Rachel Tove-White, EIT - Structural Designer

As a structural designer at Verdant, Rachel is dedicated to expanding the use of low-embodied-carbon building systems. Her work concentrates on engineering earthen and bio-based structures, including adobe, compressed earth block, cob, and strawbale. She has also written and presented on strategies for maintaining low-carbon goals within earthen construction and advancing the design of adobe structures in high seismic regions.

Rachel’s commitment to materially responsible engineering started in her undergraduate studies at UNC, Chapel Hill, where she completed a double major in Environmental Studies (B.A.) with a minor in City and Regional Planning, alongside Communication Studies (B.A.) with a focus on film. During her undergraduate time, she studied urban design strategies abroad in Europe and filmed two documentaries. This early exposure to the built environment’s impact motivated her to pursue dual graduate degrees in architecture (M.Arch) and structural engineering (M.S.) at UC Berkeley. As part of her engineering research, she conducted reverse-cyclic testing of a strawbale wall assembly to better understand its seismic performance, establishing a foundation for her current expertise.

Outside of work, you can find Rachel rock climbing, attending film festivals, exploring local shops and cafes, and hiking with her high-energy tiny dog.