Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems

The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS), colloquially known as "Max's Pot," is a non-profit organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, dedicated to sustainable design, planning, and consulting. Founded in 1975 by Pliny Fisk III and Daria Bolton Fisk, the Center emerged from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture as the Laboratory for Maximum Potential Building Systems, one of the first design-build studios in the country. It was granted 501(c)3 status in 1975 and has since been a pioneer in integrating air, water, food, energy, and material systems to build healthy and sustainable communities. The Center provides planning, design, and consulting services for clients whose projects expand the boundaries of progressive environmental design, particularly in resource balance, environmental and human health, and democratized access to healthy, affordable shelter. Through the creation of prototypes, protocols, and policies, CMPBS inspires ecologically balanced environments, stewards natural resources, and elevates community resilience and economic vitality. Its work spans public and private sector projects in Austin, across the United States, and internationally. Early benefactors included Houston art collector and philanthropist Dominique de Menil, and the Center has received support from numerous private foundations, including the Meadows Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Merck Family Fund, and Still Water Foundation. Led by co-directors Pliny Fisk III and Gail Vittori, CMPBS has championed groundbreaking projects for five decades. In 2026, the organization announced the passing of co-founder Pliny Fisk III, marking the end of an era while continuing its mission. CMPBS offers sustainability consulting, using an integrated approach to achieve high-performance healthy buildings. It also runs a Global Dream Lab, a new undertaking to identify and prioritize gap and keystone industries and support market leaders by making innovations visible, educating, and creating awareness to spur market uptake. The Center hosts monthly open houses and maintains a vast publication archive spanning 50 years of green building innovation, research, and synthesis.

The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS) was originally conceived by Pliny Fisk III and Daria Bolton Fisk through the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture as the Laboratory for Maximum Potential Building Systems, one of the first design-build studios in the country. In 1975, an independent parallel effort, The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, was granted 501(c)3 status (known colloquially as "Max's Pot"). Houston art collector and philanthropist Dominique de Menil was an early benefactor to the fledgling non-profit, which has since received generous support from many private foundations including the Meadows Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Merck Family Fund, and Still Water Foundation. Led by current Co-Directors Pliny Fisk III and Gail Vittori, The Center has championed decades of groundbreaking projects, manifested through the organization's cultivation of protocols, policies, and prototypes. For 50 years, The Center has overseen and collaborated on award-winning public and private sector projects in Austin, the U.S., and internationally. The Center continues to inspire ecologically balanced environments, steward natural resources, and elevate community resilience and economic vitality. Awards and recognitions include the Earth Summit Award (with City of Austin) from ICLEI in 1992, Recognizing Participation in Greening of the White House from President Bill Clinton in 1994, the Passive Solar Pioneer Award from the American Solar Energy Society in 2000, the Presidential Federal Sustainability Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management from President George W. Bush in 2002, being named one of 14 Design Visionaries by Metropolis Magazine in January 2006, one of 35 People Who Will Shape Our Future by Texas Monthly in 2008, the Lewis Mumford Award from Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility in 2012, and "Best Overall" for Innovat... (incomplete). In 2026, the organization announced the passing of co-founder Pliny Fisk III on July 27, 2026.

• 2026

  Co-founder Pliny Fisk III passed away on July 27, 2026.

• 2012

  Received Lewis Mumford Award from Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility.

• 2008

  Named one of 35 People Who Will Shape Our Future by Texas Monthly.

• 2006

  Named one of 14 Design Visionaries by Metropolis Magazine.

• 2002

  Received Presidential Federal Sustainability Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management from President George W. Bush.

• 2000

  Received Passive Solar Pioneer Award from American Solar Energy Society.

• 1994

  Recognized for Participation in Greening of the White House by President Bill Clinton.

• 1992

  Received Earth Summit Award (with City of Austin) from ICLEI.

• 1975

  The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems was granted 501(c)3 status.

Pioneering non-profit integrating ecological design, resource balance, and community resilience.

• Sustainability Consulting

  Integrated approach to achieve high performance healthy buildings.

• Global Dream Lab

  Identifying and prioritizing gap and keystone industries and supporting market leaders by making innovations visible, educating, and creating awareness to help spur market uptake.

• Publications

  Thousands of pages of thoughtful green building innovation, research, and synthesis spanning 50 years.

1. 1The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems - CMPBScmpbs.org
2. 2History of The Center - CMPBScmpbs.org
3. 3Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems - Wikidatawikidata.org