A client called me to inquire about updating her firm’s valuation and began our conversation by saying, “Not only are you going to be happy with our recent financial performance, you’re going to enjoy this engagement more than you have in the past.”…
Infrastructure Outlook: Stormwater Chambers Provide Storage and Infiltration While Aiding Recharge
Effective stormwater management and discharge continues to become more important as an increasing amount of land is covered by impervious surfaces due…
Infrastructure Innovation: Developing Creative AEC Solutions with Drones
Drones are one of the technologies most likely to really “take off” and have a significant impact on our industry. Whether referred to as unmanned…
Sustainability – An essential Facet of Architectural Design
Green building design, energy efficiency, power usage efficiency, sustainability etc, are the buzzwords that are making waves across the architectural design industry. This is a two-way tunnel, where architecture is guiding social impact, and this very social…
Executive Corner: A/E Industry Consolidation, Let the Good Times Roll
It seems like almost every day, another merger or acquisition is announced between two architecture, engineering (A/E) or environmental-consulting firms. And although the global mega combinations such as URS-AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff-WSP draw the most…
Infrastructure Outlook: The Age of the Engineer
Several years ago, I was talking to a friend who said, “Bill, if mankind is going to be around in 250 years, it will be because engineers make it so.” It was an intriguing concept. Certainly, our planet is being asked to support an ever-growing human population…
Managing the Model: “We Can Do It Faster the Old Way”
I've been hearing the title of this column, in one form or another, from engineering and architectural design firms for more than 20 years. I hear it from drafters, designers, engineers, architects, principals and owners, and it's usually in response to why…
Structural Solutions: Helping Structural Engineering Students Benefits All
There are many ways to have a positive impact on the next generation of structural engineers. This is important, because they will face significant challenges to improve infrastructure while competing in a global market with constant change and ever-increasing…
BIM-Enabled Digital Fabrication of Structural Steel – An Advanced Approach
Complete and real benefits of BIM can be extracted only when it is used across all the aspects of a construction process and beyond. Today, a lot of firms have adopted BIM for project planning, scheduling, cost estimation facility management, etc. However,…
Structural Solutions: Increasing the Effectiveness of Young Structural Engineers
Would you like to improve the effectiveness of your young structural engineers? This column will explore some ideas and ways you might be able to accomplish this. One of the major challenges facing companies is how to teach their younger engineers while also…
