With a dual background in architecture and engineering, Sadaf Jafari adds immense value and structure to SGA’s robust sustainable design practice. Eager to further engage clients, colleagues, and industry partners on the importance of sustainability in all aspects of our work, her collaborative approach consistently fosters forward-thinking solutions that help plan, design, and implement high performance, low-energy facilities featuring decarbonization, electrification, and resiliency.
Sadaf’s expertise ensures that conversations around sustainability help guide project stakeholders from the very beginning. Responsible for identifying the intersections between sustainability initiatives and programming needs, Sadaf works in harmony with architecture, interior design, engineering, and client teams to improve their holistic understanding of sustainable design before laying out a comprehensive action plan custom-fit to their unique requirements.
Throughout her career, Sadaf has stacked up an impressive list of professional accomplishments, including but not limited to: implementing a streamlined process to enable sustainable integration from the start, deploying millions of square feet of Carbon Neutral projects, consulting on the retrofit and connection of a collegiate building to a new geothermal plant, and having managed three major hospital projects with the goal of converting to Carbon Neutrality by 2035.
What Sadaf enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to implement advanced sustainability solutions at scale. She believes that a reduction in environmental impact should be an inherent part of every design. She is particularly interested in advocating for the concept of sustainable master planning which has an impact on a grander scale; helping organizations and entire communities take meaningful action on their carbon emissions commitments.
Sadaf obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design from The University of Cambridge as well as a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Shahid Beheshti (Melli) University. Passionate about continued education, Sadaf is consistently seeking out opportunities to exchange relevant industry knowledge that helps to ensure a cutting-edge, up-to-date approach to these efforts. Sadaf frequently attends national conferences, local sustainability community gatherings, participates in webinars, and stays up-to-date with innovative sustainable solutions by studying successful projects from across the globe (particularly in Europe). Additionally, Sadaf is an active member of both the U.S. Green Building Council and PHIUS.
As a complement to her professional passions, Sadaf is often found exploring nature and believes that traveling refreshes her spirit. She loves to work with her hands, and is constantly designing or making new things. Recently beginning home renovations, Sadaf has found great joy in the process–solving the associated challenges for which she has an unconventional perspective.