Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry. 

I am driven by a passion for solving problems and a desire to engage in meaningful work. Growing up in Hawaii, I embarked on a career in the engineering industry, starting as a mechanical engineer with NAVFAC. There, I honed my craft and managed complex projects throughout the Pacific. The work was inspiring and took me far beyond the islands, including an unforgettable experience at the South Pole working on the National Science Foundation program. These diverse experiences, coupled with my love for a good challenge, ultimately inspired me to test my skills in the private sector. Embracing the steep learning curve at ArchTam, I gained a deeper understanding of the business, built valuable relationships, and evolved into a well-rounded and effective program manager. My career journey reflects a powerful combination of curiosity, a desire to grow, and the unique opportunities I’ve been fortunate to embrace. 

Reflecting on my career, it’s hard to pinpoint a single favorite project, but a couple truly stand out for the impact they had on my growth and perspective. One of my earliest projects with ArchTam was a marine aviation logistics facility and a corrosion control hangar at Andersen Air Force Base, as part of MILCON projects for NAVFAC Pacific. These were intricate design-build endeavors that allowed me to leverage my A/E expertise along with ArchTam’s depth of resources to enhance project deliverables. Working to solve these complex challenges taught me invaluable lessons and helped shape my approach to problem-solving in the engineering field. Another memorable project was the Army Family Housing initiative for USACE Japan, which entailed three phases with comprehensive interior and exterior modernization, renovation, and repair of housing units. Through countless heartfelt discussions and dedicated teamwork, we turned the project around, earning a “very good” rating from the client — a testament to the power of perseverance and collaboration. 

These experiences not only deepened my technical expertise, they also highlighted the incredible talent within the consulting industry. Working alongside brilliant engineers and architects from around the world who are passionate about military design is inspiring. I cherish the moments we shared, discussing innovative approaches and learning from each other’s expertise. It’s these interactions that continually fuel my enthusiasm for what we do. 

Throughout my career, I’ve prioritized clear and effective communication, a skill that has been instrumental in managing diverse programs across the Pacific for our federal clients. These projects and the people behind them have been integral to my journey, and I’m proud to have been part of such transformative work. 

Share a piece of career advice.

If I were to share a piece of career advice, I’d say it starts with working hard and being credible — honest and responsible in everything you do. Communication is key; as you gain experience, focus on developing this skill. It’s also crucial to learn as much as you can from others. There are so many brilliant minds out there and taking the time to connect and learn from them not only helps you grow but also fosters mutual development. 

I’ve always tried to approach my career with humility. While I might not be one to boast about my achievements, I’ve been fortunate to have people in my corner who remind me of the importance of recognizing and appreciating the impact of my work. Building strong relationships and surrounding yourself with supportive individuals is invaluable. 

Another essential aspect is understanding yourself — what drives you, what makes you tick. Self-awareness allows you to navigate challenges effectively and support others in doing the same. Developing your emotional intelligence is as important as honing technical skills; it helps you handle situations with empathy and resilience. Ultimately, embracing growth, maintaining humility, and fostering connections are the cornerstones of a fulfilling career. 

The post Across the Indo-Pacific, from Alaska to Japan: Meet Randy Yuen appeared first on Blog.

With 50 years of experience, particularly in road engineering and engineering structures, Denis’ passion, patience and determination have enabled him to mentor many young engineers throughout his career. When you meet him, his enthusiasm for his profession quickly becomes contagious, and he has been transferring his knowledge and passion for his work to others for decades.

In the last 30 years, Denis’ activities have focused exclusively on road infrastructure. In Quebec, he has been responsible for several projects relating to Highways 10, 15, 20 and 40 in Montreal, and Highways 20 and 85 in eastern Quebec.

Tell us about what inspired you to join ArchTam and stay?

I was already working for a company, but I decided to join ArchTam and I chose to stay. It was a conscious choice because I believed ArchTam was my future. There were several moments throughout my career that solidified my desire to stay with the company, such as the way new employees were treated with respect during their integration phase, the increased opportunities for a career in engineering and the continued support of colleagues in the Quebec City and Montreal offices in all the fields involved in my road projects.

I still share the same sentiment since I’m still here and have agreed to extend my mandate as an advisor for one of my current projects on Highway 85, a 100 km stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway linking Highway 20 (Rivière du Loup) to the New Brunswick border. This project is nearing completion (2025) of its Phase 3. ArchTam has contributed to this project in various ways since 2002 as designer and construction supervisor for several sections, including environmental studies.

