I am a licensed architect, historic preservationist, and certified passive house consultant (CPHC®). But more importantly, I am someone who believes the places we love need us to make them stronger.
I have always wanted to try writing, so I created this personal blog to untwist my ideas on sustainable living and share my experiences with you. Whether you want to remodel your home, improve your neighborhood, or revitalize your historic downtown, I am so glad you found us. Welcome to Green Heart Town!
My Background
From my first memories, I have had a heart for the natural world. Growing up surrounded by the mountains, lakes, and trees of Southeast Oklahoma, a full life meant spending my time outdoors. My childhood was spent catching tadpoles, checking cows with my Dad, and riding bikes until dinner. Scouting made environmental stewardship concrete for me, and my Scoutmaster ingrained in us a simple rule: "we always leave things better than we found them."
When I discovered Architecture in college, I thought I had found the perfect outlet to blend design with nature. But early in my career—despite working alongside great mentors on everything from simple residential homes to large-scale hotels—I realized a hard truth. Typical architecture just wasn't very green. Sustainable design was too often viewed as an added cost or a technical difficulty, and my heart ached to focus on true, lasting sustainability.
“We always leave things better than we found them.”
Career Path
My path diverged from tradional architecture in 2011 to become the Oklahoma Main Street Architect. It was there that I discovered my calling.
Working alongside tireless grassroots advocates, I found myself standing at a unique crossroads: the exact place where green architecture, sustainable planning, and historic preservation all intersect. I understood that our greenest buildings were often the oldest, and that the equation for strong places you love relies heavily on community pride. To match this grassroots passion with building science, I became my state's first licensed architect to achieve CPHC® certification so I could learn to adapt historic projects to be remarkably greener.
Why This Blog Matters
Right around this time, I became a new father to twin girls. I quickly found myself caught in a daddy architect's work-life blur, realizing I needed to step back and focus on the things that truly mattered.
I launched the Green Heart Town blog because I wanted to empower others to find this same balance and purpose. Real sustainability isn't just about high-tech materials and lower operating energy; it comes from inside each of us. My goal is to help you renew your own life from the inside out by focusing on three core realms: our homes, our neighborhoods, and our downtowns.
Ongoing Efforts
Meanwhile, my wife and I dreamed of raising our family in Colorado—a place I had grown to love through dozens of rock climbing adventures. When the opportunity arose to relocate, it felt like true providence had lit our path.
“If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are.”
We grew new roots for our Colorado home, and I quickly learned that people who care about their local history share the same incredible spirit no matter where they live. Today, I am incredibly proud to serve Coloradans full-time as the Main Street Architect for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), where my green heart has found a home in advancing our mission to "Strengthen Colorado Communities."
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official policy or position of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs or the Colorado Main Street Program.
Engage
My favorite part of blogging is hearing your story. If something here resonates with you, please take a moment to start a conversation.
Contact Me: Feel free to send me a message through the Contact page for direct communication.
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Site Information
My blog is built and hosted on Squarespace. I am using their Bedford template. The website fonts are Museo family and Myriad Pro. Michael Foster helped me get started on the layout. Trey from Pixelmongers brought the brand concept to life. The pencil illustrations were deftly handled by Craig Ridenour, AIA. John Pleasant Photography managed to make my mug shot look professional. Mason Mayhall took the colorful banner image on this page. Unless otherwise noted, the other photos on the site are either purchased, downloaded without restriction, or were taken by me. Code plugins were secured from Square Studio.