We recently caught up with alumnae Lauren Wingo who earned her bachelor’s degree in civil and systems engineering. Read more about how she’s applying her engineering education and her advice for students.
What is your current position?
I am an Associate at Arup in our Climate & Sustainability team. Over the course of my career, I’ve focused on designing more sustainable structures. I spent nine years as a structural engineer in Arup’s Structural team before transitioning to Climate & Sustainability three years ago. Today, I support public- and private-sector clients on a wide range of sustainability and resilience projects, with a technical focus on low carbon materials and embodied carbon. I also serve as current co‑chair of the SE 2050 Committee, which is working toward achieving net zero embodied carbon in structural systems by 2050.
What are the biggest challenges you face professionally?
I’ve been fortunate to follow my passions throughout my career, thanks in large part to exceptional mentors. The industry evolves quickly, and keeping up with emerging trends and initiatives can be challenging, especially when it’s tempting to get involved in everything. The mentorship I’ve received has helped me learn how to mentor others and benefit from reverse mentoring, which keeps me current with industry changes. It also helps me balance the additional challenges of being a working parent of two young children, who I’m working on convincing to become engineers!
Why did you pursue this career path? What motivated and attracted you to it?
When I was an undergraduate, I always had a passion for sustainability and sought out opportunities to explore that passion—participating in Engineers for a Sustainable World and working as an intern at the Office of Sustainability. After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked as a contractor to the US EPA before going back to get my master’s degree. I was always searching to figure out how to pair my passions for sustainability and structural engineering together, until I landed at Arup and learned about the impacts associated with construction materials, what we call “embodied carbon.” This put me on a career path of designing low carbon structures, figuring out policies and standards to better quantify and assess embodied carbon, and now working with clients to advise them on the adoption of a new wave of low carbon technologies.
What attributes, skills, or knowledge are needed to be successful in your field?
Consultants need to understand their clients’ needs and drivers. The great part of engineering is that there is no perfect solution, but you can always work to find the optimal solution. Success requires pairing strong technical skills with the ability to synthesize information and communicate clearly in terms that resonate with each audience. Our technical work is only successful if we communicate its value effectively.
What are the biggest challenges in your field–not just for you, but for all leaders in this area?
The current business environment can feel uncertain, particularly in the sustainability and resilience space. Clear communication about the benefits of more sustainable and resilient design is essential for both clients and the public. We also need to ensure that the solutions we propose are cost‑effective and free of risk barriers that could hinder adoption.
Describe a significant professional accomplishment that makes you proud.
Earlier in my career, I led the structural design of the first mass timber overbuild project in Washington, DC—from concept through construction. Working with a new product not yet adopted in the local code was both challenging and rewarding. The project was delivered on time and on budget, and it has become a successful model for more sustainable construction while achieving the owner’s goal of a fully leased space.
What role has your educational background played in your success?
As a smaller engineering department, CaSE helps to foster a more creative approach to traditional engineering design. It’s no coincidence that I know of several CaSE graduates also working in the structural sustainability space—including a few here at Arup! Creative thinking is core to my work and to how I deliver projects effectively.
We would love to hear about any noteworthy professors or pivotal experiences you had at the Whiting School.
I think back fondly on statics class with Dr. Graham‑Brady. Even though structural design isn’t part of my day‑to‑day work anymore, I still love a good statics problem. I also appreciated the rigor of Dr. Dalrymple’s courses and how much fun we had in our collective struggle to get through his exams. Some of my favorite memories are the crab feasts we held on the Latrobe patio—part of my Hopkins education was certainly learning how to buy a bushel of crabs.
What advice would you offer students preparing for a career in your field?
I always tell students and early career professionals that it is an exciting time to enter the industry. With all of the emerging technologies and disruptions come with it new career opportunities like my own. Students today now have an opportunity to chart their own unique career path and step outside of the bounds of traditional engineering practice.