My 50 years with the company show that I believed and still believe that it is possible to have a long and successful career with ArchTam. This great company operates around the world and offers many career opportunities.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

It goes without saying that in my 50-year career, I have worked on many interesting projects. The type of project was not so much what mattered the most to me, but rather the colleagues with whom I got to collaborate with, since team spirit is very important to me. I have enjoyed participating in all these projects throughout the years, whether in the field of hydraulics, hydroelectricity, urban engineering and, for the last 30 years, road engineering more specifically.

I would identify the projects related to the first road interchanges carried out in parallel on Highway 20 in the Montreal area for the municipalities of Baie D’Urfé and Beaconsfield as decisive mandates because they helped shape my career. The Morgan and Woodland interchanges and the modernization of commuter trains in the Montreal metropolitan area gave me the opportunity to start building my name in the industry and launched my career in road engineering.

The teamwork and collaboration involved in these two projects allowed us to win these two mandates in the first place and to meet the expectations of the client, the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec. It’s important to also believe in our abilities, together we can achieve great things.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

ArchTam’s purpose is to deliver a world where infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone—uplifting communities, improving access and sustaining our planet. In the context of road networks, safety is crucial. The primary benefit is improved mobility of people and goods but ensuring both the mobility and safety of road users while respecting the surrounding environment is the key positive aspect of this type of work. The mitigation measures implemented ensure people are compensated for their losses or damages.

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is an automated light rail system with 26 universally accessible stations across Greater Montreal.  When it opens, it will significantly enhance sustainable mobility in the greater Montreal area. Through interconnection with bus systems, commuter trains and the Montreal metro, it will help reduce congestion and reduce GHG emissions to help accelerate Quebec’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

My role consisted of reconfiguring the profile of the carriageways that crossed the railway tracks at the level of crossing to increase the safety of road users.

This goes in line with ArchTam’s Sustainable Legacies (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy.

Based on your experience working here for the past 50 years, how has ArchTam’s work in Transportation transformed to deliver a better world?

At the beginning of my career, we used to assess and deliver projects based primarily on the following criteria: project objective, schedule and costs. Today, our clients ask us to consider the impact on the environment, how to minimize it and what mitigation measures to propose. The company has been able to respond to those concerns by considering the environmental factor and involving specialized teams in all the phases of a project.

Share a piece of career advice.

Always be proud of your accomplishments no matter how small they may seem at first in a large company like ArchTam. At the beginning of your career, these small projects are mainly about developing your skills, gaining insight and control over your projects. At ArchTam, colleagues and specialists can advise you, answer your questions and help you make informed decisions about the problems you encounter or need to solve. You can also work on larger projects if that is your ambition. The company offers you great possibilities and many opportunities.

Finally, I would like to thank all my colleagues, as they have allowed me to be who I am and provided encouragement for my professional development. Their support made it possible for me to now complete 50 years at ArchTam.

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Across the nation, our young professionals continue to showcase what it means to deliver a better world through innovative ideas and unparalleled leadership. Their sustainable focused work positively impacts our clients, communities and world for generations to come. We are excited to congratulate and introduce our ENR 2023 National and Regional Top Young professionals. Read more about each of our honorees.

ENR National Winner and ENR Texas & Louisiana

Jaime Miller, PE, CCM: Jaime is a program director leading ArchTam’s team providing project and program management services for the City of Richardson’s $397 million 2021 Capital Improvement Program. Previously, Jaime led three of the most unique and complex campus modernization projects of the 2017 Austin Independent School District $1.05 billion Bond Program. These included the award-winning, state-of-the-art Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders ($75 million total project cost) and the Rosedale School for students with severe special education and medical needs that also features a one-of-a-kind partnership with a pediatric clinic. Jaime has many other public infrastructure projects including a successful 72-hour emergency dam stabilization effort as both an engineer and a construction manager.

ENR California

Carla Aguilar Rivera, PE: As a first-generation undocumented Latina raised in a low-income community, Carla has had to overcome constant barriers to blaze her own trail in the infrastructure world. Now, Carla is a rail and transit infrastructure project manager at ArchTam and an engineer of record for several large infrastructure projects all around the world. Working in the Northern California Mega Region, Carla is bringing her experience as a business development lead and client account manager to help develop the local transit group. 

