Steven Barnes, AIA, LEED

Steven Barnes is a partner with Wipfli and leads the firm's national cost segregation and energy incentives practice. He works with real estate owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, manufacturers, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, tribal governments and nonprofit entities to identify, quantify and maximize federal and state tax incentives that improve project economics and increase cash flow.

Steven specializes in cost segregation studies, energy tax incentives, Section 179D deductions, investment tax credits, transferability strategies, historic tax credits and other tax-saving opportunities associated with commercial real estate, renewable energy and capital improvement projects. By combining technical construction knowledge with tax expertise, he helps clients navigate complex incentive programs, accelerate depreciation deductions and improve after-tax returns on investments.

As an architect, Steven brings a unique perspective to project analysis. He collaborates closely with owners, design professionals and construction teams to evaluate building systems, development costs and project documentation, helping clients capture incentives while maintaining compliance with applicable tax regulations. His experience spans healthcare, higher education, K-12 schools, manufacturing, industrial facilities, multifamily housing, hospitality and large-scale commercial developments across the United States.