John Rice is a pioneering mechanical engineer and one of the founding partners of Legacy Engineers, a Black-owned MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) consulting firm based in New York City. With a 30+ year career spanning sustainable building systems, high-performance design, and leadership in large-scale infrastructure projects, Rice’s mission is bigger than engineering—he’s building a legacy of access, excellence, and opportunity for Black and Brown professionals in the field.
In this episode, Rice shares his full-circle journey—from discovering engineering as a college student, to becoming the only Black partner at a 500-person firm, to launching Legacy Engineers to shift the industry’s leadership landscape. He breaks down how energy and purpose have guided his life, why community matters, and the firm’s role in shaping iconic projects like JFK Terminal 1 and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. You'll hear how Legacy blends cutting-edge sustainability with a bold social mission: to change the face of engineering.
Subscribe for more inspiring founder stories. Learn more at Legacy Engineers.
In this episode:
00:00 Introducing John Rice of Legacy Engineers
02:52 Discovering Engineering
03:40 College Years and Early Career
04:43 Professional Journey in Engineering
08:18 The Importance of Community and Mentorship
11:38 Founding Legacy Engineers
22:50 Mission and Vision of Legacy Engineers
23:39 Discovering Ancestral Empowerment
25:01 Core Values of Legacy Engineers
26:09 Mentorship and Community Service
29:16 Generational Differences in Community Engagement
33:05 Launching Legacy Engineers
37:36 Major Projects and Innovations
43:00 Advice for Aspiring Engineers
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Follow John Rice
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-b-rice-p-e-leed-ap-0142a2b/
Website: https://legacy-engineers.com/team-johnrice/
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This podcast is sponsored by Construct Reach.
As a workforce development initiative that builds reachable opportunities through construction, ConstructReach increases the visibility of the construction industry by educating students about career opportunities within construction, connecting general contractors to interns and innovative internship curricula, creating content and experiences to expose a diverse population to sustainable construction careers, and uniting stakeholders to ensure the construction industry continues to thrive.
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