Facilities and Campus Operations

Paul E. Dietel is the Assistant Vice President for Planning, Design, and Construction at Brown University, where he leads a team of 26 professionals responsible for delivering more than 125 capital projects annually. His diverse portfolio encompasses major new construction, comprehensive adaptive reuse, and the ongoing renewal and stewardship of campus facilities. With 37 years of experience in the design and construction industry including 30 years focused on higher education, Paul brings deep expertise in project leadership and strategic planning. Before assuming his current role at Brown, he held senior leadership positions at both Harvard Business School and Brown University, where he was instrumental in advancing innovative project delivery methods and integrating sustainability and resiliency best practices across a wide range of projects.

A recognized leader in sustainability and decarbonization, Paul is committed to reducing embodied carbon and promoting the use of healthier building materials. He has overseen the successful delivery of three hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings and regularly advises peer institutions on the use of mass timber in institutional construction. Paul is a long-standing partner of the Building Futures program, working collaboratively with a wide network of stakeholders to ensure construction projects generate meaningful apprenticeship and employment opportunities that strengthen Rhode Island’s skilled labor workforce.