40 Under Forty: Matthew M. Copeland, P.E., 35

Photo | Erika Sidor Winners of the WBJ 2018 40 Under Forty award (from left): Matthew M. Copeland, Courtney E. Pelley, Michael Alden, David Gilchrist.

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Principal

Copeland Building Envelope Consulting, Stow

Lives: Stow

Birthplace: Boston

Colleges: Northeastern University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Copeland has had a hand in dozens of complex restoration projects in significant U.S. buildings, including the New York State Capitol and the Massachusetts State House, but particularly in higher education at places like Harvard University and MIT. When he was director of building envelopment sciences at Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects in Hopkinton, he more than doubled the size of the building envelope sciences group in just one year. Prior to that, he started the building envelope consulting practice at Thornton Tomasetti in Boston. Now, Copeland is striking out on his own, starting in June a building envelope consulting practice out of his home in Stow. His expertise on envelopes – the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned sections of a building – makes him a sought-after author and speaker for events like Build Boston and the International Roofing Expo. He served as den leader in the Stow Cub Scout Pack 39 and coached Little League baseball. Copeland maintains a healthy work-life balance and took a one-year sabbatical with his family to Southeast Asia from 2014-2015. At the end of the day, he can't escape his love of architecture, as he has been gutting his home for the last three years, with most of the work done himself.

From 40 Under Forty judge Milka Njoroge: “Matthew has excelled in his career and become a well-published and sought-after speaker. He is committed to giving back to the community.”

What do you want people to say about you when it is all said and done? He was kind.

What is the best advice you've ever heard? “Reality is largely negotiable,” by author Tim Ferriss.

Read about the entire 2018 Class of 40 Under Forty

Michael Alden - Ascentria Care Alliance

Che Anderson - City of Worcester

Victor M. Archila - VMA Electric Inc.

Allison Beckler, DO - YOU, Inc.

Sam Bitar - Webster Five

Mark A. Borenstein - Seder & Chandler LLP

Kate D. Campanale - Massachusetts House of Representatives

Derek Canton - paerpay

Ryan Canuel - Petricore, Inc.