July 19, 2023

AIA New Jersey Public Awareness Co-chair Addresses Civil Engineering Students

Congratulations to the 2023 graduating civil engineers from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.

AIA NJ architects often discuss how the various professionals involved in building construction should be open to speaking with each other about achieving our common goal of a useful and beautiful building for our clients.

Last fall 2022, AIA NJ Public Awareness co-chair, William J. Martin, AIA, had the opportunity to speak to senior-level civil engineering students at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. At the invitation of their professor, Dr. Leslie Brunell, Ph.D., PE, he spoke for about two hours regarding how engineers and architects can work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals as well as the goals of our respective clients. Dr. Brunell felt strongly that architects and engineers need to better understand each other. She felt that a licensed practicing architect that worked with civil engineers on a regular basis, would make a good speaker for her class. This would provide the students with the basis on which to work in collaboration with architects in the future as they embark on their careers after graduating.

Bill spoke to them about the architect’s experiences of working, with both a structural engineer and a site engineer. Truss design, grading, stormwater management and how these are coordinated with the architecture, were all covered in the presentation.

As the class concluded, there was time for questions and answers. One question, in particular, stood out. Bill was asked by a student, “What can I do as an engineer, to advocate for, and protect, the aesthetic elements planned for the building, to limit changes that hurt the aesthetics?” This was a great question!

Bill responded that he is hopeful that engineers and architects could maintain an open dialogue through any project. Engineers could learn why the components designed and specified by the architect were important to the overall success of the project. Architects must also respect the important engineering components. This leads both professions to a unified and integrated design. He told the class to remember it’s the engineer’s project also. A beautiful project, completed as a whole artwork, recognizes the talent of the engineer as well as the architect.

Once again, congratulations to the 2023 graduating civil engineers from the Stevens Institute of Technology.

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Emerging Professionals, Members & the Community | Tagged: #stevensinstituteoftechnology, #WilliamMartinAIA | Comments (0)