Celebrating a Women in BIM Leader Advancing Digital Innovation Across North America
Women in BIM is proud to celebrate Yafei Zhang, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), for her recognition as one of Building Design + Construction’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2025.
This annual list honors exceptional young professionals who are shaping the future of the AEC industry. Yafei’s inclusion recognizes not only her design and technology achievements, but also her leadership in advancing BIM education, mentorship, and gender equity across the global industry.
A Voice for Women in Digital Practice
As the Women in BIM Regional Lead for New York and National Education Lead for North America, Yafei has been instrumental in expanding WIB’s presence across the continent. She has organized cross-regional events, panel discussions, and mentorship initiatives designed to connect emerging professionals with established experts in BIM, digital design, and project delivery.
Yafei’s focus as Education Lead centers on building bridges between academia and practice—creating learning pathways that empower students, educators, and industry professionals to confidently adopt BIM methodologies. Her leadership has strengthened WIB’s mission to promote inclusive and data-driven design leadership.
Innovating at the Intersection of Design and Technology
At KPF, Yafei plays a pivotal role in integrating BIM-based workflows into some of the firm’s most complex projects, including the Bund Fosun Center in Wuhan, Meta Office at New York and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation. Her work combines computational design, automation, and sustainability—transforming technical rigor into creative opportunity.
Her development of automated egress and plumbing fixture tools has improved design efficiency, accuracy, and environmental performance across multiple global projects. These innovations exemplify her belief that technology should enhance both design quality and human experience.
Educator, Mentor, and Advocate
Beyond practice, Yafei serves as an Adjunct Professor at Kean University (US) and Zhengzhou University (China), where she leads professional practice seminars and introduces students to real-world Computer-Aid-Architecture-Design applications. Her teaching emphasizes collaboration, sustainability, and the future-ready skill sets architects need in a rapidly evolving industry.
She is equally passionate about mentorship—crediting her own mentors for empowering her early career growth, and now paying it forward through WIB and academic programs.
Recognition and Representation
“Being named to BD+C’s 40 Under 40 is a personal honor, but more importantly, it’s a reflection of the communities that support me,” Yafei shared. “Women in BIM has given me a platform to amplify education, collaboration, and inclusion in the digital design space. I’m proud to share this recognition with every woman advancing technology in our field.”
Her award continues a legacy of Women in BIM members being recognized on the world stage—showcasing how collaboration, advocacy, and technical excellence can drive meaningful change.
Read the BD+C feature: BD+C 40 Under 40 Class of 2025 – Top Young Leaders in AEC