Elliot Wong: A multifaceted leader, Elliot is a certified project manager and ArchTam accredited quality manager whose career has led him from Asia to Europe, to the Middle East, and now California. In his current role with ArchTam, Elliot is working with client development executives systematically through all workstreams of their programs to ensure a more resilient and monitorable approach to their project delivery practices. Elliot has led efforts within several notable projects including Valley Link, Caltrain Grade Separation and San Jose Downtown West Development. Beyond ArchTam, he is making significant, global contributions to the industry. Currently, he’s working on establishing an industry standard to be published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as well as volunteering in Southeast Asia.

ENR MidAtlantic

Heather Riebeling: As a certified project manager as well as transit market sector operations manager for Greater Pennsylvania, Heather has delivered industry-leading project outcomes that greatly influence the transit industry. Heather was the U.S. OCS Team Lead for the Réseau Express Metropolitan (REM) project in Montreal, a CAD$6.3 billion alternative procurement design-build project. Heather also served as Systems and Tunnel Facilities Package Manager on the $2 billion Southwest LRT project. She is currently managing several projects for Amtrak and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia. Heather serves on the board of the IEEE VTS Overhead Contact Systems Committee and is active in WTS and ArchTam’s Pride Employee Resource Group.  

Jonathan Rumbaugh: Jonathan has become a leader in designing mission-critical facilities around the world and has a passion for integrated architecture and engineering design. He is currently the lead engineer for projects across the country and around the world for notable clients, such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, Architect of the Capital, Department of Homeland Security, National Park Service, and government intelligence agencies. He enjoys developing engineering solutions to complex problems for some of the world’s most critical infrastructure projects. Jonathan was the mechanical engineer for the recently completed, 2022 ENR MidAtlantic Best Project Winner, LEED-Gold, NASA Measurement Systems Laboratory, a 175,000-square-foot world-class facility for research and development of concepts, technologies, and systems that helps NASA better understand the Earth’s atmosphere, land spacecraft on other worlds, and improve space travel. Additionally, Jonathan currently serves as the Vice President of the ASHRAE National Capital Chapter and volunteers at several local community service organizations.

Ryan Samuels: Ryan is the founder of PRISM®— ArchTam’s internationally recognized hydrogeologic conceptual site model (CSM)— and a pioneer in the application of sequence stratigraphy to groundwater remediation projects. Ryan has implemented these innovative tools at over 100 complex remedial sites globally. Additionally, he has led and managed over 100 complex sites for the Department of Defense (DoD), private industry, and regulatory agencies, and has supported over $250 million in winning proposals. Ryan has been published in prestigious academic journals, including Springer Nature, and is currently co-authoring a book series.

ENR Midwest

Shelby Rizzi: Shelby is responsible for maintaining and providing technical solutions to ArchTam’s multiple safety databases used by ArchTam’s Construction Management business. She develops corporate safety metrics so ArchTam can measure incident rates as well as data relating to safety audits and observations. Shelby travels around the country providing training on safety databases. She also developed an onboarding training program and a corporate-wide training called Back to the Basics for ArchTam’s Construction Management employees. Lastly, she works closely with ArchTam’s Vice President of Safety to execute and develop corporate safety initiatives, assist with Coronavirus-related protocols, and ensure ArchTam is compliant with corporate and jurisdictional policies and procedures.

Jenell Schroeder: Jenell is the Senior Director and Market Sector Leader of multifamily, office, and hospitality projects for ArchTam Hunt. Jenell is involved in the overall project operations from preconstruction to closeout for the ventures she oversees. She has built over 4,000,000 square feet of high-rise projects. Her current role has expanded her geographic reach to follow clients outside of her primary market of Chicago to other parts of the country. Recently, Jenell has taken on new opportunities in business development to help shape the future of ArchTam Hunt. Janell’s success relies on open and transparent communication throughout the process and collaboration with the design team, ownership, and any other stakeholders to understand the vision and priorities of the project.

Michelle Sweeney: Michelle serves as Senior Project Manager at ArchTam, where she continues to excel through designing and managing municipal highways, urban, federal aid, city, and private site development projects. In addition to being a project manager, Michelle is the Transportation Planning/ CRS Department Leader, which entails staff coordination and assistance with the hiring process. Michelle constantly showcases leadership, such as her work on University Avenue Reconstruction Projects as a project manager. She assisted in transforming the major roadway into a multimodal, Complete Street corridor. Michelle is currently helping to design the IA58 & Greenhill Road Interchange as a project manager, after designing the IA58 & Viking Road Interchange.

