2020 40 Under 40: Marzia Sedino, PE, LEED AP BD+C, 38

High-Performance Team Leader, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago; Master’s, Environmental Engineering, University of Pavia, Italy

By Chris Vavra and Amara Rozgus May 14, 2020

A research career in the physics of building for the Italian government began in 2006, where Sedino subsequently was invited to work at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Sedino joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 2008 where she works as a leader, an advocator, an educator and an innovator, committed to high-level environmental engineering design. She has worked on some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development, One World Trade Center, Lotte Super Tower and the Pertamina Energy Tower. Her work spans the globe, from the United States to Korea to the Middle East to China. Project sizes range from large-scale masterplans to airports, hospitals and low-rise community buildings. Sedino completed the design of dozens certified green buildings that have received or are targeting certifications such as U.S. Green Building Council LEED, WELL, China Green Star and Australian Green Star rating systems. She is also currently involved in the design of one of the largest net-zero master plans in the U.S. covering 8 million square feet and achieving net zero through a district-scale approach. She is an accomplished educator, presenter and author. Sedino balances her hectic work schedule with family life. By observing her children’s curiosity and simple understanding of the natural world, she has developed a passion for earth education. Since 2016, she has been mentoring high school interns during the summer and has recently started to work on the development of an environmental education plan for elementary and middle school students. Her favorite pastimes with her husband and two children are camping, hiking, swimming and ballet.

 


Author Bio: Chris Vavra, Associate Editor, and Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief