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
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.