# KPFF Website: https://www.kpff.com Language: en (UTF-8) Charset: UTF-8 Generated: 2026-09-16T00:48:14+00:00 --- # Detailed Content ## Posts ### Recast: Structural Engineering Behind City Foundry STL - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/recast-structural-engineering-behind-city-foundry-stl/ - **Published:** 2026-04-16 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** St. Louis food hall and retail destination preserving original foundry pieces. KPFF structural engineering on this adaptive reuse landmark. **Content:** Walk through City Foundry STL on any given afternoon and the place is busy—food hall crowds, shoppers walking between retailers, and preserved pieces of the old foundry echoing the site’s history. It’s hard to imagine that, not long ago, this 15-acre site was vacant and slated for demolition. Century Electric had once been one of St. Louis’s “big three” electrical manufacturers, building motors to power everything from home appliances to factories. Their foundry, built in 1929, was among the largest job shop operations in the Midwest and continued operating until 2007. The site sat vacant for nearly a decade with years of disuse taking a toll before Lawrence Group and the development team brought in a vision of redevelopment. Lawrence Group’s vision was ambitious: a mixed-use destination combining a food hall, retail, office space, structured parking, and public connections to the surrounding neighborhood. Delivering that vision meant navigating a site full of unknowns above and below ground. Understanding the Site Before design could move forward, the team had to understand what was happening beneath the surface. Geotechnical conditions varied dramatically across the site. Bedrock was shallow in some areas and dropped off steeply in others, sometimes within short distances. A single foundation strategy wouldn’t work. “A challenge for this project was the varying geotechnical bearing condition on the site,” says Bob Daugherty, Principal at KPFF. “The bearing rock was shallow at several locations, but at others it did dive deep. We worked with the geotechnical engineers and contractors to come up with solutions that took advantage of those differing conditions.” Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach, the team adapted the structural system to match the conditions at each location, using a mix of deep foundations, shallow foundations, and soil remediation. The result was a flexible strategy that reduced risk while keeping the project moving. That flexibility proved critical as construction progressed. During excavation for new retail buildings, poor soil conditions were discovered beneath the footprint of the new retail buildings. Addressing the issue required soil remediation and redesigning new foundations to accommodate the unforeseen conditions — an intricate solution that had to be executed without disrupting the project schedule. “When excavation began, we discovered poor soil conditions,” says Tim Rowbottom, Principal and COO of Lawrence Group. “KPFF was an amazing partner on that project, helping us with extremely intricate, detailed foundation designs.” Constraints extended beyond the site itself. Construction along Forsyth Boulevard required temporary shoring and tiebacks beneath an active city street. Those elements had to be removed once the permanent structure was complete. Sequencing that work safely, while maintaining progress, required close coordination between the design team, contractors, and the City. Working Within (and Between) Structures City Foundry isn’t a single building—it’s a collection of new and existing structures tied together across the site. KPFF’s work spanned new mixed-use buildings, a multi-level parking garage, and the renovation of historic structures. Each came with its own constraints, but the real complexity was in how they connected. “All of these buildings… --- ### Built to Last: Joe Stewart’s 40-Year Blueprint at KPFF - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/built-to-last-joe-stewarts-40-year-blueprint-at-kpff/ - **Published:** 2025-10-10 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** anne **Summary:** How a Los Angeles Principal built a 40-year career at KPFF. A blueprint for engineers thinking long-term about firm fit and licensure path. **Content:** Written by Julia Orue For Joe Stewart, it all starts with a cocktail napkin and a pen. “Joe, I got a question,” says Gary, his longtime collaborator and architect. “You know, I’m in design for this project. What do you think about this?” Joe Stewart, structural engineer, and Gary are sitting at the Marriott hotel bar in Orlando, Florida. The beer is cold, the conversation flowing, and the napkins? Covered in rough sketches of beams and structural details only architects and engineers could understand. To the bartender, they’re just two guys geeking out over hotel renovations. But to Joe, this is the kind of moment that captures everything he loves about engineering: “the creativity, the ability to sit and figure out problems and help a client create their vision, not always easy but challenging.” Joe didn’t always know he was going to become an engineer. Growing up as the oldest of five children in the “sleepy little beach town of Manhattan Beach,” his early life revolved around ocean activities, team sports, and putting things together. He found his spark in his high school’s industrial arts classes, where hands-on projects and mechanical drawing piqued his interest in design. He started college at Cal State Long Beach, exploring architecture and taking drafting and architectural practice classes. That path eventually led him to transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he found the perfect fit in architectural engineering, a blend of technical skill and problem-solving that aligned with his interest. The journey wasn’t without its bumps. One