A city sustainability manager who inspires at-risk youth to connect with nature through action sports like surfing and snowboarding. A structural engineer who protects and serves foster children as a court-appointed advocate. A K-12 school design manager who has introduced more than 6,000 fifth-grade students to the architecture profession.

BD+C’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017 winners show that there’s more to the AEC profession than designing and building great places for people. Indeed, these rising stars are making an impact in business, philanthropy, and in their communities.

Meet the BD+C 40 Under 40 Class of 2017!

architect on a mission

Timothy Swanson, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
Office Practice Leader
CannonDesign | Chicago

EDUCATION
MArch, Urban Development and Infill, University of Illinois at Chicago; BA, Fine Arts | Economics and Design, Colgate University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Manages CannonDesign’s largest shop (>200 staff).
2017 Fast Company World Changing Idea Award for redesign of Cook County (Ill.) Central Bond Court.
Named one of New City Design’s top 50 Chicago-area designers.
Cofounder, context, a collaborative design workshop.
While at Peter Ellis New Cities (acquired by CannonDesign in 2012) he helped design (with Jaypee Sports City) a “city from scratch” in India.

EXTRACURRICULAR
Helped launch Chicago Children’s Theater “Dream Box,” a collaboration with three schools to help Chicago youth envision the city’s future.
Volunteer, Archeworks, Civic Consulting Alliance, Boys & Girls Club, University of Chicago International Innovation Corps, Soul City Church.

OFF THE CLOCK
Parenting (with wife, Beth) Josiah (7) and twins Elle and Thad (2).
Recently broke ground on a new house on Chicago’s West Side.

SECRET LIFE
Mother’s family immigrated from Lebanon and Syria to Nevada’s high country; became artists, teachers, archeologists, fire marshals, and entrepreneurs.
Son of a pastor; considers architecture an “evangelical calling” to the power of design.

Each year, the editors of Building Design+Construction honor 40 architects engineers, contractors, and real estate developers as BD+C 40 Under 40 awards winners. These AEC professionals are recognized for their career achievements, passion for the AEC profession, involvement with AEC industry organizations, and service to their communities.

Pictured: Marcus Taylor, Vice President of Business Development with Gray Construction, based in Lexington, Ky.

40 Under 40 | Nov 1, 2022

40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners: Meet the contractors

Meet the eight all-star construction professionals to be named 40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners by the editors of Building Design+Construction

Pictured: Priyanka Valletta, PE, Project Manager and Civil Engineer with BRPH Architects-Engineers, based in the firm's Melbourne, Fla., office.

40 Under 40 | Nov 1, 2022

40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners: Meet the engineers

Eight rockstar engineers were honored as 40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners by the editors of Building Design+Construction.

40 Under 40 | Nov 1, 2022

40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners: Meet the architects

Of the up-and-coming AEC professionals to be named 40 Under 40 class of 2022 winners by the editors of Building Design+Construction, 22 make their living in the architecture profession.