JODY L. SERGI
Kirksey
SAY IT LOUD - TEXAS Exhibitor
Texas Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by my son. His entire education is in front of him. I’m inspired by students that learn in the schools I’ve helped to build and I’m inspired by my colleagues who have their own reasons for creating impactful learning environments.
JODY L. SERGI
Bio:
The great designer, Jody Sergi, an Assoc. Vice President with Kirksey, has worked in K-12 and Higher Ed throughout her career. Jody earned a BArch from The University of Cincinnati. She became a LEED AP in 2003 and served on the Board of Directors for the USGBC in Houston. Jody is skilled in event management and last year, chaired the AIA Gulf Coast Green Conference. Jody is an advocate for green schools and believes that schools can have a low impact on the earth and a big influence the way children learn.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I took Engineering Graphics in high school and I liked drawing in 3D. My teacher asked me to help him design a house and that was amazing. I told him I was going to be an Architect and he told me women aren’t Architects so here I am.
What do you do?
I am a project manager for education projects. I maintain relationships with clients. I budget and schedule projects. I review contracts and I keep the project and people organized. I am on a project from start to completion.
What excites you in the work you do?
The best part of my job is watching students interact with the architecture of the school. It’s exciting to watch how the environment impacts their learning. Seeing an older school have new life as a 21st century learning space is also inspiring.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by my son. His entire education is in front of him. I’m inspired by students that learn in the schools I’ve helped to build and I’m inspired by my colleagues who have their own reasons for creating impactful learning environments.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I was the project manager for the first LEED Gold School in Houston and I’ve been on many LEED schools since. I believe that sustainability in school buildings can change the way students learn and can strongly influence them as they become leaders.
Featured Project Name:
Milby High School
Featured Project Location:
Houston, TX
Featured Project Completion Date:
May 2, 2017
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager
Featured Project Description:
Milby High School is a place where past, present, and future meet. The design is 40,000 sf of renovation to the 1926 historic structure with 240,000 sf of new construction. Each space within and around the building is designed to be flexible and grow with the school. To complement Milby’s rich history and deep roots, the new design is centered on the spirit, tradition, and history of the school but surrounded by a modern, 21st century learning environment.
Photography Credit:
Slyworks Photography
Featured Project Name:
UHD Sciences and Technology
Featured Project Location:
TX
Featured Project Completion Date:
December 10, 2019
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager
Featured Project Description:
The UHD Sciences & Technology building is chemistry and biology laboratory space. It balances the juxtaposition of fronting downtown and integrating itself into a natural surroundings along a bayou. The building features opportunities for interaction between various subjects, and is home to the UHD Center for Sustainability and Urban Agriculture. Sustainable strategies like site restoration with native landscape & treating stormwater on site helped the project earn LEED gold certification.
Photography Credit:
Joe Aker
Featured Project Name:
San Jacinto College Engineering and Technology Center
Featured Project Location:
Houston, TX
Featured Project Completion Date:
February 15, 2020
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager
Featured Project Description:
LEARN - MAKE - DISPLAY The new Engineering and Technology Building at San Jacinto College is an innovative building that provides spaces for students to make and display. The Innovation Center dissects the building providing an enclosed area to create and an open area to collaborate with transparency displaying the students and their projects. Different moments of engineering and technology are celebrated such as the Y columns, the skeleton stair, tubular daylighting and electrochromic glazing.