summer, after a cement strike canceled his usual construction job, Joe went door to door looking for work. “I walked into this little one-man engineering office,” he remembers. “The guy told me he didn’t have anything. I turned to leave, and as I got to my car, he called out, ‘Can you come back tomorrow?” Joe did, and became his first employee. That unexpected opportunity didn’t just give him a job. It shaped the way he would eventually mentor and lead others in his own career. After a few years in the industry and a growing desire to earn his structural engineering license, Joe found himself looking for a firm that offered more than just a job; it needed to be a place that aligned with his values, projects that made the work meaningful, the freedom to lead, and the people. And that place was KPFF. The year 1985, Joe joined KPFF in Los Angeles. Over the past four decades, Joe has helped shape not only buildings but also the company itself. From being one of just nine employees in the office to seeing the team grow to nearly 190 employees across LA and Orange County, he’s played a role in KPFF’s evolution. He’s been a mentor, a principal, and a steady leader in times of crisis like the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake, an intense period that pushed everyone beyond what they thought was possible. Even now, semi-retired, Joe continues to work on projects… --- ### KPFF Welcomes New President and CEO - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/kpff-welcomes-new-president-and-ceo/ - **Published:** 2025-06-16 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Scott Kuebler stepped into the role of KPFF President and CEO on June 6, 2025. The firm's leadership transition and forward direction. **Content:** We’re excited to share an important milestone in KPFF’s leadership: Scott Kuebler has stepped into the role of President and CEO, effective June 6, 2025. Scott succeeds John Gavan, whose thoughtful leadership has left an enduring mark on our firm. At KPFF, leadership transitions are rooted in our commitment to Stability and our responsibility to plan ahead for the future of our people, clients, and partners. This change reflects years of deliberate planning, collaboration, and care, with John and Scott working together closely. To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, John will take on the role of Executive Chair, offering his guidance and support as Scott begins this next chapter. “Scott is gifted both at empowering others to bring their best and in building systems that support a growing organization,” John said. “He is the right leader to balance independence and support for our talented team at scale.” Scott brings 27 years of experience and a deep dedication to KPFF. He’s a trusted voice and a proven leader. Known for his expertise as a Structural Engineer, Scott has played a central role in bringing innovative solutions to our clients while consistently advancing KPFF’s mission of engineering excellence. He has led our Special Projects Group since 2021. “It’s an incredible honor to step into this role,” Scott shared. “I’m now in my 28th year at KPFF, and I have deep respect for the people who make this organization what it is—our leaders, our staff, and those who came before us.” Scott understands the rhythm of this organization, and we’re confident he’ll guide us into a future full of opportunity and growth. As Scott looks ahead, he’s energized by the path forward: “What gets me most excited about KPFF’s future is our incredible people who show up every day to make a difference for our staff, our clients, and our communities. The freedom and support we provide to help our people achieve their full potential differentiates KPFF and fuels us to do great things. I really believe there’s no limit to what we can achieve if we stay committed to empowering our people.” We would also like to take a moment to recognize John for his incredible contributions during his time as CEO. John’s steady leadership has shaped KPFF into the organization it is today, ensuring we remain rooted in our core values as we continue to grow and evolve. Over his 14 years as President and CEO, KPFF has doubled our number of offices and the size of our staff. Our ownership group grew from 60 to over 100, and our revenue tripled. John also helped define our purpose and vision, guiding KPFF’s future. In Scott’s words: “John’s legacy comes from the influence he had in preparing the next generation of leaders to perpetuate KPFF. The most essential mark of a great leader is leaving things better than you found them – and John has done exactly that. We’re deeply grateful for John’s commitment and the lasting impact he’s had on… --- ### Sustainable Design in a Mass Timber Bunkhouse - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/sustainable-design-in-a-mass-timber-bunkhouse/ - **Published:** 2025-05-23 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** The design objective of the Mass Timber Bunkhouse is to incorporate efficient Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) fabrication. **Content:** The building exterior during construction, featuring a double wall system and CLT roof panels. (Image Credit: LUCE et studio) Why a Mass Timber Bunkhouse? The concept of the Mass Timber Bunkhouse exemplifies sustainability in design approach, materials used, and delivery of said materials. Located on a 4,000-acre working ranch, this 1927 barn replacement building is the place where ranchers will go to unwind. The design objective of the Mass Timber Bunkhouse is to incorporate efficient Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) fabrication. This requires extensive coordination to minimize waste on a site with limited road access for large trucks and allows for expedited structural erection. The building’s first-floor interior during construction, featuring CLT wall panels and hidden