Rudin names Gatzoulis as vice president, head of sustainability

Manhattan, NY Hrisa Gatzoulis has joined Rudin as its first ever head of sustainability.

Gatzoulis brings more than 20 years of experience as a sustainability leader to her newly created position at Rudin, which consolidates the firm’s sustainability efforts under the leadership of one singularly focused role. Gatzoulis will be responsible for building upon over 20 years of sustainability and efficiency efforts at Rudin, and continuing, creating and overseeing sustainability and environmental initiatives across Rudin’s entire 14.5 million s/f commercial and multifamily portfolio, including new developments and asset repositionings. Her focus will encompass initiatives around materiality and program design, resource management and conservation, as well as embedding ESG throughout the company’s culture, systems and processes.

“For more than two decades, sustainability has been a cornerstone of our business, and we understand our immense responsibility to be steadfast stewards of the environment and a role model for our industry,” said Michael Rudin, executive vice president at Rudin. “Hrisa is the perfect person to build upon these efforts and ensure that all of our existing properties and future developments adhere to the highest standards of sustainability, energy efficiency and human wellness.”

“I am honored by the opportunity to join Rudin, a firm that is so deeply committed to New York City’s future,” said Gatzoulis. “My goal is to perpetuate and expand upon the strong foundation that the Rudin family already has in place.”

Gatzoulis comes to Rudin following a decade at Jones Lang Laselle (JLL), where she most recently served as vice president, energy, sustainability and wellness. In this role, she specialized in reducing energy use and incorporating sustainability and wellness initiatives into project design and construction across new and existing commercial, multifamily, educational and life sciences properties. 

Prior to JLL, Gatzoulis spent three years at Science Application International Corp. where she served as an energy project consultant for the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Her efforts led to more than 2.5 million s/f of commercial projects coming into NYSERDA’s New Construction Program. Notably, Gatzoulis spent her former professional years specializing in environmental engineering, serving in a variety of positions at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and ATC Associates, Inc.

Gatzoulis is a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction, an International WELL Building Institute WELL Accredited Professional and a Fitwel Ambassador. She participates with the New York and New Jersey chapter of the US Green Building Council and serves on the technical advisories of IWBI Air, Fitwel and USGBC Greenbuild. Gatzoulis holds a Master of Science degree in environmental science from Pace University and Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Kansas.