Unstruct

In this episode, we talk with Roger Krulak, Founder and Principal at FullStack Modular and David Farnsworth, PE, Principal at Arup.  We talk about the best project delivery system and about options available for modular construction.  Roger and David have worked on numerous modular construction projects, creating structures that exceed 20 stories tall, truly building onsite Lego-like structures.  We dig into scope of work delineation, floorplan flexibility and how modular constructed high rise structures are able to resist site loading such as high seismic forces. By being involved from project inception, both parties- the manufacturer and structural engineer – are able to convey their respective requirements and continuously elevate the limits of modular construction in a truly impressive way.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.Mentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsGabl Continuing Education PodcastsEmerging

In this episode, Julian Lineham, PE, Founding Principal at Studio NYL, talks about the Bonnett Springs Park project.  This site was previously inaccessible due to an abandoned rail line.  So by removing the abandoned line, many acres of land were suddenly opened up and accessible.  This project includes the design and construction of several buildings throughout the site but our talk focuses on four main buildings: the Event Center, Welcome Center, Children’s Museum and Nature Center.   Materials included mass timber and CLT (cross laminated timber) and concrete and steel.  Listen in to hear how soil challenges were addressed and to also hear how sustainability aspects were worked into the design of these structures.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.Mentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible RemnantsGabl Continuing Education Podcasts

In this episode, Cherise Lakeside, FCSI, Senior Specification Writer for RDH Building Science Inc. talks about the importance of good specification writing for structural engineers and architects.  Cherise is based out of Portland, Oregon and, in addition to her duties at RDH, teaches the SCI CDT certification program and hosts the ARCAT podcast “DETAILED”, produced by Gabl Media.  “DETAILED” shares project stories of challenges and triumph and is wildly successful with over 300,000 downloads in the 18 months since its inception.  Cherise gives specification advice to architects and structural engineers including making sure items are only listed once in the specifications and making sure that things are located in their appropriate sections.  Also, we talked about the purpose of structural general notes and how they pair with project specifications.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.DETAILED Podcast: www.gablmedia.com/podcasts/detailedMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible RemnantsGabl Continuing Education Podcasts

What is structural engineering and what do structural engineers actually do? How much does it cost to hire one? This episode demystifies structural engineering and breaks down the major processes that we perform from job to job. If you’ve ever wondered about the ins and outs of structural engineering, this episode is for you.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com. Mentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmergingGabl Continuing Education Podcasts

In the second portion of this special two part series, we talk about the necessity of sustainability extending beyond the design phase.  Dena and Indigo River also have a vested interest in offshore wind generation and training programs for implementation.   We also get into Dena’s dream for the future of the profession.Waterfront Architecture is Dena Prastos, AIA niche design market.  With degrees in civil engineering, in architecture and from Harvard Business School, Dena brings a diverse background as the Founder and CEO of Indigo River.  Waterfront architect, civil engineer, futurist, climate adaptation expert, entrepreneur, and creative original, Dena is driven to transform the built world at the water’s edge.Indigo River brings a transdisciplinary approach to waterfront architecture, resiliency and climate adaptation and is a leading authority in New York Harbor and beyond.  In this episode we talk specficaly about the Wildflower Studio which is located at the water’s edge in the New York City area and is a state of the art vertical production studio backed by Robert De Niro.  We also discuss sustainable and resilient design and differentiate between the two.  Dena has crafted a unique business and career based on her personal passions.  Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Dena spent many months a year off the grid and in touch with nature while growing up.  It is evident that this connection with nature has carried through in her waterfront designs in New York City.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.Mentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsGabl Continuing Education PodcastsEmerging

Waterfront Architecture is Dena Prastos, AIA niche design market. With degrees in civil engineering and architecture from Harvard Business School, Dena brings a diverse background as the Founder and CEO of Indigo River. Waterfront architect, civil engineer, futurist, climate adaptation expert, entrepreneur, and creative original, Dena is driven to transform the built world at the water’s edge.Indigo River brings a transdisciplinary approach to waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation and is a leading authority in New York Harbor and beyond. In this episode, we talk specifically about the Wildflower Studio which is located at the water’s edge in the New York City area and is a state-of-the-art vertical production studio backed by Robert De Niro. We also discuss sustainable and resilient design and differentiate between the two. Dena has crafted a unique business and career based on her personal passions. Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Dena spent many months a year off the grid and in touch with nature while growing up. It is evident that this connection with nature has carried through in her waterfront designs in New York City.We also talk about the necessity of sustainability extending beyond the design phase. Dena and Indigo River also have a vested interest in offshore wind generation and training programs for implementation.  With so much great information in this conversation, it’s split into a special two-part series. Tune in next week to hear the second segment of this conversation.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.Mentioned in this episode:EmergingGabl Continuing Education PodcastsTangible Remnants

Many businesses are finding a niche market for carbon reduction consulting.  At KL&A in Golden, CO they have specific department, comprised of structural engineers, to provide expertise in this area.  Alexis Feitel is a licensed professional engineer and the Team Carbon Unit Director at KL&A.  As a CO native with homestead roots in CO and an outdoor enthusiast, Alexis is passionate about engaging her engineering expertise to protect the natural environment around her.In this episode, we talk about the Boulder Community Hospital Deconstruction Project.  The City of Boulder has committed to major carbon reduction efforts and as a part of those efforts, wanted to save viable structural elements from one building demolition to be used in other projects.  By structural engineering involvement during deconstruction, Alexis and her team were able to devise a deconstruction and cataloging system that allowed these structural elements to be reused in a new construction fire station in the City of Boulder.  With the construction industry contributing to 40% of carbon emissions, reusing structural members makes a lot of sense and greatly influences construction impact to the environment.  Second hand shopping at its finest.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingGabl Continuing Education PodcastsTangible Remnants

Lee Roberts is the Installation Manager at Nana Wall Systems, Inc.  In this A’23 on location episode, Lee talks about special structural engineering and architectural requirements necessary to accommodate these larger wall systems.  With openings sometimes spanning up to 90’, adequate structural support is of the utmost importance.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about the field installation side of things and how designers can proactively design for the finished condition.  The sky really is the limit for these glass wall systems.https://www.nanawall.com/Mentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

With over 200 published research papers and over 50 seismic seminars to his name, Dr. Satyendra K. Ghosh is an expert in seismic design.  Dr. Ghosh has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s and doctorate degree in Structural Engineering.  He is also the founder of S.K. Ghosh Associates, LLC, who focuses on code development and implementation.   Dr. Ghosh has traveled the world, investigating the effects of earthquakes on structures.  This episode digs into new code updates in ASCE 7-22, lessons learned from the Turkey earthquake, earthquake predictability and seismic design software use.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

How is structural safety ensured during construction?  Contractors and erectors are great at their jobs but sometimes complex structures need additional engineering support during construction.  While this temporary condition is typically outside the scope of the engineer of record’s work as they are designing for the final built condition, it does not mean that engineering support is not required during this phase.Enter Tyler Holke, PE, SE and Hassett Engineering, erection engineers that focus on the temporary support of structural elements during construction.  This episode focuses on (W)rapper which is a 235’ tall steel framed building comprised of floor plates that span to beams and girders and then to the complex exterior exoskeleton, eliminating the need for interior columns and creating unobstructed interior views.  Constructed in southern California means that seismic considerations are of prime importance.   This building actually experienced three earthquakes during construction.http://ericowenmoss.com/project-detail/wrapper/If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants

Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, WI was completed in 2022 and is currently the tallest mass timber structure in the world.  It is 25 stories (284ft) tall and comprised of cross laminated timber floor systems and glulam columns and beams throughout with cast in place concrete at the lower levels.  In many areas, the timber structural elements are exposed, creating the architecture of the space as well.Alejandro Fernandez is a Senior Associate with Thornton Tomasetti in Chicago, IL and is a structural engineer and architect and one of the lead structural engineers for Ascent Tower.  Alejandro grew up in Madrid, Spain.By reaching new heights, Ascent Tower required complete coordination between the design team, jurisdiction and contractor.  New Code parameters were created from this process including rewriting for maximum wood construction heights and new three-hour fire rated assemblies for timber columns.  Ascent Tower recently received an award from Woodworks for Wood Design Innovation. If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging at a fast pace and beginning to integrate into many facets of our day to day lives.  Architecture and engineering are no exception. Kat Stevens is a Masters in Architecture student at the University of Westminster in London, England and is immersed in the beginning stages of AI integration into Architecture.  She was first introduced to this design tool while working as a Junior BIM Architect at Zaha Hadid Architects.  By using AI to generate schematic level, conceptual building sketches, ideas are able to be transferred from a client’s imagination to sketches in just a few seconds by entering key descriptors into the AI platform.  Midjourney is currently a prevalent graphical AI platform that is being used by architects to generate these initial sketches. With over 32,000 LinkedIn followers, it is clear to see that Kat’s work and the emerging field of AI in Architecture are generating great interest.  Our hope is that this starts the AI conversation for listeners.  Her points are thought-provoking, novel and interesting.  Don’t be surprised if this episode requires a replay.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants

