The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois is pleased to announce the Ninth Annual Structures Symposium, which provides a forum for engineers to share analysis, design, and construction information from recent projects with unique and/or distinguishing characteristics.  Attendance typically represents a diverse cross-section of all aspects of the profession, including design, construction management, material suppliers, academia, general contracting, and owners’ representatives. 

Keynote Speaker

Robert Forest, FAIA, RIBA, LEED AP Partner, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Stand Up

In the presentation, Bob will address the role of structure in performance-based design by considering the relationships between Form and Performance through an integrated design process that includes building performance and embodied carbon.

Bob, AS+GG’s Management Partner, is dedicated to advancement management within an architectural context. He has extensive experience in the execution of complex, large-scale projects on an international level. Bob’s expertise in project management and technical architecture contribute to his comprehensive understanding of the built environment and the practice of architecture. Bob pushes the boundary of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture’s performative architecture philosophy: ‘Form follows performance’ through every aspect of the practice. As a recognized authority on the economics of sustainable design, Bob has combined his knowledge of local and international policies, funding sources, and varied economic models into a comprehensive system of best practice. Bob played professional football for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Montreal Machine and he utilizes the leadership skills and understanding of team dynamics gained from this experience today in a professional capacity.

Attendees receive 7.0 hours of continuing education credit for the Symposium.

Program

Location

150 North Riverside

Chicago, IL

Registration Information

Registration is $380 for members and $430 for non-members.   

Students - $100

Group Pricing Discount* is $50 off each registration.

*Five or more employees from the same firm; May not be applied retroactively – all registrations must be received at the same time; not applicable to student rate. Please contact staff@seaoi.org to get your group pricing discount.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Exhibitor Opportunities

Limited Exhibitor Opportunities are available at $825 per space.  Exhibitors will receive recognition in the program, one admission to the Structures Symposium, and access to participants during breakfast, lunch and breaks during the day.  For more information, or to reserve your space online, please visit this page. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

There are four different levels of corporate sponsorship.  The following are the costs and respective benefits for each of the four levels.

Platinum: $1,000 – Recognition in program, poster exhibit at event, and recognition for sponsoring lunch, two admissions to the Symposium.

Gold: $850 – Recognition in the program, poster exhibit at event, and recognition during the technical session for sponsoring one of the following: Continental Breakfast, Morning Break or Afternoon Break

Silver: $600 – Recognition in the program and poster exhibit at event

Bronze: $300 – Recognition in the program

Companies interested in sponsoring this event are invited to  register here.

About the Speakers

Mohamed ElBatanouny PhD, SE, PE

Senior Associate - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Dr. Mohamed ElBatanouny, S.E., P.E. is a structural and materials engineer at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. He has a background and interest in evaluation of in-service structures, repair and rehabilitation design, load testing, and structural health monitoring. Dr. ElBatanouny is an active member of several ACI and TRB committees. He has authored over 60 publications including four book chapters and has presented numerous lectures on concrete material degradation, structural evaluation, load testing and nondestructive evaluation.

Nathaniel Rende

Associate Principal - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Mr. Rende is an Associate Principal with WJE and has managed a broad range of assignments, including structural condition assessment, failure investigation, testing and instrumentation, and repair design. He specializes in applying nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods to the evaluation of concrete, stone and masonry structures. Mr. Rende is affiliated with several professional societies and has given technical presentations and seminars in nondestructive evaluation throughout the nation.

Nondestructive Evaluation of Newly Constructed Concrete Walls at a Subway Station

This presentation discusses a recent project that included condition assessment and nondestructive evaluation of the exterior walls of a subway station. The work was completed to locate and identify the causation of internal discontinuities (transverse delaminations and cracking) occurring primarily within the bottom 8 feet of the exterior walls. Partial depth repairs were proposed and implemented to restore the structural capacity at distressed locations.

