Designing with Purpose with Melissa Taylor: From Determined Student to Trailblazing Voice in the Built Environment, Published in Building Enclosure Magazine

In an article published in Building Enclosure Magazine, Associate Principal Melissa Taylor, PE, LC, LEED AP BD+C, discusses her 25-year journey from pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering while working full-time to climbing the ranks and becoming an accomplished voice in building design and engineering. Taylor shares how perseverance, lifelong learning, and a commitment to collaboration have shaped her career and her approach to delivering quality design outcomes for clients across a wide range of project types.

“Certainly, being one of a few female engineers at my company, and the only female in my engineering classes, not only motivated me but also made success in the field all the more exciting,” Taylor expressed. “While the deadline-driven industry can be stressful at times, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else for a career.”

Among her most impactful works, Taylor highlights six years spent in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where she designed the lighting upgrades at Louis Armstrong Park and contributed to the full renovation of William Frantz Elementary School, historically known as the school where Ruby Bridges became the first Black student to attend a previously all-white institution. These projects require a balance between technical expertise and empathy, reflecting Taylor’s deep-rooted passion for human-centered design.

“I would encourage all women and young girls to be most assertive with their ideas,” said Taylor. “The more we speak in the room, the more confident we become, and the more we devote to lifelong learning, the greater the positive impact we can have on the industry.”

Read the story in full, click here.