Exterior public art sculptures are creative, unique and typically organic in nature, making their structural design both complex and intriguing.  While quite different from building design, sculpture structural design has its own set of challenges and unique solutions.  Bryan Starr, PE, SE with Tarantino Engineering Consultants is an expert in the niche field of sculptural structural design.  Tarantino Engineering Consultants based in Maryland, but Bryan works remotely from Boise, Idaho.  Most people that meet Bryan are not surprised that he is an engineer.  Born with an obsessive attention to detail, he loves solving problems to help others succeed.  He has more than twenty years of experience designing projects of all shapes, sizes, and materials in all parts of the country.Bryan thrives most when collaborating with architects, contractors, designers, and artists.  His multidisciplinary approach to the work of engineering has earned Bryan a unique portfolio of work: public art sculptures and foundation systems.  It’s easy to see Bryan’s passion for collaborative and creative design come through in this talk.  He is frequently coordinating with the artist, fabricator and erector.In this episode we talk about the specific piece, Unum, by Blessing Hancock which is located in Santa Rosa, California.  The specialty fabricator was Gizmo, based in San Francisco, California.BLESSING HANCOCK - HomeBlessing Hancock - Gizmo Art Production (gizmosf.com)If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants

Luke Nichols is a sophomore Civil Engineering student at South Dakota State University.  In the fall of 2021, Luke and I were paired as part of a mentorship program at South Dakota State University, my alma mater.  In this episode, we take a break from a specific building and focus on the importance of mentorships.  Luke currently leads the mentorship program at SDSU and through our mentorship relationship over the last two years, we have both found conversations about what students are looking for and what employers are looking for mutually beneficial.  And we think other people can find these conversations very useful.Luke is also a collegiate level swimmer and loves to go hiking and exploring in Colorado.  I have a feeling he has big things in his future!If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

What does it mean to be a good neighbor?  Dense neighborhoods sometime require special precautions for new structures.  In many urban areas, with land being a scarce commodity, there can sometimes be less than four feet between structures, with some foundations installed right up to the property line.  This close proximity many times means that structures are influencing one another and neighboring structures need to be considered when designing or altering existing foundations.  Natalie Regan, PE, SE is the Founder and Owner of NLP Concepts, LLC located in Chicago, IL.  NLP is Chicago’s leading residential shoring design structural engineer.  In this episode, we discuss the measures necessary to ensure structural stability and safety during construction of new homes in densely populated areas.   The design and implementation of these systems can get complex but they are vital for stability of the structure(s) during the construction phase.  Consider this another below grade deep dive!If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

Reciprocal framing creates a grid-like patterned structure, relying on a system for load transfer instead of single element-to-element load transfer.  While visually pleasing, the analysis of this type of system can be somewhat complex.  However, with the advancement of parametric design tools coupled with the sustainability benefits of this type of system, it becomes easier to design and is a good fit for material reuse.  Dr. Olga Popovic Larsen, MSc, Architect MAA is a structural engineer, architect and Professor of Structures in Architecture at The Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen, Denmark and expert and published author in Reciprocal Frame Architecture.  Jens Hübertz Larsen, MSc, MIStructE is a Senior Project Manager at COWI Consulting Engineers in Copenhagen, Denmark and is well versed in the structural design and construction implementation of Reciprocal Frame Structures.In this episode, we discuss the Waste Wood Canopy.  Through research and full-scale testing, the design team was able to use reclaimed wood pieces and develop customized and repetitive connections that ultimately proved instrumental to the success of this project.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

