About Heidi Schwartz
Heidi Schwartz is the former Editor of Designing Buildings.
Heidi Schwartz is the former editor of Designing Buildings. She has an editorial background that spans more than 30 years, with the majority of that time dedicated to reporting on facilities management, commercial real estate, economic development, architecture, construction and building operations. She left Designing Buildings in February 2022.
From 2015 to 2020, Heidi worked the charity sector as content editor for a website that provides information on living with disabilities and health issues, making long-term care choices and ageing well in the UK. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in helping define, create and populate the site with hundreds of pages of engaging, original content.
Before joining the charity sector, Heidi worked for a business-to-business media company covering commercial real estate and facilities management. She was hired by the New Jersey-based company in 1989, first as managing editor and then as editor/co-publisher of Facility Executive magazine. Heidi was promoted to the position of Internet Director in 2012, where she was the content creation expert for the company.
Heidi’s background includes a degree in English from Rutgers University and a certificate in Information Technology from Monmouth University. She has also completed courses in website design, digital photography, search engine optimisation and other web-oriented programming.
During her tenure with the magazine in the United States, Heidi wrote numerous interviews with noteworthy members of the architecture and design community. This included the architect William McDonough (sustainble design advocate and co-founder of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute), Hazel Siegel (textile designer and wife of the architect Robert Siegel), Italian seating designer Giancarlo Piretti and American industrial designer Niels Diffrient. An avid architectural history buff, she frequently spends her spare time exploring London's rich scenery by foot. She also volunteers at Highgate Cemetery in North London.
Featured articles and news
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherit assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
The 2025 draft NPPF in brief with indicative responses
Local verses National and suitable verses sustainable: Consultation open for just over one week.
Increased vigilance on VAT Domestic Reverse Charge
HMRC bearing down with increasing force on construction consultant says.
Call for greater recognition of professional standards
Chartered bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals have written to the UK Government.
Cutting carbon, cost and risk in estate management
Lessons from Cardiff Met’s “Halve the Half” initiative.
Inspiring the next generation to fulfil an electrified future
Technical Manager at ECA on the importance of engagement between industry and education.
Repairing historic stone and slate roofs
The need for a code of practice and technical advice note.
Environmental compliance; a checklist for 2026
Legislative changes, policy shifts, phased rollouts, and compliance updates to be aware of.
UKCW London to tackle sector’s most pressing issues
AI and skills development, ecology and the environment, policy and planning and more.
Managing building safety risks
Across an existing residential portfolio; a client's perspective.
ECA support for Gate Safe’s Safe School Gates Campaign.
Core construction skills explained
Preparing for a career in construction.
Retrofitting for resilience with the Leicester Resilience Hub
Community-serving facilities, enhanced as support and essential services for climate-related disruptions.





















