Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Merritt Tower

Education

BS in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, SLO
MS and PhD in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley.

Why did you go into structural engineering?

The son of a general contractor, I grew up building structures on my father’s crews during the summers and weekends.  I also loved math and physics and, when it came to applying for college, structural engineering was the logical choice and felt right.  It still does.

Little known fact

I met the Dalai Lama in the Himalayas at age 8.

Question of the Day

What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Professional student.

Education

B.S., Magna Cum Laude Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 1997

M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 1998

Registration

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. S4809

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. C61655

UT, Structural Engineer, License No. 7272327-2203

CO, Professional Engineer, License No. 0051861

WA, Professional Engineer, License No. 54819

Why did you go into structural engineering?

My father was a construction superintendent, so I was introduced to the dynamics of a construction site at an early age. I was drawn to the creation of structures with a complex series of simple movements and elements. Upon entering UCSD, the description of the Structural Engineering program had me hooked – the ability to affect seemingly limitless structures. When I first got my PE license, I stamped a blank sheet of paper and faxed it to my dad at his job trailer – I think it was a proud moment for both of us.

Little known fact

My wife is a litigation attorney. When asked how many times I’ve been deposed, the official answer is based on my expert witness work, but the unofficial answer is a lot more!

Question of the Day

What’s your favorite way to get to work?

Bicycle – day or night, rain or shine. It’s a wonderful way to experience the city and enjoy a bit of exercise to start and end the day.

Education

B.S., Architectural Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obsipo

M.S., Structural Engineering Mechanics and Materials, UC Berkeley

Registration

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 82111

Why did you go into structural engineering?

It’s a unique blend of science and design, form and function. It’s lovely to see our designs built and safely serve the population.

Little Known Fact

I’m from New Hampshire, famous for maple syrup, election years, and cows.

Question of the Day

What is your unusual talent?

Cooking Thai food on my portable 100,000 BTU wok.

Education

B.S., Civil Engineering (BSCE), Seattle University, 2007

M.S., Civil Engineering (MSCE), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010

Registration

WA, Structural Engineer, License No. 55185
WA, Professional Engineer, License No. 55185
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 79475
IL, Structural Engineer, License No. 081.007830

Why did you go into Engineering?

I always wanted a job that used what I was best at: math, science, problem solving, etc.  I searched through many types of jobs in high school and couldn’t find where I felt like I fit until I drove past a construction site and it clicked.  From that moment on I wanted to be a structural engineer, and I never wavered.

Little known fact

I am a professional musician and I play piano at church, weddings, funerals, and special events.

Question of the Day

What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Cooking

Education

M.S., Civil Engineering, UC Berkley

B.S., Civil Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Registration

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 86660

Why did you go into structural engineering?

During summers in high school, I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in eastern Washington. I’ll never forget the feeling of accomplishment; seeing the house take shape as we framed the walls, and lifted the trusses into place. This love of building, paired with an affinity for physics and math, and structural engineering was a perfect fit.

Little Known Fact

I once did a solo bike trip down the coast of Tasmania. Saw plenty of wombats, wallabies and echidnas, but no Tasmanian devil!

Question of the Day

What’s your favorite way to get to work?

Biking. “Everyday is Bike to work Day!”

Education

B.S., Architectural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1997

M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, Davis, 1999

Registration

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 63766

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 4935

Why did you go into structural engineering?

Always interested in Architecture and how buildings are constructed.

 Question of the Day

What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Professional Fisherman.

Education

M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1980

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1979

Registration

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 2806

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 35034

Little Known Fact

I spent time as a child in Turkey and am a theater fan. I participated in EERI’s reconnaissance to Turkey in 1999.

Education

M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1991

B.S., Civil Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1988

Registration

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 3933

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 47347

Why did you go into structural engineering?

I had an ‘aha’ moment in a second year mechanics of materials class taught by Mr. Robert Craig in the Civil Engineering Department at Cal Poly.  It was a challenging class, but the way he taught it from a practicing engineer perspective forced me to really understand the fundamentals, and more importantly, for the first time in my academics the technical material was directly linked to real life situations.  That was inspiring and drove my curiosity in the direction towards structural engineering.

Little Known Fact:

I was born in Norway.  After graduation from University of Oslo, my father brought the family of four for a three week vacation and we never left.  I have brought my family of five to visit relatives several times over the years and we thoroughly enjoy the natural beauty of the country, family traditions, and boat trips to the islands on long summer nights.  It’s amazing how connected we can be while so far away.

Question of the Day

What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Travel and garden.  With our third child now in his second year at UCSB, Mary and I are empty nesters and have much more available time.  We took advantage last summer and traveled to Prague, Florence and Rome for the first time.  We will still focus our fall on water polo enjoying the camaraderie with other parents travelling to support UCSB.  Go Gauchos!!

Education

B.S., Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2007

M.S., University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010

Registration

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 79100

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 6237

LEED AP

Why did you go into structural engineering?

The program at Cal Poly is called Architectural Engineering which lured me in because it sounded like it was a good mix of architecture (which I loved) and math (which I also loved).

Little Known Fact

I spent a year abroad in high school.

Question of the Day

Apple or Samsung?

Apple.

Education

B.A. Sociology, UC Davis

Why did you go into AEC industry?

I didn’t specifically set out to be in the AEC industry, but I am very glad this is where I landed. In my 16 years with the firm, I’ve learned so much about the built environment and every day there is something new to learn.

Little Known Fact

Performed in the 1984 Olympic Soccer Opening Ceremony at Stanford University for the preliminary matches.

Question of the Day

What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Card making.

Education

M.S., Structural Engineering, Stanford University
B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University

Why did you go into structural engineering?

I loved the idea of applying physics to real projects. I enjoy considering how forces flow through a form, and how that form might be optimized under different conditions. I found that I gravitated towards buildings for two reasons. They create an amazingly lasting impact for the users. And they gather many types of people who bring different ideas to the table, which means finding the overall optimal design for everyone creates a new challenge for each project.

Little Known Fact

I’ve been a violinist for about two decades now.

Question of the Day

What is your unusual talent?

While practicing the Japanese martial art Aikido, I channel the ultimate structural nerd inside of me to precisely analyze joint locks and techniques (such as Kotegaeshi) using engineering concepts like inertia, moment arm, elastic strain, and deformation compatibility.

Education

M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1994

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1992

Registration

CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 4463

CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 55830

Little Known Fact

My co-workers make fun of my infectious laugh, which can be heard three or even four cubicles away. I use laughter as a way to ease the often-demanding conversations and needs of clients and agencies that occur during complex design projects.