Bio:
The great engineer, Shariq is the founder and Principal of Algebra AEC. With 15 years in the industry, his specialty is sustainability, integrated design, building science analytics, and energy conservation. He calls Detroit home although he’s been in Cleveland for over a decade. Shariq received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Dearborn and master’s in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
In college, I had the opportunity to volunteer on a local mosque expansion project. On that project, I met the director of the civil engineering department from the local office of a large AE firm. The director offered me an internship and I took it.

What do you do?
Much of my job is teaching younger engineers to design systems in a truly integrated manner. This involves thinking through the user’s experience, cost, constructibility, and not screwing up the design. Also strategy, business development, etc.

What excites you in the work you do?
Being able to define our culture. I’d consider us an oasis in the AEC industry. Also, working with great teams on impactful projects.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
Defining our narrative drives me. Historic buildings, figures, and cultures through time inspire me.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Standing up to authority and working to eliminate systemic racism once decision at a time.

Featured Project Name: 
Health Education Campus – Design Assist Engineer Cleveland Institute of Art – EOR Private 
 
Featured Project Location: 
Cleveland, Ohio, USA Sindh, Pakistan 
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
Various

Role in Featured Project: 
PIC / PM / Engineer of Record / Design Assist Engineer / Volunteer 
 
Featured Project Description:
We aspire to work on projects which make an impact; be it through design, energy reduction, providing water to those without, supporting spaces designed to activate, and enabling marginalized communities , we aspire to work on projects which make an impact.– essentially projects which require teams that give a damn.

Photography Credit:
Cleveland Institute of Art - ©2019 christianphillipsphoto.com