connections. (Image Credit: LUCE et studio) Benefits of CLT The mass timber connections have a great level of detail, which were customized by the design team and the fabricator. The result is a primary structure that was erected in only five days, with hidden connections that feel intentional. This mating of architectural and structural detail is reminiscent of the type of craftsmanship seen in Europe. Exposed structures provide many opportunities for the project to be delayed or fall apart entirely. It calls for design teams that can not only collaborate to solve challenges but also anticipate them. This pushed everyone to step out of their comfort zones. The building’s second-floor interior during construction, featuring CLT walls, floor, and roof panels. (Image Credit: LUCE et studio) The design team leaned into CLT material early on, since at the time of the design, CLT was not allowed to be used as shear walls. The CLT panels in this structure are used for bearing walls along the interior and the plywood sheathed exterior walls are used for the lateral system. This creates a double wall system with a gap of a few inches. Double walls work well for pocket doors and provide space for MEP runs. The architectural benefit of having a double wall system is that it keeps the exposed wood as the focal point in the structure and it reduces the finishes needed on the interior. Material excess was further reduced by pocketing beams into walls instead of using additional columns. The CLT floor and roof panels are used as diaphragms without any additional plywood – which is typically used in wood construction to transfer lateral forces to the exterior walls. The exposed structure is architecturally used to define space within the first floor, with beam locations that cleverly segment a room. The Bunkhouse is artfully tied back together with a single continuous roof ridge beam that runs along its spine. The expressed CLT panels provide a pure and modern feel, which is subtle and not overpowering. This structure has a warmth that would be difficult to achieve with any other material. The Final Product The final product provides everything the owner dreamt of, along with a brilliantly coordinated structure, where everyone involved can feel a sense of accomplishment. From a material, delivery, and collaboration standpoint, the… --- ### Built to Belong: The Story of Santa Ana’s First Land Trust Farm - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/built-to-belong-the-story-of-santa-anas-first-land-trust-farm/ - **Published:** 2025-05-20 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** A KPFF engineer and lifelong Santa Ana resident on building the city's first land trust farm. Where engineering met community-driven design. **Content:** I may be an engineer by day, but more importantly, I’m a lifelong resident of Santa Ana with a passion for community-driven projects. Let me take you on a journey that’s been years in the making, blending civic engagement, engineering, and a deep love for the city I call home. It All Started Across the Street This story begins in 2016. Hamilton was taking Broadway by storm, Superheroes were dominating the box office, Pokémon Go encouraged everyone to be outside, and me? I was wrapping up my college studies and transitioning into my career as an engineer. I had spent the last three years working and volunteering at Santa Ana Library, mentoring local students. Even though I was looking towards my own future, I knew I wasn’t ready to step away from serving my local community. A conversation with my boss at the Library pointed me toward Thrive Santa Ana, a local nonprofit located across the street, which was spearheading an initiative to reclaim public land for community use through a Community Land Trust model. Community Land Trusts, which emerged as a form of community development in the late 1960s in Georgia, were instrumental during the Civil Rights Movement. Local Black farmers sought to assist African American families in securing access to land. By working the land cooperatively, these families enhanced their economic security and supported their multi-family communities. Santa Ana has long struggled with outside businesses coming in, profiting from the people of Santa Ana, and sending those dollars back to the surrounding Orange County cities. Rallies were held, asking for “community lands in community hands.” Thrive’s idea was ambitious: convert underutilized public land into a community farm and marketplace, operated by and for the residents of Santa Ana. When I heard their vision, I knew I had to be part of it. Their approach resonated with me, both as an engineer and as a resident invested in Santa Ana’s future. Engineering Meets Grassroots From the start, this project required a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. I served as a connector between Thrive and key industry partners. By this point, I had started working at KPFF. I reached out to my colleagues in our civil department, who were more than willing to help. They reviewed the schematic design and helped me put together a list of deliverables THRIVE would need from the civil engineer they planned to hire. Along the way, I learned about the importance of a Water Quality Report (WQR), something the City of Santa Ana’s Planning and Building Department would expect. Thanks to Ali Khamsi and his team’s experience working with the City, they knew exactly how to navigate the requirements and set the project up for success. I also leaned on the support of our structural reporting center managers, who helped me understand that when shipping containers are repurposed for public use, they require foundations and some limitations on new openings in the containers. Bill Thorpe, who shares a strong commitment to civic engagement through his work… --- ### Seismic Upgrades Required? How Your Renovation Can "Shake Up" Infrastructure