---
title: A Peek Inside … Ecological Engineer Dave Tilley’s Office
date: 2024-11-15T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-peek-inside-ecological-engineer-dave-tilleys-office"
section: Articles
---
# A Peek Inside … Ecological Engineer Dave Tilley’s Office

*November 15, 2024* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> Massive Chalk Mural, Swinging Bookshelves Fill Eclectic Space in Animal Sciences Building

*Tilley David Office MT 11112024 SC 0666 1920x1080 — Environmental science and technology Associate Professor Dave Tilley brings a homemade touch to his office, from a mural drawn by a student to a bookshelf and coffee table that he built himself.*

Few professors would invite a student to draw all over their office wall. But [environmental science and technology](http://enst.umd.edu/home/) Associate Professor Dave Tilley knows a little freedom is the best way to spark the imagination.

He’s taken that approach in his own work as an ecological engineer, including creating plant-covered green walls and green roofs, inventing “[living umbrellas](https://today.umd.edu/upgrade-artificial-shade-3a21ce92-1e69-4027-b962-710c8ecbdb26)” and harnessing the heat and water used for data centers for aquaculture or greenhouses.

Tilley has embraced those out-of-the-box ideas, especially later in his career, after initially feeling pigeonholed as an engineer starting out. “It’s taken me a long time to realize I’m more of a creative person.”

One glance inside his office, which overlooks the Animal Sciences Courtyard and is lit by sunlight filtered through dated glass blocks used throughout the building, and it’s clear this isn’t a cookie-cutter space. Is that a boat hanging from the ceiling? Festive lights strung across the room? Shelves hanging by red and black cords? Even the furniture is unique; he made some pieces and salvaged others since he moved there in 2006.

Tilley shares how his massive mural came to be, how an earthquake inspired him to build bookshelves and what he keeps around to remind him of his agricultural roots.

**Chalk Mural**



*Chal mural showing forest, cars, Greek columns, Stonehenge, sunflowers*



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*A homemade bookshelf with swinging shelves, filled with books, plants and knicknacks*



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*black and white photo of a man in a hat sitting on top of a horse taped to a brown wall, surrounded by awards*



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*Plants and a drawing in front of a bright window*



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*Dead moss in four glass jars on a windowsill*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Environmental Science and Technology](https://today.umd.edu/topic/environmental-science-and-technology), [A Peek Inside](https://today.umd.edu/topic/a-peek-inside)


**Units:** [College of Agriculture and Natural Resources](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-agriculture-and-natural-resources)