Gionatan Vignola
Expert and Innovation Manager @Drees & Sommer
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Expert and Innovation Manager @Drees & Sommer
Hamburg, DE
Innovation & Digitalization:Innovation Ambassador connecting global innovation strategy with Northern Germany site (~550 employees); localized global initiatives with strong AI focus (e.g. CoPilot test and rollout).Developed and implemented local innovation strategies in cooperation with the Innovation Center, IT, and business units – from needs analysis to AI tool deployment; achieved measurable process optimization.Led and delivered forward-looking projects to strengthen innovation culture, including the “AI Playground Northern Germany,” boosting employee engagement.Organized and facilitated interdisciplinary workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and innovation formats to drive collaboration and digital transformation.Coached and mentored teams; led internal innovation sprints to accelerate outcomes and build innovation capabilities.Conducted research on AI trends and effectively communicated insights to support local AI strategy implementation.Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management – Real Estate & Industry:Developed dynamic building performance simulations (adaptive comfort, energy balance) to identify optimization potential and sustainable future scenarios.Performed sustainability analyses on daylight, shading, glare, and thermal protection for climate-friendly designs.Programmed and integrated parametric digital planning tools to enable data-driven, flexible processes and reduce design time.Created LCA/LCC assessments to advance sustainable strategies and resource efficiency.Promoted circular-economy principles and supported transformation processes for sustainable, future-proof planning.Established and managed idea management platforms, implemented improvements, and organized innovation workshops.Provided expert consultancy on energy-efficiency funding (Certified Energy Efficiency Expert – KfW, BAFA).
EDUCATION
HafenCity Universität Hamburg (HCU)
Dr.-Ing., Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning
HafenCity Universität Hamburg (HCU)
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning
Berner Fachhochschule BFH
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Architecture and design
Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Certificate in Innovation Management, [Innovation Management - Project Management - Marketing]
SKILLS
ABOUT GIONATAN VIGNOLA
Bringing over a decade of diverse expertise to the forefront of the AEC industry, I am a seasoned professional deeply dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices. My leadership prowess extends well beyond project execution, combining a robust academic foundation with hands-on experience in computational design and analysis and innovation management. My actual role in the Integrated Design department has allowed me to specialize further in: Dynamic Building Performance Simulation: Expertise in adaptive comfort, energy balance, climate-responsive design, lifecycle assessment, and computational analysis.Energy Efficiency Consultancy: Providing comprehensive guidance from customer advice to subsidy audits for residential and non-residential buildings. Parametric Tools Development: Pioneering tools for simulation, analysis, and computational design.Innovation Management: Orchestrating workshops, coaching internal innovation sprints, and fostering a culture of sustainability.In my tenure as Innovation Manager, I played a pivotal role in developing a platform for idea generation and implementation within the department, organizing workshops, and spearheading internal innovation sprints. From 2024 onward, by extending my work to the Innovation Center, I steer initiatives to infuse sustainability and circularity into design practices. This involves supporting AI-related topics, as well as developing digital tools for planning with a focus on computational design.My academic journey is crowned with the successful completion of a Ph.D. focused on optimizing passive building strategies in hot and dry climates. The research incorporated building performance simulations, cost-benefit and lifecycle analyses, as well as urban scenarios evaluation. Utilizing innovative methodologies such as genetic algorithms, uncertainty, sensitivity, and parametric analysis, I enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions, providing a holistic approach.My academic contributions include impactful research and publications on climate-responsive architecture and energy efficiency. Moreover, I\'ve demonstrated leadership in organizing transcultural and interdisciplinary studios across India, Egypt, Germany, France, and Switzerland, coupled with summer schools and lectures that underscore the importance of sustainable built environments and innovative processes.Let\'s connect to explore how my leadership, innovation, sustainability commitment, and computational design expertise can contribute to transformative projects in AEC and beyond.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.