ENR Mountain States

Julie Smolarek: Julie has over a decade of experience in dam safety risk analyses, geotechnical analyses, and engineering design. Julie joined ArchTam as a geotechnical engineer in 2012, and she became a geotechnical engineering team leader at the beginning of 2020. Julie has been a leader in developing risk-informed dam safety procedures for state dam safety branches, including Colorado, New Mexico, and Hawaii. She has also conducted over 20 dam inspections to assess the overall condition of a particular dam and its appurtenant structures and inform risk analyses. Julie has shared her expertise with the dam safety industry through the publication of six technical papers between 2014 and 2021.

ENR Northwest

Paige Anderson: Paige has integrated her passion for environmental stewardship and leadership into a multifaceted career. Now working as an environmental impact analyst at ArchTam in Portland, Oregon, Paige specializes in biological permitting, environmental analysis documents, water quality, and public outreach. Paige has used her varied skillset for a multitude of ArchTam projects—from pipeline repairs in Portland’s Forest Park to the expansion of a Metro line in southern California. She has played an integral role in furthering equity, diversity and inclusion into ArchTam’s practices across the Americas.  

ENR Southeast

Samer Alkhatib: Samer has been working with ArchTam since 2018 in the role of both a program manager and a business development director. He serves the public sector as a program management technical advisor for the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works. As a technical advisor, Samer is leading the department of public work’s internal and external coordination efforts. Through developing and utilizing innovative tools, the goal is to minimize the impact and inconvenience of future projects on City residents and businesses. Throughout his career, Samer’s led high-profile projects and programs, including Wet Weather Consent Decree, Water Rehabilitation & CIP, AMI/AMR, and Transit programs. As a CIP Department Manager, Samer led the development and management of the Maryland Transit Administration’s $2.5 billion capital program.

Grace Porter: Since joining ArchTam, Grace has supported South Carolina’s Transportation Group on a wide variety of projects for SCDOT and other local clients across the state, including road widenings, intersection improvements, safety projects, and multimillion-dollar streetscape/bike-pedestrian improvements. She personally assisted in bridge scour inspections for over 30 bridges across South Carolina, conducted surveys to local bus patrons for transit planning purposes over the course of a week, and aided in the design of many mechanically stabilized earth walls. Grace received a Making a Difference Award from ArchTam in September 2020 for demonstrating innovation and excellence with her work on an upcoming downtown Columbia streetscaping project.

Patrick Wipperman: Prior to graduating from Purdue University, Patrick had already begun working at ArchTam Hunt. Since then, he has advanced from laborer to his current role as a vice president, where he specializes in sports and multi-purpose venues. Onsite day-to-day, Patrick is communicating directly with the client/owner, program manager, and architect. As an executive, he is responsible for but not limited to site safety, site logistics, cost management, contract management/execution, and QA/QC. Patrick has played a prominent role in the construction management of high-profile projects such as the World’s Largest Engine Test Cell in Atlanta, Daily’s Place 6,000 Amphitheater and Covered Flex Field in Jacksonville, USTA Grandstand and South Campus in Flushing Meadows, Barclays Center home of Brooklyn Nets, Amway Center home of Orlando Magic, and Lucas Oil Stadium home of the Indianapolis Colts. 

ENR Southwest

Tyler Besch: Beginning his career with a land developer in Phoenix, Tyler is now a vice president for ArchTam’s transportation business line in the U.S. West region.  In his current roles as the Deputy Transportation Regional Business Line Leader in the Greater West and the Transit-Rail Division Manager in the Greater West and Gulf Coast, Tyler is part of the leadership teams responsible for delivering a business plan comprised of Highways, Structures, Transit, Traffic, and Construction Management, that covers over 20 states and 800 staff. He has exhibited leadership related to driving innovative project delivery and plays a key role in business development, client management, career development, mentorship and general support for staff.  In addition to leadership roles, Tyler is an active project manager delivering projects for key clients. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Transit, an Arizona nonprofit corporation whose mission is to educate the public on and drive awareness on the benefits of an accessible transit network.

Rumpa Dey: Rumpa is ArchTam’s ITS & Emerging Technology Leader/Group Manager for Arizona and Utah. She is a licensed professional engineer and a professional traffic operations engineer. Through her work, Rumpa seeks to improve mobility and safety with the design and implementation of cutting-edge technologies. She has been assisting government agencies as well as private clients with innovative solutions to address emerging transportation issues. With her innovative designs, Rumpa has been able to make significant positive financial impacts on several landmark projects in Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. More importantly, Rumpa is a proud mom of two wonderful boys.    