and Experience - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/seismic-upgrades-required-how-your-renovation-can-shake-up-infrastructure-and-experience/ - **Published:** 2025-04-29 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Why seismic retrofits gained momentum, what state policies are pushing them, and how renovation can strengthen building infrastructure. KPFF guide. **Content:** Editor’s Note: This piece was co-authored by NBBJ Principal Andrzej Czech and Associate Sandra Lozano, and KPFF Principal Mark Hershberg and Associate Maikol Del Carpio, and was originally published by NBBJ. Earthquakes cost the nation an estimated $14.7 billion annually in building damage and associated losses, especially in hotspots like California, Alaska and Washington State. Buildings constructed before modern seismic codes—such as pre-1980 non-ductile concrete buildings and wood-framed “soft story” structures—are even more vulnerable to damage due to outdated construction methods. The solution? Seismic retrofitting. The process of strengthening a structure to make it more resistant to earthquakes, seismic retrofitting has gained momentum in recent years due to several policies and ordinances introduced at the state level to improve seismic safety, as well as a clearer and more precise understanding of seismic behavior. In addition to making buildings safer and less prone to damage, seismic retrofitting also provides the opportunity to revive an outdated building, and can open the door for improvements in other areas without significantly increasing cost or disruption. Here, we explore how to determine whether your building is a good candidate for seismic retrofitting, as well as techniques and solutions that meet today’s standards while enhancing building performance, functionality and aesthetics. aOlder buildings that employ outdated construction methods are at greater seismic risk. (Image courtesy of NBBJ) Is Your Building in Need of Seismic Retrofitting? While seismic retrofitting is almost always a smart idea, determining whether your building needs to be retrofitted and, if so, where to start can be tricky. Fortunately, a simple set of questions can help you assess if your building requires seismic upgrades. Simply put, it’s advised that buildings in earthquake-prone areas that were designed and built before benchmark building codes and standards for life safety are assessed for seismic retrofit. If the building is found to be vulnerable according to an ASCE 41-23, retrofitting in compliance with current standards is a recommended next step. However, even if your building has not been found hazardous according to current regulations but was built before 1977 in a high-hazard seismic area, it may still be recommended for seismic evaluation. In California in particular, there are many mandatory seismic upgrade programs—for example, the required seismic retrofit ordinance in Los Angeles targeting soft story wood-framed structures and nonductile concrete buildings built pre-1980, Senate Bill 1953 mandating the seismic upgrade of acute care hospital buildings, and the UCOP Seismic Safety Policy addressing the inventory of existing University of California facilities. Standards and recommendations are also continuously updated based on new knowledge and technical advancements. If a seismic retrofit is recommended, your organization can then determine the most pertinent actions for retrofitting. Some of these actions may include adding structural support, adding shear walls or steel bracings, using base isolation, reinforcing the foundation or using fiber-reinforced polymers. It’s also worth noting that retrofitting, while recommended in most cases, may not always be the right solution. If the cost value exceeds the cost of new construction, demoing and building new… --- ### Mass Timber and the Future of Healthcare Facilities - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/mass-timber-and-the-future-of-healthcare-facilities/ - **Published:** 2025-02-11 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** anne **Summary:** Mass timber is widely used in offices, labs, and airports but rarely in healthcare. A KPFF structural take on why and what could change. **Content:** Courtesy of ZGF Though mass timber is consistently used as a design material for large-scale buildings such as offices, laboratories, and airports, it remains underutilized in the construction of healthcare facilities. KPFF teamed up with ZGF and Swinerton in partnership with Timberlab, Degenkolb, Arup, University of Oregon Institute for Health in the Built Environment, PeaceHealth, Jensen Hughes, and Pierce McVey to perform an in-depth analysis on the potential use of mass timber in healthcare facilities. The comprehensive study sought solutions for adopting mass timber as a safe, efficient, and sustainable construction material in the healthcare sector. The findings, published in “Mass Timber Hospitals: The Future of Healthcare,” clarify common misconceptions in hospital design such as hygiene control, lateral loads, acoustics, gravity systems, and framing. Courtesy of ZGF How healthcare facilities benefit from the use of mass timber: Aesthetics & Hygiene: Not only is mass timber naturally hostile to microbes, but common wood-coating practices make it as easy to clean as traditional materials like steel and concrete. In addition, studies consistently show how indoor spaces that mimic natural environments contribute to an overall reduction in user stress—of special importance for healthcare settings with emergency rooms and 24-hour care. Courtesy of ZGF Sourcing: Sustainably-sourced timber benefits communities, forests, and rural or less represented parts of the timber supply chain. Prioritizing Climate Smart Forestry supports the proliferation of forests where more trees are grown than harvested. The timber’s journey from forest to built structure creates