HED is proud to announce the addition of Vandana Gupta, AIA, LEED AP, to its Higher Education sector team in the Dallas region. Vandana brings more than 25 years of design leadership, technical depth, and higher education expertise to HED, further strengthening the firm's commitment to delivering thoughtful, student-centered design solutions across Texas and beyond.

Vandana has worked extensively with institutions such as Texas A&M, Dallas College, Collin College, Texas Woman's University, and TSTC Waco, and is known for her ability to synthesize evolving pedagogies, institutional goals, and complex technical systems into compelling spaces that enrich the student experience. Her work is grounded in a belief that academic environments should foster belonging, inspire curiosity, and support long-term institutional resilience.

"Vandana's arrival signals an exciting chapter for our Higher Education practice," says Brent Miller, AIA, LEED AP, HED's Higher Education Business Leader. "Her unique ability to connect academic vision with technical clarity brings tremendous value to our clients. She's a thoughtful listener, a bold thinker, and a deeply collaborative partner. We're thrilled to have her insight and energy in Dallas."

Vandana's approach is deeply rooted in research and advocacy. Whether navigating aging campus infrastructure, planning new academic hubs, or advancing sustainability through design performance, she engages clients and stakeholders with empathy and precision. Her recent speaking engagements and published work on topics like energy independence, adaptive reuse, and campus prioritization reflect her forward-thinking mindset and commitment to continuous learning.

"Designing for higher education is about shaping the culture of learning," Vandana shares. "Every campus has a voice. My role is to listen carefully and translate that into spaces that feel authentic, empowering, and ready for the future."

Based in Dallas, Vandana will play a key role in expanding HED's reach across Texas and the broader Southern region, bringing her proven experience and integrated design leadership to academic institutions seeking strategic, transformative design outcomes.

HED proudly announces the addition of Julia Markowitz Diaz, PE, to its Mission Critical sector. With a career rooted in engineering rigor, high-performance systems, and thought-driven leadership, Julia joins HED as a key voice in advancing resilient, energy-efficient infrastructure for clients who depend on continuous uptime.

Julia brings more than a decade of experience across consulting and owner-representative roles with other leading firms in the data center and energy sectors. From implementing liquid-cooled transitions to automating data-driven efficiency solutions, her work consistently demonstrates technical precision, operational foresight, and a bold commitment to performance excellence.

"Julia brings distinct skillset of technical depth and strong leadership," said Chad Fowler, HED's Mission Critical Business Leader. "Her presence strengthens not only our engineering capabilities, but also our ability to deliver thoughtful, resilient solutions that create lasting value for our clients. We're thrilled to welcome her to the team."

Julia's career reflects a rare combination of deep mechanical expertise and an inclusive mindset. She is especially passionate about mentoring early-career engineers, demystifying complex systems, and helping teams thrive through knowledge sharing and design transparency.

"I love the challenge of turning technical complexity into something elegant and efficient," said Julia. "The goal is always the same: design systems that perform beautifully and help others understand how and why they work."

As HED continues to expand its Mission Critical portfolio, Julia's leadership will be instrumental in delivering purposeful, sustainable solutions that empower clients to adapt, innovate, and grow with confidence.

HED is proud to announce a strategic leadership enhancement for its Boston Healthcare practice with the appointment of Noelia Bitar AIA ACHA as a Healthcare Sector Leader. Bitar, whose career spans over 25 years in innovative healthcare design and medical planning on an international stage, has joined the firm, marking a new chapter of growth.

Bitar joins forces with industry expert, Healthcare Strategy & Development Leader, Ronda Paradis, whose leadership has propelled HED's growth in healthcare on the East Coast. Paradis has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking vision and an ability to drive impactful solutions in healthcare. Since joining HED, Paradis's leadership has strengthened HED's presence in Greater Boston, advancing the firm's work on healthcare projects and deepening partnerships with prominent institutions.

Together, Paradis and Bitar will co-lead HED's design practice for the Healthcare sector in Boston, leveraging their combined experience to further elevate the firm's integrated design strategies and expand its impact in the region.

"Noelia's extensive background and visionary approach to healthcare design align perfectly with our commitment to delivering environments that foster innovation, healing, and operational excellence," said Brett Paloutzian, HED's Healthcare National Business Leader.

Bitar brings a wealth of expertise as an award-winning, board-certified healthcare architect. Her experience encompasses high-profile projects ranging from academic medical centers to state-of-the-art patient towers and specialized clinical environments.

"By uniting Noelia's global deep expertise and perspective with Ronda's strategic approach to understanding client needs, HED is connecting experts to solve complex challenges withing the healthcare environment" says Enrique Suarez, CEO at HED. "We are poised to redefine what's possible in healthcare design—creating spaces that not only meet the highest standards of functionality and sustainability but also inspire transformative patient care."

HED remains committed to integrating cutting-edge design with operational efficiency and community engagement. The appointment of Bitar and the continued leadership of Paradis signal a sharpened focus on innovative, patient-centered design solutions that meet the evolving challenges of the healthcare landscape in Boston and beyond.