ENR Texas & Louisiana

Stefanie Massey: As the youngest technical auditor in the Americas, Stefi serves as a project manager and client account manager. Her area of expertise includes wastewater treatment facilities, lift station, and pump station rehabilitation, and expansions. She is improving water and wastewater infrastructure for millions of people in North Texas, helping support clients in delivering clean water to citizens or ensuring they can release clean water to the Trinity River and other local bodies of water.

Want to join a company that’s pioneering the future and where your opportunities are unlimited? Learn how you can be part of our global team today! https://www.archtam.com/careers/

The post Honoring our 2023 top young professionals appeared first on Blog.

Amadou Thimbo, Ing, M.Sc.A, is a structural engineer who graduated from the École Polytechnique de Montréal in 2018. Bilingual in English and French, he specializes in numerical modeling, seismic engineering and structural dynamics. Since joining ArchTam, Amadou has been involved in various hydraulic and hydroelectric assignments in Canada and Africa.

What inspired you to join the industry? When completing my master’s research project, I was able to work and collaborate with passionate engineers who specialized in dams. During this time, I had the opportunity to visit several dams and hydroelectric facilities in the province of Quebec, Canada. The complexity and size of these structures fascinated me and continued to be of great interest. These initial site visits helped me acquire and develop many skills, both professionally and personally, from a structural engineering and team-building perspective.  

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why? One of my favorite projects since joining ArchTam has been the stability study for the Rivière-des-Prairies power plant. Located between the shores of Montréal and Laval, this facility is one of the oldest Hydro- Québec power plants in the province of Québec. The mandate involved closing off the hydraulic passages for the intake structure. As a young engineer, I had to be creative and forward thinking in my execution approach. I was able to put my engineering spirit into action using my structural knowledge and interest in complex structures. 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. Dams play an important role in economic and energy development across the world. In addition to producing hydroelectric power – one of the oldest and most reliable forms of renewable energy – dams also control river flow and regulate flooding.  As a structural engineer, I have an important role in ensuring the safety of these structures, specifically through my work in design and dam safety analyses. I’m proud of my contributions in enhancing energy infrastructure – particularly now, as the world shifts to green energy and focuses on renewable sources.

What piece of career advice would you like to share? For young engineers, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. In your first few years of your career, it’s important to take the time to discover your strengths and weaknesses. These years are very critical in exploring what’s essential to becoming a good engineer.  Do not hesitate to work on complex projects because these are the best assignments to learn and strengthen your skills. In addition, maximize teamwork because this is the best way to understand and exchange ideas while having fun. For me personally, I thrive on working with others – engineering certainly is more fun when you work in a team.

The post People Spotlight Series: Meet Amadou Thimbo appeared first on Blog.

Singapore is considered to be one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. They are heavily dependent on rainfall due to a lack of natural water resources, while the scarcity of land limits their ability to store it in large quantities. But as climate change continues to affect the region, higher temperatures and drier weather has created even further issues for maintaining a healthy and accessible water supply.

In their continuous mission to strengthen water supply resilience, Singapore has built the world’s first large scale dual-mode desalination plant, the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant (KMEDP). To meet the increasing needs of the region most efficiently, KMEDP has the capacity to treat both freshwater and seawater. Capable of producing up to 36 million gallons (137,000 cubic meters) of fresh drinking water a day over a period of 25 years, KMEDP is crucial to providing Singapore with a reliable and sustainable source of clean water.

ArchTam was appointed as the project engineer by Keppel Infrastructure to provide innovative solutions for overcoming the design, construction and control challenges around KMEDP. We provided process and mechanical design, testing and commissioning services, and the development of a 3D model of the proposed plant. We also created a virtual model of the KMEDP to give the client a more holistic view of the plant during construction stage and the potential for future operation and maintenance.

Located in the Marina East area of Singapore, the KMEDP is within close proximity to both the urban catchment Marina Bay reservoir and the Singapore Strait, leading to the Indian Ocean. As a world’s first, the plant is fully fitted with dual water intake, pulling water from both sources to accommodate water shortages in the area’s reservoir

Our engineering design uses a dual flow chamber link to two water source intakes. The water passes through a pre-treatment process using flocculation and dissolved air flotation, followed by ultrafiltration from a two-pass reverse osmosis system, and post-treatment using ultraviolet disinfection.