a unique opportunity for story that enhances a building’s community impact. Cost Efficiency: The use of mass timber offsets overall cost at numerous stages of the design and construction processes. Assembly is faster, and interior finishes and foundation materials are less necessary for an aesthetically pleasing and efficient design. Lower Carbon Footprint: A Life Cycle Analysis of a building’s full material lifespan shows that mass timber can reduce carbon emissions by 57% compared to steel structures. This lower carbon footprint is partially due to timber acting as a “carbon sink.” While manufacturing of materials like concrete typically releases excess C02 into the atmosphere, wood naturally stores atmospheric carbon before harvesting and, with proper care, continues to store carbon within the built environment, resulting in a lower overall carbon footprint per square foot. Courtesy of ZGF In addition to mapping the ways healthcare facilities benefit from mass timber design, the research study offers a deep dive into how each of the following elements can be adapted to meet the specific codes and requirements of hospital design: Fire Protection & Code Compliance Spans & Structural Grid Gravity System & Framing Vibration Lateral Loads & Systems MEPT Integration Acoustics & Sound Isolation Infection Control & Cleaning Natural Ventilation & Daylight Cladding & Enclosure Embodied Carbon Analysis Supply Chain & Wood Sourcing Pre-fabrication & Modularity Cost & Schedule Insurance & Operations As the need for carbon-efficient construction grows in the healthcare sector, KPFF continues exploring innovative mass timber design methods to help shape the future of healthcare facilities. For more information, you… --- ### Padden Creek: A Case Study in Collaboration & Innovation for Fish-Friendly Infrastructure - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/padden-creek-a-case-study-in-collaboration-innovation-for-fish-friendly-infrastructure/ - **Published:** 2024-12-06 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Restoring fish passage under SR 11 and I-5 with minimal traffic disruption. A KPFF case study in fish-friendly civil engineering collaboration. **Content:** One thousand feet of new stream channel. One hundred and eighteen habitat features. Two fish-friendly culverts. Two bridges. The Padden Creek Fish Passage Design-Build was a big project with a big goal: to restore fish passage under SR 11 and I-5, connecting fish to five miles of upstream rearing and spawning habitat while minimizing disruptions to the traveling public through the process. Was it successful? The final photo below speaks for itself. Accomplishing this audacious goal required specialists spanning many disciplines, including KPFF civil engineers, structural engineers, and stream designers. Professionals from our Seattle, Lacey, and Special Projects offices teamed up, bringing unique and important perspectives that contributed to a successful final project. Civil Engineer: The existing Padden Creek crossing at SR 11 consisted of two 78-foot-long, 5-foot by 3-foot concrete box culverts that had been designated as a fish barrier due to the steep slope. The location, next to a busy intersection, residential and business properties, and overhead power and communication utilities, created complex traffic management and construction challenges. The original project design called for long-duration lane traffic phasing during construction which would have had a significant impact on the surrounding community and businesses. After the contract was awarded, the team approached WSDOT with an ambitious idea to reduce long term traffic impacts. If the team could install the entire 20-foot by 8-foot culvert during a full 60-hour weekend closure of SR 11, there would be no need for any other nightly closures. Through communication with the city and WSDOT, the team gained approval for a full weekend closure, associated detour plan, and city noise variance permit. The Granite Construction team closed SR 11 at 10:00 pm Friday and completed the entire box culvert by 2:00 am Monday—just 52 hours later. Structural Engineer: The I-5 site provided some unique challenges for the structural designers: the existing culvert was buried nearly 50-feet below one of the most well-traveled freeways in the state. Constructing two new bridges while minimizing traffic disruptions to this critical north-south corridor required an innovative solution. KPFF, Granite and GeoEngineers developed a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) bridge abutment that was supported by a soldier pile cut wall. This unique design allowed Granite to construct nearly all of the project using a top-down methodology instead of more traditional bottom-up sequencing. In a top-down approach, permanent internal structures are built as excavation progresses down, providing lateral support for the retaining walls along the way. Thanks to this clever strategy, contractors could wait to excavate the bulk of the new stream channel (more than 30,000 cubic yards of material) until after the new bridges were already built and traffic was in its permanent alignment. Construction Sequencing Graphic Courtesy of Granite Construction The top-down method and other design efficiencies decreased the total number of traffic impact days on I-5 from 400 to just 225 days, a reduction of nearly 50 percent. The Southbound I-5 bridge was constructed and opened to traffic just 38 days after work began. This was the first… --- ### A Consulting Engineer's Guide to Due Diligence Reports - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/a-consulting-engineers-guide-to-due-diligence-reports/ - **Published:** 2024-06-24 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** 5 keys to success when navigating risk associated with due diligence reports **Content:** A Consulting Engineer’s Guide to Due Diligence