Serena Gildea

Serena is an Associate at Design ID with extensive experience in structural engineering across residential, commercial, modular and conservation projects. She studied Structural Engineering with Architecture at Queen’s University Belfast, graduating in 2010 with a Master’s degree and receiving the McMullen Prize for best overall performance in Architectural Design.

In 2012, Serena moved to New Zealand following the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, where she spent three years carrying out structural assessments and developing a deep understanding of seismic design and dynamic loading. This period shaped her technical approach and exposed her to post‑disaster recovery on a city‑wide scale.

Serena joined Design ID’s London office in 2016, leading projects across both traditional and modular sectors. She relocated to the Belfast studio in 2020 and has increasingly focused her work on conservation engineering. In 2022, she was awarded a prestigious Scholarship with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), reflecting her commitment to sensitive and informed restoration of historic structures.

She is Chartered with Engineers Ireland and the Institution of Structural Engineers and is an active advocate for women in engineering.