This resilient design is more energy efficient compared to a typical desalination plant since fresh water utilizes less energy than seawater during the desalination process. In addition, KMEDP also implements other features for optimized energy efficiency, such as direct coupling and permeate split.

Governed by our good design and engineering excellence, the KMEDP breaks away from conventional treatment plants. It sits against the backdrop of Singapore’s Central Business District skyline and features 215,000 square foot (20,000 square meter) of open green space on the rooftop for community recreation as well as a viewing gallery for observing the treatment process. It was also developed with environment-friendly features such as rainwater harvesting, where rainwater is collected and used to irrigate the green roof and support the facility’s water features and landscaping needs.

As climate change and other factors continue to impact conditions in communities around the world, it’s important to keep a forward-thinking approach when it comes to leveraging our resources. Innovation like KMEDP can keep the water running in areas that are heavily stricken by scarcities while providing hope that infrastructure opportunities will continue to succeed in changing the outcomes of the growing water crisis.

Photo courtesy of Keppel Corporation

The post Making Singapore’s water supply immensely resilient appeared first on Blog.

Building positive experiences for communities

The legacy I hope to create for the industry and our communities is one that makes the world a better place to live in. For us as a group in the Visualization Studio, one of the ways we contribute to a better world is by helping to communicate projects that impact people’s lives in a very direct way.

We work on all kinds of projects including architecture, transportation, water, energy and education. What continuously inspires me is that these projects directly impact local communities in incredibly positive ways. Our team helps to communicate how we help to build that better world for the people who live there.

Before I joined ArchTam, I was a college professor and two of my former students happen to be on my team. For me personally, one of my proudest moments has been seeing them succeed. My definition of success includes every time we help to win work, communicate a project impact effectively or someone

We take design, engineering and architecture and bring them to life. In 2017, we created virtual reality visualizations of a proposed rebuilding of Five Points Plaza in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a historic neighborhood, and the community was very concerned about what it would look like. We provided VR headsets for the public meetings to review the proposed designs, and the community members – from the youngest to the oldest – enthusiastically engaged with our plans. We were blown away by the effectiveness of the connection that we were able to facilitate! That was a proud moment.

Innovating in a changing landscape

In 2020, it seems as though everything has changed. We’re in an unknown territory, but one thing that is certain is that infrastructure will be a critical part of how we return to normalcy. I see what we do in the Visualization Studio as being a critical part of how we connect the plans for building a better world with those who we are building it for.

In these days of social distancing, we’re finding that some of the most impactful things we can offer are the virtual consultation tools and public meeting rooms. These allow for our stakeholders to visit virtual community centers and gathering places in 3D rooms over the web. There they can view documents, watch slideshows and videos, live chat, leave messages, share information and even experience virtual reality scenes of proposed designs – all remotely from their own homes and mobile devices. It’s proving to be a great way to staying connected to the people who really matter in our work – our communities.

Advancing in STEM with Humanities

I would say, to anyone wanting to move forward in the world ahead of us that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) have never been more important, but so is our ability to connect with and understand the needs of our fellow human beings. Develop your sense of empathy and your communication abilities as much as your understanding of the hard facts of the world around you.

STEM cannot exist or thrive without the humanities. The things we build help make the world a better place only if we remember — and hear — the people we are building for.

Embracing new possibilities

My career as a designer began designing for theater. I have a bachelor’s degree in English and I studied creative writing at the University of Iowa. After graduation, I started designing and working in theater, where I met my wife, a modern dance choreographer. I later earned my Master of Fine Arts in interactive media design.

I have a theatre production company and I still design for it, although not as frequently as I once did. My role in the company is to design everything — set, light, sound, projection — and I’m now starting to design in VR and come up with ideas for performance pieces in that.

So, my next piece of advice is to stay flexible and adaptable. I’ve been lucky enough to have a career that has spanned pencils to VR for our work. Understanding and engaging with the changing flow of the world around us is key to surviving and thriving. Always stay open to new ideas.

The post Building Legacies with Stephen Paul appeared first on Blog.

Briefly tell us about yourself and your role at ArchTam

I’m a senior BIM manager responsible for setting BIM strategy for projects. Part of that includes introducing new workflows, selecting software technology stacks and introducing change management.

