David Leopold
Director, Project Management
As the Director of Project Management at UI Labs, David is charged with facilitating cross-sector collaboration among universities, government, and industry. David oversees actionable pilots grounded in technology and data that meet the challenges of today’s built environment.
Prior to joining UI LABS, David drove design innovation and early adoption of livable, sustainable streets as Program Manager for the Chicago Department of Transportation Streetscape and Sustainable Design Program. He was responsible for over $90 million in combined budgets across 40 sustainable policy, planning, and construction projects ranging from pocket parks and public markets to streetscapes and master plans. At IRLEE, David served as a project manager and helped manage The University of Michigan Center for Economic Diversification. The Center for Economic Diversification was established to help the Michigan economy become more broadly based. A primary goal was to help communities and companies become more innovative, flexible, efficient, and globally competitive. The Center with David’s assistance helped firms develop new markets, products, processes, and technologies to expand their revenue base. Community and economic development assistance was provided in the form of feasibility analyses, market analyses, strategic implementation and operations planning, and impact and performance analyses. David has a Bachelors in Operations and Strategic Management from Boston College, a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, and is currently an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois Chicago.