2015 40 Under 40: Julie L. DeNardis, LEED AP, Estidama PQP, 36

Julie L. DeNardis, LEED AP, Estidama PQP, 36 Director, Vice President, Mechanical Engineer, Environmental Systems Design Inc., Abu Dhabi BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

DeNardis joined Environmental Systems Design (ESD) in 2000 after earning her mechanical engineering degree. Within 2 years she was promoted to associate, and in 2006 she was promoted to senior associate. By this time, she had moved into what is now called ESD’s High Performance Buildings group, working on large-scale commercial and mixed-use building projects. As the green building industry tookoff, DeNardis became increasingly focused on sustainability. After becoming a LEED AP in 2006, she became the project manager and mechanical engineer for the design of HSBC’s North American headquarters. When ESD decided to expand its operations in the Middle East, DeNardis was asked to relocate to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to open the company’s first international office. She became the director of ESD’s Abu Dhabi office in 2009. Her first project there was construction oversight of the Sowwah Square office towers. Green building became a focus in Abu Dhabi with the development of Estidama, United Arab Emirates’ version of LEED. DeNardis became an Estidama Pearl Qualified Professional in 2011, one of the first 250 to do so in the region. Since she has been in the region, she has embraced the culture, developed an understanding of local codes, and built relationships with the local authorities. ESD’s Abu Dhabi office started with DeNardis and one other person. Now, there are six staffmembers. In 2014, the Middle East branch office moved to Sowwah Square, which they helped design. When she’s not designing sustainable world-class buildings, DeNardis enjoys traveling, photography, cooking, and entertaining.

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