Terry McDonnell, PE, SE, PEng, SECB

Principal - Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Terry McDonnell combines practical structural engineering expertise with an understanding of modern advancements in the building industry, committing every day to finding new and innovative ways to turn his clients’ ideas into reality. He leads multidisciplinary project teams to deliver cutting-edge solutions on many building types, including commercial office, education, hospitality, health care, sports and entertainment, transportation, and more. Terry has a passion for pushing the boundaries of structural glass and acrylics, conducting forensic investigations and conditional assessments, designing high-rise and long-span structures, and performing adaptive re-use.

Terry is active in the architectural and engineering communities, both in the Chicago area and nationally. He participates on the City of Chicago high-rise committee, the ASTM E06 Subcommittee on Glass Use in Buildings, and the ASTM F24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices. He is a past president of the Structural Engineering Association of Illinois and a former board member for the American Society of Civil Engineers sustainability committee. In 2011, Building Design + Construction named Terry one of its “40 under 40.”

CTA Blue Line – Belmont station canopy

As part of the Your New Blue program, the Chicago Transit Authority is re-envisioning fourteen Blue Line stations. The new Belmont entrance, inspired by the waterfall at the bygone Olson Park, becomes animated when it rains over the sloping canopy. The gateway guides commuters to the rail station and regional bus stops. SGH consulted on the structural design and prepared structural bridging documents for the canopy.

JJ Tobolski, S.E., P.E., MIStructE, LEED AP BD+C

Associate - Thornton Tomasetti

JJ is a Chicago native, and has been involved in the design of projects both domestically and internationally in addition to acting as one of the firm leaders in structural optimization. Local projects with his involvement include the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University and the Block 37 residential tower addition.

Al Wasl Plaza Trellis of Dubai Expo 2020

The Al Wasl Plaza, which serves as the centerpiece of the World Expo 2020 in Dubai is anchored by a grand spherical structural steel gridshell 70 meters in height and 135 meters in diameter at the base. Unlike traditional diagonalized gridshells, the unique structural framework of the “Trellis” draws its inspiration directly from the iconographic logo of Expo 2020 Dubai as a series of nested and tangent rings that result in a flexurally governed ductile structural system. Key structural engineering considerations related to the geometric definition, loading and performance criteria, global stability and imperfections, steel fabrication, and erection are outlined.

Cathleen Jacinto, S.E., P.E.

FORSE

Cathleen has 18 years of experience in structural engineering. She worked at Thornton Tomasetti for 10 years and T.Y. Lin International for 4 years in Chicago, IL, working on a wide variety of medium to large-scale structures.  At FORSE Consulting, Cathleen assists other structural engineers with designs on a variety of projects and building types, and offers presentations to design professionals. One topic Cathleen highlights is structural masonry design, as a technical consultant to the Masonry Advisory Council and International Masonry Institute. Cathleen also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer for the Design of Masonry Structures course at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She has a Professional Master of Structural Engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign. Cathleen is a licensed SE and PE in the state of Illinois.

High-Performing Lintels for Masonry Walls

This presentation illustrates the actual behavior and load distribution of a lintel within a wall, to help us understand how to design this common element more effectively.  We will lay the groundwork for lintel design including the basics of arch analysis, design criteria, and the various options we have in selecting lintels in masonry walls.  It will outline specific assumptions that impact masonry walls and lintels, such as masonry strength and control joint locations.  We will explore how the design of masonry lintels can add significant structural and architectural benefit to the wall that contractors and owners will welcome for crack and corrosion prevention.  This presentation focuses on sharing practical design tips leveraging software analysis tools and having a more in-depth understanding of the behavior of this commonly-used structural element. 

This session will also highlight design approaches to structural clay (brick) masonry design.  We will lay the groundwork for understanding material properties of structural clay masonry, and contrast behavior between concrete and clay masonry.  Innovative solutions to achieving structural brick veneer walls without the use of backup walls will also be explored.

R. Tyler Ranf, Ph.D., P.E., S.E.

Senior Associate - Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Tyler is a Senior Associate at MKA and a key member of the Aviation Specialist Group. His design portfolio includes San Francisco International Airport’s new Terminal 1, SeaTac North Satellite Expansion, and Nashville International Airport’s Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition. Tyler is a member of MKA’s Floor Vibration and Blast Technical Specialist Teams. He was also a key contributor towards implementing a recent “Net Zero” initiative for terminal design in San Francisco.

Enabling the Vision of the Nashville International Airport

Nashville International Airport’s Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition presented many design challenges due the various existing structures, available footprint, functional and aesthetic design goals, cost, and construction phasing to maintain operation and passenger comfort throughout construction. This presentation will focus on how these challenges informed the structural design, and how they shaped the final unique, function- driven design while meeting the aesthetic and operational goals of our team and the airport.

James J. Pawlikowski, SE, LEED® AP

Associate Director - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

James Pawlikowski is an Associate Director in the Structural and Civil Engineering group at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP. In his career at SOM, James has had lead roles on many significant projects throughout the world, including Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the new NATO headquarters in Brussels, the OKO Tower in Moscow, Tower Palace III in Seoul, and the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. James holds an architectural masters degree (structures option) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a licensed structural engineer as well as a LEED Accredited Professional, is a member of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings, and is the immediate Past President of the Structural Engineers Foundation.

EMARR Skyview – The Design and Construction Challenges of Linking Two Towers with a Bridge

Located in Dubai, UAE, EMARR Skyview opened in May 2019. Occupying a prominent site close to the Burj Khalifa, the program of the towers consists of providing residential/ hotel usage with views of Burj Khalifa, with the connecting bridge serving as an event space/infinity pool from which to view the world’s tallest building. Tower 1 is 58 stories tall and houses serviced apartments; Tower 2 is 54 stories tall and houses serviced apartments and an hotel. The towers are linked together at Level 48 by a multi-story bridge structure, spanning approximately 90m. Images of the project can be found at the following link:  https://www.emaar.com/en/what-we-do/communities/uae/downtown-dubai/the-address-residence-sky-view.aspx

Michael Wodarcyk, P.E., S.E.

Staff Engineer - Jensen Hughes

Michael Wodarcyk is a staff engineer for Jensen Hughes with eight years of experience. He performs and manages structural engineering inspection, analysis, and design efforts for the electric power industry as well as a variety of other commercial and industrial clients in both the United States and overseas. Mr. Wodarcyk is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Refined Analysis of Steel Platforms Subjected to Thermal Loads at an Industrial Facility Containing Hazardous Materials

An industrial facility containing hazardous materials was at risk of shutdown after discovering a previously-unanalyzed condition in which steel personnel access platforms subjected to high temperatures following the rupture of a large, high-pressure steam line could collapse and damage essential systems and components below. Such a shutdown and subsequent repairs would be very costly to both station personnel (in terms of exposure to hazardous materials within the facility) and lost revenue generation at the facility (over $2 million per day that the facility is shutdown). A team from Jensen Hughes, using refined finite element modeling techniques, was able to demonstrate that the platforms would maintain their structure integrity after such an event, thus allowing the facility to remain in operation.

Jennifer Traut-Todaro, S.E., LEED AP

Senior Steel Solutions Center Advisor - American Institute of Steel Construction

Jennie is a Senior Advisor in the AISC Steel Solutions Center. She has worked for a handful of engineering and A/E firms. She has been involved with SEAOI on a variety of committees and is serving a second term on the Board of Directors. Jennie is also an active member of the NCSEA SE3 Committee.

SpeedCore: Lateral System Innovation for Today's Construction Challenges

SpeedCore is a non-proprietary system of concrete-filled composite plate shear walls (CF- CPSW). The system replaces reinforced concrete core construction in multi-story buildings with the advantage of construction speed standing out as the most significant project benefit. The steel plate composite wall system leverages the stiffness of concrete and the speed and accuracy of steel for a superior lateral system.

David Horos,LEED® AP, S.E., P.E.

Director, Structural Engineering - Skidmore, Owings & Merrell

Horos has been involved in the structural engineering design of a number of award-winning structural engineering projects including the Fisher’s Island Residence in New York, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and the Lee Hall III project (an addition to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University). Recent projects include the Manhattan Loft Gardens in London and the JTI Building in Geneva, Switzerland. He has also collaborated with artists James Carpenter and Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle by providing structural engineering services for their artwork.

Glenstone II Art Museum

Glenstone II is a new private museum in Potomac, Maryland, housing the modern art collection of Mitch Rales. The project consists of a 150,000 square feet museum complex, designed by architects Thomas Phifer & Partners and landscape architect Peter Walker & Partners.

Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP, (SOM) provided full structural engineering services for the new museum complex buildings. The 200-acre site is comprised of designed woodland meadows and an entire landscape experience in which indoors and outdoors, landscape and architecture are indistinguishable. Working closely with the landscape architect, SOM’s structural engineers also provided structural design for landscape elements such as vehicular and pedestrian bridges, cable-stayed lights, gates, and elevated pathways.

Chase Slavin, S.E.

Project Consultant - Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Chase Slavin is a project consultant and licensed structural engineer with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger in Chicago where he works on a wide variety of design, investigation, and rehabilitation projects. Past projects include development of a new class of high-strength post-tensioned anchorage bar, analysis and design of monumental stairs, and design of steel additions within a concrete shopping mall. Chase holds degrees in civil engineering from Lehigh University (BS) and The University of Texas at Austin (MS).

Approaches to Post-Tensioned Concrete Dome Repair

By developing analysis models from 3-D laser scanning surveys, we can accurately represent as-built geometries in parametric studies to rapidly compare repair options. In addition, recent advancements in construction materials have had a significant impact on the approach to strengthening existing structures. This presentation will explore how combining these technologies aided in the efficient repair of a post-tensioned concrete dome.

Peter A. Konopka, P.E., S.E.

Senior Associate - Thornton Tomasetti

Peter Konopka brings 15 years of experience in structural engineering. His design expertise encompasses industrial, commercial, process and residential buildings. Peter is proficient in structural steel, light gage steel, reinforced concrete, wood and masonry design and has experience with long-span truss design. He is also skilled in engineering and construction project management and design team supervision.

O'Hare International Airport, American Airlines Maintenance Hangar 2

The presentation will cover the design and construction of the longest clear-span dual- threshold hangar in the world, right here at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Mr. Konopka will discuss how we utilized the expertise of our complimentary Construction Engineering services to help the contractor optimize their steel construction schedule by designing and detailing a fully customized structure that incorporated the fabrication and erection preferences of the contractors.

Christopher Bove, PE, SE

Project Structural Engineer - EXP

Christopher Bove, PE, SE is a Project Structural Engineer in EXP’s Building’s Group. He has worked on the analysis and design of transit structures, courthouses, nuclear power plants, sports arenas and mission critical facilities.  Christopher received his B.S.E and M.S.E. from the University of Michigan. Christopher is a member of the ASCE 7-22 Wind Load Subcommittee.

95^th Street Terminal Improvement

The 95^th Street Terminal underwent the largest reconstruction in CTA history in order to improve the overall transit experience and create an iconic gateway design at the southern entrance to the City of Chicago. The scope included renovation and expansion of the existing North Terminal, construction of a new South Terminal, new and expanded pedestrian and roadway bridges, while meeting a number of unique site and operational constraints. Re-use of the existing North Terminal led to a number of challenges, such as the removal and relocation of numerous columns at the first-floor level.

Organizing Committee

Derek Boeldt, SE, PE Committee Chair

             Chicago Transit Authority

Kevin Conroy, SE, PE

             Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger

Brian McElhatten, SE, PE

             Arup

Jose Medero, SE, PE

            Thornton Tomasetti

James J. Pawlikowski, SE, LEED AP

            Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLC

Jeannette Pfeiffer, SE, PE

            GRAEF

Chris Rockey, SE, AIA

            Rockey Structures LLC

Michelle Ryland, SE, RA

            Klein & Hoffman

Adam Theiss, SE, PE

            Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Nishan Pethiyagoda

            Hilti