Reports 5 Keys to Success when Navigating Risk Associated with Due Diligence Reports Don Oates and I, working with the KPFF Board and the KPFF President, comprise the Risk Management team for KPFF. We focus on risk management training and consulting with our KPFF partners about problems or opportunities related to professional risk on projects. KPFF’s risk management philosophy is centered around six prescriptions for success: Careful Risk Evaluation Clear Scope of Work Fair Contracts Quality Work Product Adequate Construction Phase Services Effective Communication Steve Litchfield, managing partner at Litchfield Malone McDonald, has served as KPFF’s outside general counsel for several years. Recently, Don and I have been speaking with Steve about due diligence reports through the lens of our risk management strategy. Steve compiled his thoughts, with some input from us, into an article titled “A Consulting Engineer’s Guide to Due Diligence Reports,” linked below. In this article, Steve discusses risk associated with due diligence reports and five keys to success when navigating these projects. Click here to view the full article. --- ### Pushing the Limits of Timber Engineering at Idaho's ICCU Arena - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/pushing-the-limits-of-timber-engineering-at-idahos-iccu-arena/ - **Published:** 2024-06-11 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** How KPFF used engineered wood products to deliver the curved organic roofline at U of Idaho's ICCU Arena. Mass timber at venue scale. **Content:** The University of Idaho had a vision to showcase what Idaho timber can do, stretching the typical boundaries of wooden buildings. That vision was recently celebrated at the ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards where the University of Idaho ICCU Arena won a 2024 Grand Award, securing recognition as one of the top engineering projects of the year nationwide. The University of Idaho ICCU Arena is the first venue of its kind, implementing engineered wood products to create an organically shaped roofline and highlight Idaho forestry. The new 62,000-sf, 4,200-seat arena is home to the Vandal men’s and women’s basketball teams and provides a gathering place for campus sporting events, concerts, and more. The ICCU Arena is situated on the west side of campus, just down the hill from the iconic Kibbie Dome. Its construction cements an athletics corridor at the University, positioned near the track and field complex, golf course, swim center, and tennis courts. The facility provides recreation and event space to the University’s 11,500 students and 2,500 employees as well as surrounding community members. ICCU Arena in front of the iconic Kibbie Dome Through partnership and funding from Idaho Central Credit Union, the College of Natural Resources, the USDA Forest Service, alumni groups, and the student body, the University was able to make Idaho timber a focal point, despite the challenges of long spans and unique connections. The mass timber featured in this project includes long-span king-post roof trusses, glulam columns, cross-laminated and dowel-laminated timber floors. This made KPFF a natural partner with their history of mass timber research and innovation. University of Idaho Project Manager Guy Esser said, “During the design phase, KPFF’s collaborative suggestions and solutions were direct and practical in response to the project budget while still understanding the level of aesthetic sophistication that was desired by the University.” The design and construction team, including Opsis Architecture, StructureCraft, and Hoffman Construction, were all integral to the success of the final project. Opsis led the architectural design with support from Hastings+Chivetta, a sports architecture specialist. They developed the concept of the undulating roof, mimicking the hills of the Palouse and paying homage to Idaho’s natural beauty. The organic geometry and gentle slopes presented a challenge for supporting the long spans. StructureCraft developed the concept of a portal frame with king post trusses for the timber roof structure, which allowed for longer, unobstructed spans without large, bulky beams. The initial massing of the roof would have required two years of fabrication to lay up all the unique curves. The team worked with manufacturers to break up the unique mass timber members into smaller pieces that could be produced using their machinery. Judsen Williams explains, “We as engineers were able to work directly with several manufacturers in Idaho to allow us to do something that had never been done before. StructureCraft took the free-formed surface of the roof and rationalized it into a series of single-curved radius and straight pieces that were manufactured more efficiently.” King-Post Trusses MW… --- ### Building for the Future with Life Cycle Assessments - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/building-for-the-future-with-life-cycle-assessments/ - **Published:** 2023-10-11 - **Modified:** 2026-05-07 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modern tool for illuminating environmental impacts and making choices in design that will lead to a more sustainable and resilient structure for our future. **Content:** Buildings are an essential part of our daily lives – we sleep in them, work in them, eat in them. But how do the buildings we live in impact the world around us? From unprocessed materials to initial construction to daily operations to eventual decommissioning, every phase of a building’s life produces environmental impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modern tool for illuminating these impacts and making choices in design that will lead to a more sustainable and resilient structure. What is a Life Cycle Assessment? Life Cycle Assessment is a method for quantifying the environmental impacts of a product or process