2019 40 Under 40: Seth Strongin, LEED AP, WELL AP; 39

Senior Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Arup, Los Angeles BA Environmental Science, American University, Washington, D.C. MS Environmental Science and Management, Bren School at University of California, Santa Barbara

By Jack Smith and Amara Rozgus May 16, 2019

As an associate and senior sustainability consultant for Arup, Strongin designs new high-performance buildings and optimizes the operational performance of existing buildings. He’s responsible for energy analysis, building physics assessments and technical design guidance, as well as project management, sustainability certification administration and staying at the cutting edge of technological advances in the buildings industry. His responsibilities also include sustainability and building performance policy work for both public and private clients. Where his skillset differs from that of a conventional engineer is in his ability to translate technical analysis into information that is actionable by other stakeholders with varying goals and perspectives. Strongin believes that to be truly sustainable, a project must be ambitious but realistic and innovative yet practical. He has worked on some of the highest profile and notable projects in the area, including his current work with the mayor’s office to develop a carbon neutral climate action plan for Los Angeles. Other notable projects include the 2 million square foot mixed-use San Francisco Flower Mart project; the Wilshire Grand Center, which was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River at the time of its development; and deep energy retrofits at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the historic PacMutual Building. Since 2012, Strongin has served on the National Advisory Council of The City Project  a Los Angeles-based nonprofit advocacy organization that works at the intersection of environmental justice, social equity and public health. In this capacity, he provides expertise not only on sustainability in the built environment but on the impacts of the environment on human health. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking or any activity that allows him to connect with nature and playing bass guitar. 


Author Bio: Jack Smith is a Content Manager at CFE Media. Amara Rozgus is Editor-in-Chief of Consulting-Specifying Engineer.