Pliny Fisk is the founder and co-director of the Austin-based, non-profit education, research and demonstration group, the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (est. 1975). Educated as an architect and landscape architect under the planning and design pioneer, Ian McHarg, Mr. Fisk has put his training to work at the Center (www.cmpbs.org) in developing buildings that use local materials, are frugal with water and energy, and minimize toxic exposures and waste products.