CHICAGO, IL – March 17, 2011 – ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.), an international leader in the design of high performance building systems, announced senior management changes that include Raj Gupta (a member of BD+C's editorial advisory board) becoming the firm’s chief executive officer, replacing Hem Gupta, who remains chairman, and Kurt Karnatz being named president.
Since Hem Gupta founded ESD in 1967, the firm has grown to be one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the U.S. ESD has been responsible for designing systems for many of Chicago’s iconic buildings and for high profile projects around the world, including UBS Tower, Citadel Center, Hyatt Center and 111 S. Wacker Drive in Chicago; Masdar Headquarters and Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi; and several buildings for the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Gupta will continue to play an active role as chairman of the board of directors.
As chief executive officer, Raj Gupta oversees all operations and strategic planning for ESD. He joined the firm in 1984 as a mechanical engineer and became vice president of the mechanical engineering department in 1990. In 1993, he was promoted to executive vice president and in 1998 was elected president. Throughout his career Mr. Gupta has led design teams to integrate creative engineering solutions for a wide variety of project types, including governmental, educational, mixed-use, libraries, office buildings, cultural and medical facilities. He is recognized within the industry for his leadership ability and professional and civic contributions. He is a member of the executive committee and a trustee of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, a trustee of the Adler Planetarium, a member of the board of directors of the Advocate Charitable Foundation, a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a member of the Young President’s Organization. He is also active as a board member of the Roberts Environmental Center at Claremont McKenna College.
Mr. Gupta is a licensed professional engineer in 33 states and a LEED accredited professional. He earned a masters of science degree in communications from Northwestern University, a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelors of arts in management engineering from Claremont McKenna College.
Formerly Executive Vice President, Mr. Karnatz has been a driving force within ESD in the development of sustainable, optimized engineering solutions for high performance buildings. He has gained international recognition as a leader within the engineering industry for his ability to bridge a commitment for sustainable design with real world constraints of real estate development. A licensed professional engineer in 21 states, Mr. Karnatz is a registered energy professional in Illinois, a certified energy manager and a LEED accredited professional. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
ESD is a global consulting-engineering firm that focuses on the delivery of high-performance buildings. They deliver value by making healthy and productive environments and by making facilities more cost effective, flexible, reliable, and sustainable. Utilizing an integrative design process, their engineering and design professionals (200+) apply innovative technologies such as energy modeling and BIM (Building Information Modeling) to address owners’ needs. Founded in 1967, the firm is a valued partner for many public and private clients seeking to enrich collaboration through diversity. ESD’s services include: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineering; LEED Certification Consulting; Sustainable Design / Energy Modeling; Commissioning; Technology Systems; and BIM. For more information, please visit: www.esdglobal.com.
Related Stories
| May 17, 2011
Should Washington, D.C., allow taller buildings?
Suggestions are being made that Washington revise its restrictions on building heights. Architect Roger Lewis, who raised the topic in the Washington Post a few weeks ago, argues for a modest relaxation of the height limits, and thinks that concerns about ruining the city’s aesthetics are unfounded.
| May 17, 2011
The New Orleans master plan
At an afternoon panel during last week's AIA National Conference in New Orleans, Goody Clancy Principal David Dixon and Manning Principal W. Raymond Manning shared their experiences creating the New Orleans Master Plan, a document that sets a new course for the city, from land use and transportation planning to environmental protection.
| May 11, 2011
DOE releases guide for 50% more energy-efficient office buildings
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the release of the first in a new series of Advanced Energy Design Guides to aid in the design of highly energy efficient office buildings. The 50% AEDG series will provide a practical approach to commercial buildings designed to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the commercial building energy code used in many areas of the country.
| May 2, 2011
URS acquires Apptis Holdings, a federal IT service provider
SAN FRANCISCO, CA and CHANTILLY, VA– April 28, 2011 – URS Corporation and Apptis Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of information technology and communications services to the federal government, announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which URS will acquire Apptis.
| Apr 20, 2011
Marketing firm Funtion: to host “Construct. Build. Evolve.”
Function:, an integrated marketing agency that specializes in reaching the architecture, building and design community, is hosting an interactive art event, “Construct. Build. Evolve.” in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on Thursday April 21, 2011 at 11:00AM EDT. During the event attendees will be asked to answer the question, “how would you build the future?” to rouse dialogue and discover fresh ideas for the future of the built environment.
| Apr 19, 2011
What are the 15 most-watched construction and engineering stocks?
According to Motley Fool, a multimedia financial services company, the most-watched construction and engineering stock is Fluor (NYSE: FLR), which ranks #1 on BD+C’s Giants 300 engineering list with $1.994 billion in revenue in 2009. Check out the 14 other most-watched A/E stocks.
| Apr 14, 2011
How AEC Professionals Choose Windows and Doors
Window and door systems need to perform. Respondents to our annual window and door survey overwhelmingly reported that performance, weather resistance, durability, and quality were key reasons a particular window or door was specified.
| Apr 13, 2011
Danfoss Chairman of the Board Joins Clinton Global Initiative
Danfoss, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and motion systems, today announced that Jorgen M. Clausen, Chairman of the Board, has received and accepted a membership from former President Bill Clinton to join the Clinton Global Initiative.
| Apr 13, 2011
National Roofing Contractors Association revises R-value of polyisocyanurate (ISO) insulation
NRCA has updated their R-value recommendation for polyisocyanurate roof insulation with the publication of the 2011 The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems.
