Structure Magazine

Structure Magazine STRUCTURE magazine is a professional publication for practicing structural engineers. Every article is reviewed and approved by this Board before publication.

STRUCTURE magazine is the leading structural engineering publication, produced by the National Council of Structural Engineering Associations (NCSEA), in cooperation with the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and the Council of American Structural Engineers(CASE). STRUCTURE magazine is the practicing structural engineer’s source for information on materials, methods, design and analysis techn

iques and tools, research, building construction and innovation. STRUCTURE includes information on all construction materials (concrete, steel, masonry, and wood) and all types of buildings, bridges and unique structures. Oversight of the magazine is through an Editorial Board comprised of industry representatives and members of the partnering associations. Articles are written by structural engineers about structural engineering processes, projects, and products. Editorial content includes detailed discussion on unique structural solutions, project overviews, technical updates, in-depth code reviews, and more.

Transforming 1.25 miles of outdated monorail track into a safe, code-compliant, elevated trail through active animal hab...
09/18/2025

Transforming 1.25 miles of outdated monorail track into a safe, code-compliant, elevated trail through active animal habitats is no small feat. In Elevating the Connection Between People, Animals, and the Natural World, Thomas Root, Craig Huhtala, and Will McDevitt take you behind the scenes of the Treetop Trail—an engineering challenge shaped by thermal movement, vibration limits, and construction access, all in service of a larger mission: bringing people closer to wildlife.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/elevating-the-connection-between-people-animals-and-the-natural-world/

When a wildfire ends, the hardest work is often just beginning. Rebuilding means navigating insurance battles, debris re...
09/17/2025

When a wildfire ends, the hardest work is often just beginning. Rebuilding means navigating insurance battles, debris removal, code restrictions, and emotional tolls that can last for years. Drawing on lessons from Sonoma and Napa Counties, authors Nick Stuart, SE, and Eric Kreager, SE, outline the realities of recovery—from salvaging foundations to assembling the right team—and share what communities, homeowners, and professionals need to know before rebuilding begins. Their message is clear: recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

📖Read more: https://www.structuremag.org/article/rebuilding-after-the-firewhat-you-need-to-know-and-what-no-one-tells-you/

Seattle’s new Ocean Pavilion is more than an aquarium—it’s a structural landmark. At the heart of the project, Magnusson...
09/15/2025

Seattle’s new Ocean Pavilion is more than an aquarium—it’s a structural landmark. At the heart of the project, Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) engineered a massive, free-form concrete habitat that not only houses 500,000 gallons of water but also serves as the building’s primary lateral system in earthquake-prone Seattle. From deep-soil-mixed foundations to complex rebar lattices and continuous concrete pours, every element of this project pushed the boundaries of structural design. The result: a one-of-a-kind marine habitat that sets a new benchmark for seismic and concrete innovation.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/a-structural-habitat-in-seismic-seattle/

As solar fields expand rapidly across the U.S., structural engineers are left with a pressing question: are we doing eno...
09/12/2025

As solar fields expand rapidly across the U.S., structural engineers are left with a pressing question: are we doing enough to ensure the reliability of solar piles? In How Reliable Are Solar Piles?, Kory Rankin, PE, explores the current gaps in standards, the evolving role of engineers, and the high stakes of under- or over-designing systems installed by the millions. With limited research and no unified reliability targets, this piece highlights why thoughtful, risk-informed design is essential as the industry matures.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/how-reliable-are-solar-piles/

Set to become Pittsburgh’s largest hospital, the UPMC Presbyterian Tower is pushing the limits of urban healthcare desig...
09/11/2025

Set to become Pittsburgh’s largest hospital, the UPMC Presbyterian Tower is pushing the limits of urban healthcare design. In this detailed article, Ben Shock and Jeffrey Millmann walk through the structural complexity of building a 22-story steel-framed tower atop a post-tensioned parking garage, over a loading dock, on a steep and congested site. From multi-level transfer girders and sloped columns to 30-foot cantilevers and over 1,000 MEP penetrations, this project is a masterclass in engineering adaptability and interdisciplinary coordination.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/tight-site-bright-future-upmcs-presbyterian-expansion/

Downtown Houston’s Norton Rose Fulbright Tower is more than a striking 28-story high-rise—it’s a model of how structural...
09/10/2025

Downtown Houston’s Norton Rose Fulbright Tower is more than a striking 28-story high-rise—it’s a model of how structural ingenuity and environmental leadership can coexist. With an offset concrete core, innovative cantilevered design, and carefully sequenced mat foundation to address complex site constraints, the project showcases engineering precision at every scale. Pairing these solutions with ambitious carbon-reduction strategies, the tower achieved LEED Platinum certification and a 45% reduction in embodied carbon, setting a benchmark for future urban development.

📖Read more: https://www.structuremag.org/article/engineering-innovation-and-environmental-leadership-in-downtown-houston/

What happens when no textbook solution exists? At Skyline College Building 2, the engineering team faced complex seismic...
09/09/2025

What happens when no textbook solution exists? At Skyline College Building 2, the engineering team faced complex seismic retrofit challenges that required out-of-the-box thinking. James Enright and John Dal Pino walk through how a custom column clamping and shoring system—built on testing, judgment, and collaboration—kept the project both safe and feasible. A must-read for anyone involved in construction means and methods or seismic design.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/skyline-college-building-2-means-and-methods-column-shoring/

When the 2023 Mw 7.8 earthquake struck Southern Turkey, five viaducts on the TAG Highway sustained serious damage—two of...
09/08/2025

When the 2023 Mw 7.8 earthquake struck Southern Turkey, five viaducts on the TAG Highway sustained serious damage—two of them, the Ataturk and Turgut Ozal Viaducts, became case studies in how seismic design, construction quality, and retrofit strategies can determine the survival of major infrastructure. In STRUCTURE’s September issue, Cenan Ozkaya, Ph.D., Robert K. Dowell, Ph.D., P.E., and Faruk Yildiz detail how these massive bridges were pushed 50% beyond their original seismic design load and how retrofitting is preserving their future.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/viaduct-damage-assessment-after-the-2023-earthquake-in-turkey/

Reusing an aging monorail track to create a one-of-a-kind elevated zoo experience? That’s exactly what the Minnesota Zoo...
09/04/2025

Reusing an aging monorail track to create a one-of-a-kind elevated zoo experience? That’s exactly what the Minnesota Zoo and structural engineers set out to do with the Treetop Trail. Thomas Root, Craig Huhtala, and Will McDevitt share how the team navigated limited access, animal welfare concerns, thermal movement, and vibration—all while preserving the existing structure and minimizing environmental impact. The result is a powerful case study in sustainable, collaborative design that redefines how we experience the natural world.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/elevating-the-connection-between-people-animals-and-the-natural-world/

The University of Houston’s RAD Center proves that smart engineering can elevate both form and function. By reusing 66 e...
09/02/2025

The University of Houston’s RAD Center proves that smart engineering can elevate both form and function. By reusing 66 existing foundations and embracing mass timber, the team reduced embodied carbon by over 175 metric tons—all while delivering a visually striking, program-rich building. Walter P Moore, alongside Perkins & Will and Martinez Moore Engineers, turned a flooded relic into a model for sustainable, future-ready design.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/mass-timber-and-the-power-of-reuse/

Address

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 750
Chicago, IL
60606

Telephone

+13126494600

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Structure Magazine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category