Dr. Tommy Zakrzewski
Founder and Chief Building Scientist, Zakrzewski Architectural Engineering, LLC (ZAE)
TEACHES:
ISEN 433 Breakthrough Energy Efficiency and Net Zero Buildings (0.5 credit)
Dr. Tommy Zakrzewski is an adjunct professor within Northwestern's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability (MSES) Program.
Dr. Tommy Zakrzewski is the Founder and Chief Building Scientist of Zakrzewski Architectural Engineering, LLC (ZAE), where he applies rigorous, physics-based analysis to help design and construction teams build better, more resilient structures. Bringing more than two decades of expertise at the intersection of building science, energy performance, and climate action, he is a recognized leader in Building Engineering Physics.
Dr. Zakrzewski has collaborated with architects, engineers, contractors, and clients across complex projects to meet ambitious ESG targets. His research and development work has pushed the boundaries of building energy modeling (BEM), informing next-generation materials, technologies, and construction practices. He previously served as Principal and Director of Building Engineering Physics at HKS, Inc., a globally acclaimed architecture and advisory firm.
Dr. Zakrzewski's teaching is rooted in the belief that students must become agents of change. As a UN Accredited Climate Change Teacher, he weaves climate literacy, just transition, and social equity into every course he teaches. He concurrently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, where he teaches Applied Building Energy Modeling, Building Enclosure Design, and Introduction to Sustainable Building Design at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
As a Registered Architect in the State of Hawaii, he also serves on the IBPSA-USA Board of Directors and the USGBC LEED Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Dr. Zakrzewski holds a B.A. in Audio Arts and Acoustics from Columbia College Chicago and both a Master of Architectural Engineering and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.