What if buildings could act like trees? The building sector generates nearly 40 percent of all global carbon emissions. An Urban Sequoia designed building could reduce upfront embodied carbon by 70 percent and over the building’s 100-year lifespan, could absorb more than 300 percent of the amount of carbon emitted during its construction and operation.  In this episode, I talk with Mark Sarkisian, PE, SE a Partner with SOM in San Francisco, CA.  Mark holds 14 US and international patents for high-performance seismic structural mechanisms.  In 2021, he was elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, distinguished for his “innovation in efficient and aesthetic design of tall buildings and structures.”  He also has received the prestigious Fazlur Rahman Khan Life-Cycle Civil Engineering Medal.  Mr. Sarkisian authored Designing Tall Buildings: Structure as Architecture, an essential reference guide on the fundamental principles of designing high-rise structures.  Mark is a leader in the Urban Sequoia systems approach and is charting new territory in net negative carbon building design.  We specifically talk about the Benchmark Tower, a 42 story building recently constructed in San Francisco, CA that utilizes the evolving Urban Sequoia design philosophy.  By utilizing specific design elements including carbon neutral cement, bio bricks, biophilics, solar glass and many others, carbon output can be drastically reduced and sometimes even reversed with elements sequestering carbon, making a carbon negative design.  Space planning and layout are also vital in energy conservation.  We also talk about how shortening the construction schedule and designing buildings with longer life spans are also sustainably smart design principles.  This is fascinating stuff and the way of the future.  This episode ties in perfectly with the Future World Vision episode with Kelly Price.  One is hypothetical and the other takes these hypothetical concepts and puts them into practice.Learn more about Urban Sequoia:https://www.som.com/research/urban-sequoia/If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

You are the energy you bring to the room.  To keep good clients, they have to want to actually work with you.  Technical competency is a minimum benchmark; a great working relationship centered on trust and great communication are what clients are ultimately looking for.  While energy can be perceived instantly, it takes many intentional steps to be cultivated.  In this solo episode we touch on how you can tangibly cultivate the energy you bring by knowing when to say no or yes, creating margins, establishing internal deadlines and being clear with boundaries.  We also get into dreaming and risk taking and how this can really bring great energy to many other aspects of your life.  If you know of a fascinating structural engineering project that you would like to learn more about or if you are a structural engineer with a building that you would like to dissect, email kari@vector-collab.com to see if it’s a good fit for the show.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants

It is anticipated by 2070, our world’s largest cities could top 50 million people.  Today’s largest city is around 8.5 million people.  How will engineers accommodate a population so large, while preserving the city’s historic character, conserving natural resources, promoting accessible green space, and supporting a diverse array of lifestyles and economies?  Future World Vision (FWV) is an initiative spearheaded by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), to understand the drivers of change as we design for the future.  According to David Odeh, FWV Ambassador, “The leaders of the future will be those who understand the dynamic environmental, technical, and socioeconomic systems that shape our world.  Future World Vision is a window into how these systems can interact to impact the places we will live and work.  It’s a way to interact with experts from around the globe to help imagine the story of the future.”In this episode, I sit down with David’s colleague, Kelly Price, EI, and we talk in detail about what this future world, in particular a Mega City, would look like.  We talk about what we, as structural engineers, can do to address future design challenges that may potentially arise.  FWV is presented as a downloadable, free platform where engineers and the general public can navigate and add comments regarding what this future world may look like.  This is fascinating stuff!Kelly is a practicing structural engineer with Odeh Engineers, headquartered in Providence, RI and an expert in FWV platform navigation.  She frequently speaks on this topic and informs engineers and the general public about Future World Vision and how they can have a part in developing the narrative of the future.https://www.futureworldvision.org/download-desktop-appIf you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:Tangible RemnantsEmerging

In this episode, I talk with Nich Allan, Director, QC and Product Development at Bamcore about the River Run Townhomes project, located in Utah.  Nich is a Professional Engineer and has been the Director of Product Development for BamCore since 2017.BamCore wall systems address four main concerns of the built environment: carbon, cost, labor and time.  By using timber bamboo to create wall panels, carbon and cost are reduced and labor and time are saved.  A bamboo culm can grow up to three feet per day and cutting it actually stimulates regrowth.  Also, bamboo can also sequester carbon, making it a smart contributor to achieving carbon neutrality in our built environment.  BamCore uses nature’s strongest and fastest growing structural fiber – timber bamboo – to deliver a customized, Code-compliant wall system that is redefining the low-rise built environment.  Their patented Prime Wall system is a bamboo-based stud-less wall that is stronger, greener, thermally superior, healthier, safer, quieter and more quickly installed than any other conventional framing solution available today.  BamCore plans to create more bamboo passed products in the future, including floor, roof, post and beam options.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit gablmedia.comMentioned in this episode:EmergingTangible Remnants