Professional Profile: Valerie DeLoach, AIA, LEED AP

Valerie DeLoach, AIA, LEED, AP is the education & science associate principal at HDR San Diego. Lab Design News spoke to Valerie about her career, her favorite book, and what she would do with a multi-million-dollar lottery.

Q: How did you get started in your career?

A: I remember drawing house plans in fifth grade and instinctively knowing I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. My father was an industrial designer and an active member of Auburn University’s School of Industrial Design, and seeing students’ work when I would accompany him on visits piqued my interest at an early age. When I decided to attend Auburn, I jumped right into Studio my first year. It was tough, and I took a break from architecture for a bit to focus on having a college experience and evaluating my career path. During that break, it became abundantly clear that architecture was my true passion, so I returned to the College of Architecture and graduated. At the start of my career, I considered myself an architectural generalist, having worked on everything from courthouses and theatres to K-12 schools and urban parks. It wasn’t until I came to HDR that I started specializing in lab design. I remember the project that sparked this niche interest, the Cedars-Sinai Biomanufacturing Center, which included, among other technical spaces, a cleanroom. I was fascinated by the program and technical requirements, and entirely enthralled by the work happening inside them. I’m proud to play a role in scientists’ work of changing the future of medicine. It makes my job meaningful.

Q: If you weren’t in this profession, what job would you like to have instead?

A: If I could be paid to travel to the world’s most beautiful and exotic places to examine beautiful buildings, experience great cultures, enjoy fantastic food and wine, and educate people simultaneously, that would be my dream job. But, since I am not Rick Steves, I try my best to travel abroad and see some of the buildings I’ve read about to experience them first-hand.

Q: What’s a common misconception about your job?

A: One misconception is that one person is behind the successful design of a building. While one person may be responsible for the concept vision, it takes a whole team and immense commitment from many people to make a building successful. I challenge this misconception by letting people outside of the industry know it takes a team to deliver good design, and when working with my team, I make it known that everyone has a voice at the table and that their unique skill sets are valued.

Q: What is your favorite building, lab-related or not?

A: I am a huge fan of Louis Kahn and have studied his work for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fortunate to have visited several of his buildings and been involved in two projects associated with Kahn, including the FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York City. My favorite building is the Salk Institute in San Diego, California. It is a beautiful space that creates indoor and outdoor environments that connect with nature and the mission of science and discovery at large. When Kahn designed that building in the 1960s, he did so in a way that enabled the building to flex and change with the advancements of technology. The building is remarkable for its labs and research studies that engage with nature and offer views of the sea, as well as for the wonder it spurs in people who can spend time in its magnificent courtyard.

Q: If you won a multi-million-dollar lottery tomorrow, what would you do with your winnings?

A: I would use the money to help solve California’s homelessness and housing crisis and help develop sustainable, regenerative cities and built environments where all can succeed and thrive.

Q: What kind of hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?

A: I enjoy pilates, cooking, and reading. My favorite book is The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs. I read that book in college, and it spoke to me so much, mainly because I grew up in North Alabama, where the closest city was Huntsville, and it did not have any pedestrian pathways. That book educated me about urban environments and what they could and should be.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years in this new position?

A: I am so excited to lead the expansion of HDR’s San Diego architecture studio! San Diego has an emerging tech industry and a thriving environment for life sciences, education, and tourism. I look forward to leveraging HDR’s global expertise and recruiting amazing talent to build a vibrant office to help serve San Diego by providing sustainable and regenerative design solutions as the city grows.