Structural Engineering Institute (SEI)
Related News Archive: 2017
Local Leaders Conference Held in Chicago
By Aileen Santos-Redman, P.E. The 2017 ASCE SEI Local Leaders Conference took place in Chicago, IL on October 20 & 21. The event kicked off with a welcome from SEI Local Activities Division Chair Brian Hengle. After lunch, our conference continued with a tour of Chicago architecture by riverboat, and a walking tour of the Riverwalk Expansion Project. The various structures observed from the vantagepoint of the river made for an unforgettable experience that was enjoyed by all, helped by the unseasonably warm weather that Chicago was experiencing that weekend. More »
History and Heritage Night / Student Scholarship Night December 2017
By Jeff Braun, P.E. Civil Engineers from throughout Orange County, and beyond, recognized the contributions of our experienced engineers and the dedication of the upcoming generation at the ASCE Orange County History & Heritage and Student Scholarship Night on November 16, 2017. Attendees arrived to the red carpet at the Marconi Auto Museum, mingling amongst classic race cars and high-end vehicles. We had a beautiful evening to reconnect with friends, meet new ones, and have a lot of fun. More »
How much do we know about what’s going on around us?
By Jeff Braun, P.E. I catch myself focusing on the task-at-hand so intently that I often blow right past the finer points of the experiences I’m lucky enough to be enjoying. Whether I’m at work, or out having a good time, I often fail to slow down and learn more about the team I’m working with and the amazing experiences, skills, and talents they offer. ... Even in my role as Branch President I am amazed at what our fellow members are doing in their roles as engineers within their firms or agencies, as dedicated volunteers for ASCE committees or institutes, or through their support of charitable organizations. More »
Balance is the Key to Long-Term Happiness and Success
By Jeff Braun, P.E. Balance is the key to long-term happiness and success. The balance that immediately comes to most adults minds is the work-life balance. While this is important, it is not the balance I’m addressing in this message. We all recognize the drive and hunger in our most successful role models and peers. They appear to never be satisfied with their current state, always looking for opportunities to learn more skills, become more efficient, and design and construct amazing projects to improve our built environment. We may hold these successful and motivated engineers in high regard for advancing our profession, but we must also take time to recognize our own achievements. More »
ASCE Welcomes new Branch President Jeff Braun
By Jeff Braun, P.E. "I am extremely proud and honored to assume the role as President of the Orange County Branch. We have another awesome group of folks serving on the board this year and we are all focused on continuing the outstanding legacy the OC Branch has developed over the past several years because of the commitment of our members and committee leadership." "If you have not had the opportunity to visit other branches or sections, or attend a regional or society-wide event, you may not have an appreciation of the amazing things our members are doing, and the dedicated leadership we have within our Younger Members’ Forum, committees, and institutes. The most exciting role I have as Branch President is to support their pursuits to provide the best experiences for our fellow members." More »
A Short 11 Years From Now
By Josue Vaglienty, P.E. With the recent announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granting Paris and Los Angeles the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics, respectively, the countdown has begun. Much of the preparation comes in the form of infrastructure that must be constructed or reconstructed. And prior to that (or at least concurrently) – it must be designed by the A/E industry. A good amount of that work will land on the laps of civil engineers. More »
Chad Harden and The Art of Engineering Podcast
By Chad Harden, P.E. As chair of the local SEI chapter, I was invited to share my insights on a passion of mine – podcasting. As I begin each podcast, let me say, “Welcome to The Art of Engineering podcast – I am your host, Chad Harden, chair of the SEI Orange County Chapter of ASCE and structural engineer with Michael Baker International.” The public sees the end result of a public improvement, and our clients see the thousands of plan sheets they have paid for. Each of these is a respected medium of art - such as the “structural art” of buildings and bridges, and the obvious line on paper can be respected. But, what about our daily sketches and communication, where we work so hard to communicate ideas across disciplines and experience? Keep reading to hear more about the Art of Engineering! More »
Local Leaders Conference Held in Puerto Rico
By: Aileen Santos-Redman, P.E. The ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Local Leaders Conference took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 14 & 15. The event consisted of the working seminar on the morning of the first day, during which the Board of Directors shared SEI updates and the various committee heads informed us on the latest efforts of their respective groups, before we separated to attend two of four breakout sessions to have an in-depth discussion and share ideas on K-12 Outreach, New Membership, Use of Technology, and Holding an Event. More »
December Luncheon: Wilshire Grand Redevelopment Project
By: Natalie Jensen and Jazzy Quinabo ASCE Orange County held the December luncheon at the Center Club in Costa Mesa with a presentation by Raul Rasco, P.E., the Jacobs construction management representative for the Wilshire Grand Redevelopment Project. The $1 billion hotel and office complex being developed by Korean Air, is about 85 percent completed, with a projected Substantial Completion date in Spring 2017. The Wilshire Grand Hotel is located at a prime location in downtown Los Angeles at 900 Wilshire Boulevard. The structure is 73 stories tall and encompasses 2.1 million square feet. The Tower features 16 stories of office space, 889 hotel rooms, 7 levels of amenities, and 5 levels of below grade parking. The project is being managed, designed, and constructed by a strong team of professionals, including Martin Project Management, A.C. Martin Partners, Brandow & Johnston Structural Engineers, Thornton Tomasetti, and Turner Construction Company. Keep reading to find out more on this mega project. More »