My work involves pushing digital methodologies that optimize BIM processes. On our latest project, Oriel Eye Hospital, we are using next-generation BIM software and process to bring virtual reality to stakeholders to better inform design decisions. Our design team meetings now take place in virtual reality with teams across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Leveraging Autodesk’s Construction Cloud platform, we have added value and innovation, reducing the need for 2D drawings.

Some fun facts about me are that I’m currently writing a digital catalogue on Venetian well heads and I have a YouTube channel, BIM Coffee.

What is your legacy? How do you make an impact?

At ArchTam, we have the potential like no other company to innovate and use digital tools, due to our variety of expertise and disciplines. We’re in a position to change the industry and improve how the industry works.

My proudest moments at work are when I get to demonstrate how the latest digital strategy can improve the design team’s working day. I enjoy seeing the sparkle in someone’s eyes when they realize the benefits and the improved communication. It’s rewarding to support and help improve the design process for project teams.

What’s next in infrastructure for you? How do you see that trend shaping the work you do today?

I believe technology will build a better world. Digital tools and BIM are a part of this, and help with reducing waste, having a more accurate product and allowing the built environment to benefit from digital transformation. It’s an astonishing time to be in AEC amidst Industry 4.0, also known as the fourth industrial revolution, and ArchTam is at the forefront of it.

What advice would you give to someone pursing a STEM education or a career in the AEC sector?

My advice would be to take online courses to stay up to date with the latest progressions made in cloud computing. Read the industry standards and attend as many industry events as you can, which are virtual during this time.

The post Building Legacies with Mark Clarkson appeared first on Blog.

Briefly tell us about yourself and your role at ArchTam.

I have been with ArchTam for six years as a virtual design construction engineer or Building Information Modeling (BIM) engineer.

I support projects in Dallas, Texas, over the entire construction process, from pursuit to construction to the project close-out phase. In my work, I manage and create digital representations of the physical characteristics of buildings. We build in 3D first and then we optimize the build, which means we get to know all the issues before we go to ground.

Essentially, we test new ways of building. This allows us to be a step ahead when we get to the site. Using virtual design helps flag areas that need to be addressed in advance or where we’ll have potential issues that waste time and resources.

By modeling the level of detail from design and fabrication to installation, we can create an accurate and data rich as-built model. We rely on the model and start building with certainty knowing the design has been tested. We basically build a project twice ― once in a virtual world and once on-site ― resulting in time and cost savings.

What is your legacy? How do you make an impact?

I hope to leave a legacy of “never stop learning.” This is what keeps me going, keeps my zest and zeal up and always motivates me to learn and adopt new tools and technologies.

The BIM industry is evolving every day with new trends emerging every moment. I feel proud when my work positively alters a project’s outcome and we deliver a lean project to the owner and the community. With the use of technology, sometimes the cost savings are huge and it is satisfying knowing I helped to do that.

What’s next in infrastructure for you? How do you see that trend shaping the work you do today?

There are a lot of new trends that are helping us with what we do every day when it comes to coordination through BIM technologies. To name a few, I seek to learn and grow more by using:

• 3D Printing: This helps us understand the dynamics, functioning and efficiency by analyzing a structure through its look and feel, which is not possible in 3D models.
• Prefabrication: This is something I see picking up speed in the near future where modular and prefabricated construction can reduce the time of the coordination project and increase its efficiency.
• Internet of Things (IoT): IoT has the potential to transform the entire BIM modeling and project installation process. IoT can simplify the process of data release to pre-fabrication workshops, general contractors and modelers. It can also help us a great deal in capturing real-time data that can be used to augment the design on the construction sites.

What advice would you give to someone pursing a STEM education or a career in the AEC sector?

Enhance your skill set: The AEC sector is dependent on specific technology tools. These tools are continuously being upgraded and new tools are being introduced into the market. My advice to the people wanting to build a career in this sector would be to keep up with the newest advancements and learn new tools and see how effectively these tools can be used on the projects they are going to work on.

Learn and apply: Applying lessons learned is another great advice which should be practiced as you are gaining experience from project to project. It would greatly affect the progression and completion of the project on-time and with good quality.

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ArchTam partnered with a local transit agency, Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (VMR), to develop the internship program that dates from a startup endeavor in May 2017 and ran through the two years where ArchTam led the South Central LRT project’s design phase. Approximately 25 students participated in the program which took place in June and July and consisted of eight daylong sessions.

