Austin Eco-Architect Pliny Fisk, III, 82, Remembered by Hemp Builders

sustainable constructionBuilding regulationsInnovationEco tourismTrade ShowsConferencesRenovationResearchEventPodcastTrade Association

Aug 7

Written By Jean Lotus

*Pliny Fisk III speaks at the celebration for the adoption of hemp-lime in Austin, TX building codes at the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, summer 2025. Photo courtesy of the CMPBS*

By Jean Lotus
Hemp builders and advocates of sustainable building remembered Austin, TX-based eco-architect Pliny Fisk, III, as “fearless,” an “OG” and “collaborative” in his support for hemp-lime building practices that helped Austin become a leader in adopting hemp lime in city building codes. Fisk, founder of the Austin-based non-profit Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS), died July 27, 2026 at age 82. An obituary in The Architect’s Newspaper fondly called Fisk the ‘mad scientist of the green building movement’ and identified the cause of death as ALS.

Fisk, an Austin green-building pioneer since the 1970’s, embraced hemp-lime (hempcrete) construction at the CMPBS as the US hemp-building industry was starting to gain traction. Fisk, who taught at University of Texas and Texas A & M among other places, operated the Austin-based CMPBS with his wife, architect Gail Vittori.

Sign up for our free newsletter

Americhanvre

South Bend Industrial Hemp

Hillside Center for Sustainable Living

Sativa Building Systems

Silacote Mineral Paints

Earthaus Plaster

HempWood

Evolve Construction

"Pliny, along with Gail and his team, have been unapologetically committed to re-imagining sustainable building design for over half a century,” said Cameron McIntosh of Pennsylvania-based Americhanvre in a message.

“It is no surprise to me that Pliny opened his doors to hempcrete workshops multiple times late in his life - and I hope that it only further assured him that his life's work will have helped to inspire continued exploration into alternative building systems around the world,” McIntosh added. “His support and genuine excitement for hemp and all bio-based building systems certainly had a massive impact in his own community in Austin, TX and nationally as well. He will be dearly missed but forever celebrated for his fearlessness.”

Join our FREE online community here

*Pliny Fisk, III, (front center with hat) helps mix hemp-lime at a 2021 workshop hosted at the Austin TX Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. Photo courtesy of Phelan Dalton*

Healthy Hemp Homes

Riverdale Hemp Gin

Victura Hemp

Prairie Band Ag

A Resource for Sustainable Building Practices

CMPBS was natural home for hemp-lime. Over its decades at the edge of Austin, the 27-acre research and education hub was developed to feature sustainable building materials. On-site, the Center staff built an 1,800 sq. ft. “Advanced Green Builder Demonstration Home (AGBDH),” featuring a 13,200 gallon rainwater harvesting system and straw-bale construction. The Center boasted it was one of the first US sites to use a Portland-cement-free concrete, according to Fisk’s Wikipedia entry. A book on Fisk’s life and methods was published in 2013 by author Sam Martin. The CMPBS released a 50th Anniversary book last year.

The Center was an inspiration that helped develop Austin as a trend-setter for green building practices. With the Center’s help, the Austin Energy Green Building program developed the first rating system in the U.S. for evaluating the sustainability of buildings, inspiring many cities to follow.

Check Out Our FREE International Hemp Construction Suppliers Map

Naturalia Construction

Quadra Concrete

CannaVision

EcoStucco

Pliny Fisk, III, (fourth from left, holding roll) and wife Gail Vittori (next to Pliny) brought hemp-lime to Austin TX by hosting a 2025 Americhanvre spray applied hemp lime workshops at Austin TX Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. Photo courtesy of Cameron McIntosh

Fisk Taught Students to ‘Create Commotion’

Austin-based architect Caroline Dunn directly credits her time as an intern at the CMPBS for her career as a bio-building designer.

Dunn, who published a book of hemp-lime architectural designs, was instrumental in urging the City of Austin to become the first jurisdiction to adopt hemp-lime into city building codes after the publication of IRC 2024 Appendix BL in the International Building Codes.

In an essay, she praised Fisk’s “stunning ability to educate,” and added “he earnestly [understood] students as individuals and [beckoned] them to join him in creating ‘commotion.’”

Pliny Fisk III (L) and hemp-lime design/builder Tim Callahan (R) discuss natural building at the celebration of the adoption of hempcrete at the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. Photo courtesy of CMPBS

Aaron Grail Construction

IND HEMP

HempBLOCK USA

Next Genesis Design

Hempcrete at the CMPBS

Interest in hempcrete began to grow in Austin with the 2019 construction of a hempcrete tiny home at Austin’s Community First! Village, spearheaded by Realtor Henry Valles.

Starting in 2021, CMPBS hosted an early hempcrete workshop with Colorado-based Phelan Dalton, of Hemp Building Company. “Pliny was a brilliant guy,” Dalton said in a message, noting the CMPBS was a “very cool spot,” in Austin. “I learned a lot from [Pliny] when I met him. He will be missed,” Dalton added.

The Hemp Building Summit was held at the Austin Public Library in 2021.

A workshop with Americhanvre’s hemp spray system followed in spring, 2025.

Later, in July 2025, the CMPBS hosted IRC code co-author Tim Callahan for the release of his book, Hempsteads: Architectural Details for Hemp Construction where around 100 people celebrated the adoption of hemp-lime in the city’s building codes.

“Pliny’s work made a difference,” Callahan told HempBuild Mag.

Boardwurks Biocomposites

Renewabuild

Hempitecture

East Coast Hemp Supply

Other hemp-lime builders, especially in Texas, remembered Fisk fondly and praised his impact and drive.

“Pliny’s perpetual passion for the built space and stewardship has an inertia that will last for generations,” said New Braunfels, TX-based hempcrete builder Ray Kaderli, founder of Hemp Build Network in a message. “Now our job is to preserve and advance that zest, zeal, and collaboration in a way that multiplies. Well done, and thank you,” Kaderli added.

Homeland Hempcrete

Verdant Structural Engineers

Right Coast Hemp

Kanda Hemp Seeds

*Pliny Fisk III receives a Lifetime Achievement award from Living Future director Lindsay Baker (R) at the Seattle Living Future Conference in 2026. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Baker*

In April 2026, Fisk was honored at the Living Future Conference in Seattle with a Lifetime Achievement Award where founder Lindsay Baker, called Fisk, “the inimitable OG.”

Baker, who also served as a CMPBS intern early in her career, referred to Fisk as “a catalyst, a guide, an inspiration, a font of useful knowledge all aided and abetted by an abiding curiosity that underlies a restless search and blessed with a sense of humor to put it all in perspective.”

To support CMPBS 2.0 in Pliny’s honor, donations can be made here.

A celebration of Pliny’s life will be announced at a later date.