Sustainability
"I joined BR+A as an HVAC engineer with the goal of cutting my teeth in design so I could make a credible impact in energy efficiency. Eventually, I was working so closely with the Sustainable Design team that it made sense to officially join the group. Since then, our team has nearly tripled in size and BR+A stands firmly at the forefront of sustainability and zero-carbon design."
Tell us about yourself.
I am an avid outdoorsman, always looking for a moment of escape to hike, pedal, paddle, or snowboard. Naturally, I am also a passionate environmentalist, and that is what draws me to sustainable design. I always knew I wanted to be an architect or engineer. I am a habitual tinkerer, always taking things apart (and usually putting them back together), and if given the choice will try to fix something myself for the sake of learning how it works. I love to cook. I like Scotch Whisky. I can’t resist petting every dog I meet, and I think fire trucks are extremely exciting.
What brought you to BR+A?
I came to BR+A because I wanted to be part of a large engineering group, so I could learn from as many people as possible early in my career. I joined BR+A as an HVAC engineer with the goal of cutting my teeth in design so I could make a credible impact in energy efficiency. Eventually, I was working so closely with the Sustainable Design team that it made sense to officially join the group. Since then, our team has nearly tripled in size and BR+A stands firmly at the forefront of sustainability and zero-carbon design.
What does your typical day look like?
It starts with breakfast and coffee. In the office, I spend a good part of my day ‘making rounds’ to check in on projects and help share ideas between teams. I am not very good at sitting still. I am often in the gym during lunch. More coffee. The day usually ends with preparing an unnecessarily gourmet dinner with my wife and sinking into the couch with our dog to watch a show.
Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
I helped design the first exhaust-source heat pump system in the United States for a large net-zero laboratory building. This system makes electrification practical for very large, energy-intense buildings and I am excited to help improve and optimize that strategy.
What excites you about the future of sustainable engineering practices?
It is exciting how rapidly technology is progressing to address the urgent need for decarbonization. Heat pumps have advanced enough to make electrification a reality for virtually any building. I am excited to see how the product space continues to evolve, and how we can continue to find new ways to apply and optimize these technologies into ultra-efficient zero-carbon systems.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the thought that things can always be a little better. There is always room for improvement. Iterate and optimize.
Tell us something about yourself that I wouldn’t know from reading your resume.
I have climbed all 48 of the 4,000-foot peaks in New Hampshire.
How did you know that you wanted to go into the sustainability realm?
I went to college hoping to do automotive engineering for alternative fuel vehicles. I wanted to invent the next Prius. I eventually realized the building industry had a much more rapid innovation cycle and that sustainable buildings could make an even bigger impact on climate change, so I pivoted. I couldn’t be happier. I still love cars, though.
Has there been a person in your career who has really made a difference?
I know this sounds corny, but my friends at BR+A. They offer advice, share accomplishments, and provide a healthy dose of constructive criticism. It’s way more fun when your coworkers are your friends.
What has been the most challenging project you’ve been involved with recently?
We recently developed a Carbon Neutral Master Plan for a large pharmaceutical client with a goal of all-electric for research and manufacturing by 2030. We figured out how to make process steam and heating efficiently without fossil fuels and how to transition 3 campuses and over 2 million square feet in less than 8 years.
Tell us about the state of the industry as you see it, right now. What does the future hold?
I think we are starting to really reconcile the need to decarbonize existing buildings. We have made waves with sleek new zero-carbon buildings, but even buildings that are only ten years old will soon be considered old-fashioned from a sustainability perspective. The future involves lots of creative solutions and motivated design professionals, contractors, and owners to tackle this issue.
What’s a current industry trend that excites you?
Have I mentioned electrification?
If this wasn’t your career, where do you think you would you be?
In Italy convincing Ferrari to make electric cars. Or living off-grid in a cabin in the woods.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
You need to convince the CEO AND the CFO.