Her work is noted for the emphasis placed on green architecture, sustainability and whole-of-life building design.

While a director there, Salmond won the competition held to design the Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua, which enabled her practice to move towards working on larger-scale buildings.

[3] Salmond developed a series of sustainable, modular home designs known as the High Performance Houses.

pre-fabrication, and passive heating and cooling to achieve a high level of energy efficiency.

[4][5] The first High Performance House was built in 2013 as a show-home for the Home Innovation Village (HIVE) in Christchurch.