Where are they now? 40 Under 40 alumni make their mark in D.C.

Every month we’ll be touching base with past 40 Under 40 honorees to see what’s been happening in their professional and personal lives since winning the award. This month, we feature two outstanding professionals: HKS's Shannon Kraus and Roger Chang from Westlake Reed Leskosky.

ROGER CHANG
PE, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, ASHRAE BEMP

Principal, Director of Mechanical Engineering and Sustainability

Westlake Reed Leskosky,

Washington, D.C.

Class of 2011

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Sustainable engineering for cultural, historic preservation, higher ed, and healthcare clients. Recently led mechanical design for the modernization of the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery.

Lead developer for recool.com, a new WRL-sponsored Internet platform for the discussion of high-performance building systems to address climate change. “While we see a plethora of resources available for consumers to evaluate products, such as Consumer Reports, Yelp, Angie’s List, or Amazon.com reviews, there wasn’t a good resource to find information on systems tied to specific projects. We are now looking to integrate the thinking behind recool with other commercial building transparency platforms over the next year.”

EXTRACURRICULAR

Helped get the International Green Construction Code adopted in D.C.

Developed a one-day summit on sustainability standards for museums as part of the American Alliance of Museums’ 2013 Annual Meeting.

Adjunct professor at Catholic University of America; collaborated on development of new Facilities Management program.

OFF THE CLOCK

An accomplished cellist, Chang still plays, “although not as much as I used to.” A two-year-old son keeps him busy. Favorite hobbies: weekend gardening and biking around D.C. with his family.

SHANNON KRAUS
FAIA, ACHA, MBA

Principal, Managing Director D.C.

HKS, Washington, D.C.

Class of 2009

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A specialist in healthcare design, Kraus has been promoted to Senior VP and Principal of the firm since his U40 recognition.

Promoted to Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Director, then to Managing Director of the D.C. office.

Named a Fellow of the AIA this year at age 40; currently the Institute’s youngest fellow.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Authored and published a chapter for the AIA’s “Handbook to Professional Practice.”

Elected to the National Architectural Accrediting Board of Directors.

Faculty member, American Hospital Association.

OFF THE CLOCK

Ran three marathons in the past two years, including Boston 2013. Had run 25.86 miles and was fighting a calf cramp, which had slowed his pace, when the bombs exploded. “I think I am not alone in believing most runners would re-race Boston tomorrow if we could, simply to send a message that America won’t be stopped or intimidated. That we are strong as a group, that we rally round each other. Completing the race has more value than it ever did before, for unity and determination. I now run for those who can’t.”

ALSO CATCH UP WITH: NATALIE PETZOLDT, Principal and Central Region Health Leader, Cannon Design, and LARRY LONGMAN, Senior Vice President, Preconstruction, Lauth Property Group. READ

DON’T MISS THIS YEAR’S U40 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Join our 40 Under 40 alumni and other outstanding young AEC professionals nominated by their firms at the 3rd Annual Under 40 Leadership Summit (Hyatt Regency San Francisco, October 9-11). For information about this inspiring, AIA-accredited opportunity for learning and networking, visit: http://www.bdcnetwork.com/Under40Summit/index.html.

The recently topped off St. Vincent Health Sciences Center at St. John’s University in New York City will feature impressive green features including geothermal heating and cooling along with an array of rooftop solar panels. The geothermal field consists of 66 wells drilled 499 feet below ground which will help to heat and cool the 70,000 sf structure.

Office Buildings | May 4, 2023

In Southern California, a former industrial zone continues to revitalize with an award-winning office property

In Culver City, Calif., Del Amo Construction, a construction company based in Southern California, has completed the adaptive reuse of 3516 Schaefer St, a new office property. 3516 Schaefer is located in Culver City’s redeveloped Hayden Tract neighborhood, a former industrial zone that has become a technology and corporate hub.

Gensler-designed Framework @ Block 10 building will be Houston’s first mass timber commercial office building. Courtesy of Hicks Ventures

Mass Timber | May 3, 2023

Gensler-designed mid-rise will be Houston’s first mass timber commercial office building

A Houston project plans to achieve two firsts: the city’s first mass timber commercial office project, and the state of Texas’s first commercial office building targeting net zero energy operational carbon upon completion next year. Framework @ Block 10 is owned and managed by Hicks Ventures, a Houston-based development company.

Market Data | May 2, 2023

Nonresidential construction spending up 0.7% in March 2023 versus previous month

National nonresidential construction spending increased by 0.7% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $997.1 billion for the month.

Life of an Architect Podcast | May 2, 2023

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 124: Show Me the Money

I get asked a lot about how much money an architect makes. Without understanding a few parameters, that’s like trying to buy a car by the pound. I spend a fair amount of my time discussing the architectural marketplace, where we can find value, what’s the going salary rate based on skill set and experience, and how badly we need this spot or that spot filled.

Hotel Facilities | May 2, 2023

U.S. hotel construction up 9% in the first quarter of 2023, led by Marriott and Hilton

In the latest United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), analysts report that construction pipeline projects in the U.S. continue to increase, standing at 5,545 projects/658,207 rooms at the close of Q1 2023. Up 9% by both projects and rooms year-over-year (YOY); project totals at Q1 ‘23 are just 338 projects, or 5.7%, behind the all-time high of 5,883 projects recorded in Q2 2008.

Architects | May 1, 2023

HOK names Eli Hoisington and Susan Klumpp Williams as Co-CEOs

HOK has appointed Eli Hoisington, AIA, LEED AP, and Susan Klumpp Williams, AIA, LEED AP, as its new co-chief executive officers, succeeding Bill Hellmuth, FAIA, LEED AP, who passed away on April 6, shortly after his scheduled retirement.

Multifamily Housing | May 1, 2023

A prefab multifamily housing project will deliver 200 new apartments near downtown Denver

In Denver, Mortenson, a Colorado-based builder, developer, and engineering services provider, along with joint venture partner Pinnacle Partners, has broken ground on Revival on Platte, a multifamily housing project. The 234,156-sf development will feature 200 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments on eight floors, with two levels of parking.

Mass Timber | May 1, 2023

SOM designs mass timber climate solutions center on Governors Island, anchored by Stony Brook University

Governors Island in New York Harbor will be home to a new climate-solutions center called The New York Climate Exchange. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), The Exchange will develop and deploy solutions to the global climate crisis while also acting as a regional hub for the green economy. New York’s Stony Brook University will serve as the center’s anchor institution.

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Where are they now? 40 Under 40 alumni make their mark in D.C.

ROGER CHANG PE, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, ASHRAE BEMP

SHANNON KRAUS FAIA, ACHA, MBA

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Multifamily Housing | May 8, 2023

University Buildings | May 5, 2023