When David Shreve, one of IEI’s senior consultants, attended the University of Michigan, he followed family tradition and pursued a career in engineering. David’s father, sister, and now his daughter, are all engineers.

Since his days at the University of Michigan, David has gained more than 40 years of experience in mechanical engineering. Right out of college, he worked as a support engineer, responsible for building heating and cooling load calculations, energy studies and audits.

After gaining valuable experience as a support engineer, David became a project engineer at a firm in Royal Oak, Michigan. While there, he was responsible for the design of HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems, adding several projects to his resume: shopping malls, fire stations, office buildings, medical centers and schools.

A licensed Professional Engineer and LEED-accredited professional, David then spent 18 years with a full-service architecture and engineering firm in Detroit. When the opportunity arose to relocate to the same firm’s San Diego office, David and his wife Lisa jumped at the chance. The scope of his projects with the firm were varied and included health care, science, research and higher education facilities.

“Many of these projects were LEED-certified buildings,” says Shreve. “I’ve always been an advocate of sustainable design practice, even before green building was in vogue.”

David has since worked as a senior project manager and principal in consulting engineering and has added hospital, laboratory, and military facilities to his project experience.

He saw the opportunity to make use of his design and project management experience when he decided to join IEI in December 2014.

“It’s quite a different perspective, looking in hindsight at engineering design and installation rather than planning and development of construction documents,” he says.

As a senior consultant, David performs design work and forensic analysis of HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and energy management systems. He is also responsible for site inspections, testing, research, product analysis, cost estimating and testifying in depositions, hearings and trials.

“My background in engineering design lends itself well to my position at IEI,” he adds. “I have experience in a wide range of project types. My field experience and interaction with construction contractors over the years has helped to improve my knowledge of constructability and provisions for service and maintenance.”

David and his wife Lisa live in the north Pacific Beach area of San Diego where they walk or bicycle to the beach, the market, restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops. When not working, David enjoys outdoor activities, including bicycling, skiing, and golf.