Andi Burnham is an Associate Principal and the Director of Energy Services at Rushing. She has been with Rushing since 2018 and is a licensed Professional Engineer (Mechanical), and has LEED AP BD+C, BEMP (Building Energy Modeling Professional), and HBDP (High-Performance Building Design Professional) certifications.

What inspired you to get into your field?

I’ve always been curious about how things work, and “take apart projects” were a favorite childhood activity. I came out of college a few twists and turns later (and about 1 class short of a Southeast Asian Studies minor) with a mechanical engineering degree and a job doing energy modeling following 2 years of internship. I immediately connected with the modeling work and loved doing existing building analysis, calibrating models to real operating data.

What do you like about working at Rushing?

I love the collaborative and open learning-focused environment at Rushing, and the fact that we have seven studios in-house means there’s always something new to learn. I also appreciate Rushing’s approach and commitment to creating an inclusive environment. I was a founding member of our REDI committee, and appreciate the ongoing executive support to make Rushing a place where everyone can belong, and diverse experiences and perspectives are valued.

How have you grown since joining Rushing?

Where to begin? I’ve been given tremendous opportunities at Rushing – both challenging and exciting technical projects, and growth opportunities at the management and business development levels. Some steps have felt daunting, but I’ve been able to move forward with confidence thanks to the support and mentorship I’ve received along the way.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

I’ve had the chance to work on some incredible projects (including energy modeling for the Empire State Building at a past job, and working on multiple Living Building petal projects), but nothing beats the pride I feel about continuing to build the Energy Studio at Rushing. I am so grateful for the group of talented folks who choose to spend their time and efforts digging deep into code interpretations, asking and answering questions, and passionately working together towards a more sustainable future for the built-environment.

How would you describe your leadership style/working style?

Success in my leadership role is creating and fostering an environment where others are able and empowered to do their best work. I strive to nurture a team culture where folks feel safe challenging and being challenged and are motivated and inspired to reach further every day.

What’s on your bucket list?

I love to sail and regularly spend weekends and vacations out on the water. I look forward to crossing an ocean someday.

What is one thing you cannot live without?

You will rarely find me outside of the house without a pair of binoculars for checking out birds, seals, planes, stars, and any other objects of interest within scoping distance, depending on the time of day and location.