During the program’s weekly sessions, the students – mainly high school sophomores and juniors – had hands on experiences in planning and design. In one week, students were divided into teams and used Autocad software to design and build model bridges. They then competed to see which bridge could hold the most weight. In another session, the students had the opportunity to speak in-depth with ArchTam engineering interns who are from similar backgrounds and are now seniors in civil engineering colleges.

Prior to the program, the students had no exposure to engineering or planning and little concept of what these professions were about. The weekly sessions provided insight and made the possibility of careers in these fields seem within reach, a major achievement for students who came from schools in the South Phoenix area a greatly underserved area that has limited resources. The hands-on experience, exposure to the ArchTam interns and engineering and planning professionals working on the South Central project opened students’ eyes to new possibilities of careers in the planning and engineering professions. One student, a senior in 2018, is now attending engineering school at Arizona State University.

The students were also introduced to leaders from the City of Phoenix, VMR and several community partners who discussed careers in design, engineering, planning and public service. College application assistance, financial aid counseling, ongoing mentoring and a $1,000 stipend were also provided to the program participants. The internship culminated at a graduation celebration at South Mountain Community College.

Investing in the communities in which we work is an important part of the work that we do and I’m proud we were able to introduce these students to our professions. This was a team effort and I want to give a shout out to my teammate Janet Yeow, our lead design manager, who organized the activities.

The program had been approved to run for a third year, but unfortunately was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. I look forward to participating in the South Central LRT program once it resumes and always welcome the opportunity to give back to the Phoenix community and future designers, engineers and planners.

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I began working with ArchTam in 1999 as a structural engineer with the bridge design group in Tampa, Florida. My area of expertise is in design of complex bridges, such as segmental, cable-stayed, arch or non-conventional bridges. I also work on conventional bridges, such as girder and concrete.

An inspiration for me is working on large projects ― projects that will be recognized by our industry. I enjoy working on interesting, international projects with other teams across our company and appreciate the opportunity to learn more about different cultures.

Uniting communities for a better world

I am proud to have worked on two U.S.-based projects. One is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge – also known as the Q-Bridge — because it is a “signature” bridge in New Haven, Connecticut. The second is the Big-I Interchange in Albuquerque, New Mexico, because it was my first project when I began working at ArchTam.

My line of work is important because bridges are connectors. You can’t have transportation without bridges and this work helps with the development of a country. Without bridges we can’t move goods or travel effectively.

When my kids were young, I would go to their schools to participate in “What does your parent do?” or “Career Day” events and my presentations were always about engineering. I would explain that engineering is about everything we see and use. Helping to design roadways and bridges that unite us, help deliver goods and aid travel around a country is part of how I help to deliver a better world.

It’s amazing to see the bridges I designed being built and then used. I was able to show my kids the 17^th Street Bridge in Atlanta, Georgia — a bridge I designed. It’s a proud feeling.

Currently, I am working on the global modeling of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the cities of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Canada. This bridge, which is part of a US$5.7 billion project for a much-needed new international crossing, will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in the U.S. and one of the longest in the world, with a total bridge length of 5,125 feet (1,562 meters) and a main span of 2,800 feet (853 meters). The new bridge with a roadway width of 100 feet (30.5 meters) will carry in eight lanes of international commercial traffic between the U.S. and Canada. Working on this project is what an engineer dreams about. I am so proud to be part of the fantastic design team working on this signature bridge and looking forward to the day, once it is built and in use, when I can go visit it and be able to say that I was part of a great team that designed this bridge.

Next frontier in bridge design

I appreciate how bridge design is evolving through project technologies like newer and faster computers and sophisticated structural analysis and design software. The newest trend in engineering design is BIM (Building Information Modeling), where an intelligent 3D model is used for all stages of the planning, design, drafting, construction and maintenance. We are not yet using this new technology in bridge design, but I have seen a couple of preludes and I am excited to take a further look at this.

Basics first, tools second

Personally, I have always said I am proud of the education that I received during my undergraduate years at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, in Lima, Peru. My education was cemented (no pun intended) when I obtained my master’s degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. I believe that the courses that we take in our initial years of engineering, be it math, physics, statistics, dynamics, materials, mechanics, etc., are important as every advanced engineering principle is based on the subject matter learned therein. Learning them, and most importantly, understanding the basic concepts is what has helped me deal with complicated design issues in my career. Another important piece of advice is to learn how to efficiently use engineering computer programs, and from there, to learn how to effectively “model” in structural engineering software for the bridge structures that we imagine.

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