OMAHA, NE — Leo A Daly's Doug Nelsen, PE, LC, Assoc. IALD, recently received the 2022 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska. Nelsen earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from the Durham school in 2005, and his MAE in 2006. He was nominated for the award by National Director of Engineering Kim Cowman, PE, LEED AP, HFDP.

“Doug improves everything he undertakes, whether it’s the skills and sportsmanship of teams he coaches or the problem-solving skills of engineering students he mentors,” Cowman said. “As an Electrical Engineer and Lighting Designer, Doug enhances building energy profiles, occupant experiences, and our project teams. When Doug is involved, he inexorably makes things better.”

Last year, Nelsen's work for the Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center earned a Global Award of Merit for interior lighting from the Illuminating Engineering Society.

For years, Nelsen has served as an industry mentor for the Team Design course at the University of Nebraska’s Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. In 2006, he earned his Lighting Certification from the National Council of Qualifications for the Lighting Professions. He continued mentoring for 13 years, during which time he passed his PE exam and then became PE licensed in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

In 2013, Nelsen helped design a 1.2 million-square-foot military-hospital campus in Abu Dhabi. His work to improve energy efficiency helped the project target the Estidama 2 Pearl Rating for sustainability.

In 2019, after 15 years with LEO A DALY, Nelsen was promoted to Director of Electrical Engineering. He now leads the discipline across the firm. That same year, the University of Nebraska offered Nelsen a faculty position as an Industry Fellow to assist with the Team Design course. A team he mentored won national honors for their project.