When I was a kid in the 70s, there was a children’s TV show called Zoom. I wouldn’t say I liked it too much, and it didn’t last too long. It was reintroduced in the 90s and, again, didn’t stick. For understandable reasons, I suppose, this past year has had me thinking about that show and how little I suspected the word zoom would reenter my life in such a big way. A series of new software to install, learn, and make sure they are compatible with my hardware. The need to run many programs (Zoom, Hangout, Teams, Webex, Goto, Bluejeans, Connect) interchangeably depending on hosts. And a series of terms introduced into our vocabulary (zoom fatigue, zoom etiquette, virtual background, etc.). And now common phrases, “Can you see my screen,” “Can you make me the cohost,” and “Can you turn on your cameras so we can see you?” The current question in my mind is, where will this lead us moving forward? …
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have gained substantial exposure in 2020. Unfortunately, it has taken recent events of racism and abuse of power to bring it to the forefront. I hope the pain and loss associated with these events will not go to waste but will result in positive change. I do not consider myself an expert on DEI and even feel a bit exposed to critique by merely writing this editorial. Still, given my position in my firm and the profession, I feel it is my responsibility to talk about DEI and address it. I believe we all need to consider how we can positively impact DEI as individuals, as firm leaders within our firms, and through our professional organizations. …
It was a beautiful day in Seattle, with the bluest skies you have ever seen. On that day, I was at my construction site, waiting to pour the first building foundation. I retired in 2013 and converted my assets into constructing seven rental units. After 40 years of practicing structural engineering, I was confident that I could be my own general contractor. It should be easy on a small project. …
We live in a society that tends to react to the latest threats found in the most recent news cycle. A terrorist boards a plane in Paris in 2001 with an explosive in his shoe, and passengers must remove their shoes before boarding planes for decades. A sociopath enters an elementary school in Connecticut in 2012 and shoots whoever crosses his path. As a result, school design is forever changed to incorporate security features that were not imagined decades earlier. Did we not know this could happen? …
As I sit at my desk at work, the view out my window is not a typical office setting. Our street is a mix of residential and business use, near the center of town. I would not trade my view for anything. I am glad I do not work in a large city in a high rise, or in a bland suburban office park along a highway. …
Even before the tumultuous events of 2020, things were changing rapidly in our profession. The technological revolution, globalization, major societal challenges requiring structural engineering leadership, and the advancement of a new generation of engineers eager to make a difference in the world have been shifting the landscape for some time. …
Some professional associations struggle to find social relevance, and optimally serve their membership. These difficulties are often the result of an inability or unwillingness to take action, the inclination to speak in silos, and the lack of aligned partners. Today’s unprecedented pace of technological, social, and generational disruption particularly challenges these organizations. …
As I write this editorial, many communities and cities in the United States are just starting to “re-open” following the Coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders. My firm, like most, transitioned into a full work-from-home situation in March with only minor issues and challenges. Our business and employees have adapted remarkably well. We are conducting meetings virtually through video calls, developing and reviewing construction documents by sharing data and models, accessing information through the cloud or virtually from our servers, and participating in new project interviews remotely. Employees are doing their best to remain engaged and connected with one another. …
The last great international conference … that I attended
During the last two days of September 2019, a group of internationally renowned structural engineers, along with their architectural (or other-related-industry) cohorts, assembled in Dubai to share experiences in building some of the world’s most iconic structures. …
One of the last people I thought I would ever get professional advice from is Tom Hanks. Then it happened. It was during my daily lunchtime indulgence of surfing YouTube for a good comedy or anything unrelated to structural engineering. I stumbled upon a video of Tom Hanks’ acceptance speech for the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, which is for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. …