2015 40 Under 40: Stephen Niez, PE, LEED AP BD+C, 30

Stephen Niez, PE, LEED AP BD+C, 30 Associate, Mechanical Engineer, AECOM, Arlington, Va. BS Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Niez is a mechanical engineer with more than 7 years of experience in the design of HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and other mechanical systems for various defense, federal, commercial, and institutional clients. He also has expertise in building heating and cooling load analysis, building energy modeling and analysis, equipment sizing and selection, site surveys, and feasibility studies. As a member of USGBC, he takes pride in bringing sustainable system design practices to all projects. After earning his mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, Niez joined AECOM. As a PE and LEED Accredited Professional, he has worked on many projects as the lead mechanical engineer as well as deputy project manager for organizations such as the Dept. of State, General Service Administration, Architect of the Capitol, Washington Headquarters Service, and the Smithsonian Institute. He recently completed work on a U.S. embassy under the new Design Excellence Program where he developed an innovative, more energy-efficient HVAC system, in comparison to the standard embassy design approach that was still within the strict guidelines of the State Dept.’s 2013 Overseas Building Operations Design Standards. Niez represents the third generation of engineers in his family. Both of his parents were civilian engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Germany, where he lived until he was 13. Within AECOM, he is the acting president of the AECOM Young Development Group in the Arlington office. This group focuses on staff development, community involvement, and social activities.

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