across its entire existence. Coca-Cola performed the first Life Cycle Assessment in the 1960s to evaluate the environmental impacts of its glass bottles, encompassing material extraction, transportation, product use, and disposal. Since then, Life Cycle Assessments have crossed sectors to influence buildings, not just bottles. In the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, the LCA process involves four stages: (1) goal and scope definition, (2) inventory analysis, (3) impact assessment, and (4) interpretation and analysis. The most widely used metric in Life Cycle Assessments for buildings is global warming potential (i.e., the CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result of the building project). It is often abbreviated as GWP. Other metrics in LCAs include acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, and smog formation potentials. Products such as Tally, Athena, and One Click make performing an LCA more manageable by maintaining life cycle inventories of products and, in some cases, integrating with modeling programs (e.g., REVIT). The assessment evaluates raw material extraction, processing of raw materials into construction products, transportation to the site, building use, deconstruction, and material disposal or recycling/reuse. Why Perform a Life Cycle Assessment? A Life Cycle Assessment performed early in a building’s design can help: Inform Structural System and Building Materials Selection. The environmental impact of studied systems and materials are quantitatively provided by LCA. This can, in turn, provide confidence to designers and owners as they optimize design and assess the merits of each system or material. Furthermore, prioritizing low environmental impacts is an emerging trend, leading to advancement and innovation within the AEC community. Achieve Sustainability Certification. Performing a Life Cycle Assessment can earn points toward LEED certification, International Living Future Institute certification, or other green building initiatives. For building owners who value sustainability certification, particularly where global warming potential is a criterion, an LCA is essential. Identify Opportunities for Improvement or Efficiencies. Explicit consideration of environmental impacts has led to innovative building systems and methods. The rise in construction of mass timber buildings has grown synergistically with the rise in acknowledgement of the global warming potential contributed by building construction. Similarly, the development of low-carbon concrete technologies has rapidly expanded in response to concerns expressed by design teams over the contribution to global warming potential from Ordinary Portland Cement. An LCA provides the critical opportunity to better understand a project’s sustainability impact and thereby explicitly target the use of innovative solutions. Utah… --- ### Confessions from a Runner Up, Leadership SHEdership - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/confessions-from-a-runner-up-leadership-shedership/ - **Published:** 2023-06-12 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** On Thursday, April 6th, I attended a full-day RISE Leadership Summit with GiANT hosted by the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. The cherry on top was being honored at the afternoon reception as one of 4 Leaders of the Year finalists. **Content:** On Thursday, April 6th, I attended a full-day RISE Leadership Summit with GiANT hosted by the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. I am happy to report I did leave the day with some new tools and new inspiring contacts. The cherry on top was being honored at the afternoon reception as one of 4 Leaders of the Year finalists. Spoiler alert and hearty congratulations to Jessica Price with the University of Oregon, this year’s winner of the Women Business Leaders, Leader of the Year award. She is truly awesome, and I could not imagine a more deserving winner. As I sat with my wife and fellow nominees from different Eugene companies, I was humbled and grateful to be recognized among them. With 15 years as a civil engineer and project manager, my career is evolving to that of a group leader, manager, and mentor (while also engineering and managing projects). I’m constantly learning, but I know that leadership takes knowing yourself, listening more than talking, applying your unique strengths, and constantly recalibrating to your team’s needs and dynamics. The Downtown Athletic Club ballroom was filled. My whole office was in attendance. My panic about public speaking was turned up to 11. After some introductions, a video played featuring Matt Keenan, a man who proved his wisdom by hiring me when I was a totally green engineer, and has been my manager, mentor, colleague, and friend over the years. He said I made him a better person and all kinds of other nice things that I hope to live up to. Then I had the mic to address the crowd with my prepared speech. And here it is: Hi, I’m Anna Backus, and I’m a civil engineer, project manager, and group leader at KPFF Consulting Engineers. I’d first like to express my gratitude. Thanks to the Eugene Chamber for putting this event together, and to Matt Keenan for nominating me. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in doing so. I am very grateful to be up here and in the company of these amazing women.Like I mentioned, I’m a civil engineer, and when I’m describing my job I’ll often say that if I’m doing it right, you don’t notice. If I do my job right, the built world just works. The tap works when you turn it on, you can safely and easily navigate the streets, you can use pedestrian areas and access buildings whether or not you’re able bodied, and, of course, you never encounter a puddle.So while I hope you have not noticed my hand in design, I think you will be familiar with our projects. Matt opened the office in 2004 to work on Riverbend Hospital, and since then, we’ve done a number of schools including North, Edison, and Jefferson, parks, including the recently completed Riverfront Park, various University projects including Knight Campus and the new dorms, and housing of all kinds, but closest to my heart, affordable housing including most recently The Nel on 11th and Charnelton. I’m proud… --- ### San Francisco Native and KPFF Structural Engineer Tackles Housing Equity - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/san-francisco-native-and-kpff-structural-engineer-tackles-housing-equity/ - **Published:** 2023-05-31 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** San Francisco Team Members Jen Gelose and Michaela Nava discuss San Francisco Housing Equity and the role KPFF plays. **Content:** Born and raised in San Francisco, Michaela Nava was fascinated by buildings from a young age. She was curious how they are designed, how they are built, and especially how they stand up after earthquakes! When she started thinking about college it didn’t take long for her to zero in on structural engineering as her major. During her time at Santa Clara University, she started to notice the dramatic changes in the urban landscape around her. Mainly, the lack of affordable housing. Michaela shares how she and her colleagues are participating in furthering equitable housing in the SF Bay Area. “My first job out of college was for a small engineering firm whose client base was mostly single-family homes in the South Bay. I worked there for a couple years, but always wanted to do more for the community back in my home town of San Francisco. I found myself at KPFF in 2016, drawn there for the collaborative culture and so I could work on affordable housing projects. I quickly learned and innovated ways to design a structure economically while achieving beautiful homes for people to live.” Casa de la Mision provides housing for seniors transitioning out of homelessness. Created in collaboration with HKIT, Y.A. Studio, James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corp, Mercy Housing, Mission Neighborhood Centers and PGAdesign. Photos ©David Wakely Michaela collaborates with many different local and national architects on these housing projects, each one inspiring her to design for efficiency, resiliency and sustainability. Specific strategies include: Efficient structural layouts to minimize material costs without loss of structural integrity Close collaboration with architects to optimize column and framing layouts to achieve the architectural vision (i.e., maximum unit sizes, comfort, safety) Close collaboration with other disciplines such as MEP to reduce conflicts during the course of construction Development of prefabricated and modular framing systems to shorten construction schedules Implementation of high replacement concrete mixes of up to 70%, reducing carbon emissions Early integration of the general contractor to implement feedback based on pricing and constructability, reducing overall cost of the project and reducing RFIs during construction “We have a long way to go to solve the housing crisis in San Francisco. I am committed to playing an active role in this process, for the benefit of the community, the city I love and to further our profession.” 455 Fell Street in collaboration with Leddy Maytum Stacey, Paulett Taggart Architects, San Francisco Housing Development Corporation and Mercy Housing California --- ### Ribbon Cutting at Sunnyvale City Hall - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/ribbon-cutting-at-sunnyvale-city-hall/ - **Published:** 2023-04-18 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Designed by SmithGroup, PAE, and KPFF to be the first net-zero and LEED Platinum city hall, Sunnyvale City Hall raises the bar for sustainability in civic projects. **Content:** KPFF’s Dave Rossi and Nicholas Miley were excited to attend last week’s ribbon cutting event at Sunnyvale City Hall. Designed by SmithGroup, PAE, and KPFF to be the first net-zero and LEED Platinum city hall, the new building raises the bar for sustainability in civic projects and demonstrates the City of Sunnyvale’s commitment to positive change. Biophilic design elements such as the timber curtain wall, sweeping tree lined terraces and a curving wood-clad central feature stair bring the project to life.  A large PV array canopy above the roof provides on-site energy generation and shades the building below. KPFF reduced structural embodied carbon by specifying high cement replacement mixes including 70% replacement in the mat slab and slab on metal deck. We also designed the seismic system for enhanced resiliency, reducing potential repair costs and materials that would be needed after a major event. “It’s amazing to see all of the hard work by Hensel Phelps and the design team come together into a beautiful and innovative. I had the chance to talk to some city employees who have moved in and are enjoying their new space – it really made it all feel worth it,” says Nicholas Miley. --- ### The Road to ECAP 2023 - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/the-road-to-ecap-2023-news/ - **Published:** 2023-04-05 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Updates to KPFF's Embodied Carbon Action Plan and contributions to the SE 2050 initiative. The firm's progress on net-zero structural engineering. **Content:** As we move towards updating our Embodied Carbon Action Plan (ECAP) for 2023, we’d like to highlight some of the moves we have made and work we have done to push the SE 2050 initiative forward. 2023 ICM Conference on Translating Climate Ambition into Climate Action KPFF was honored to be invited to the 2023 Institute for Carbon Management (ICM) Conference on Translating Climate Ambition into Climate Action. Molly Seto, KPFF SF (pictured at left) and Kane Pithey, KPFF Los Angeles represented KPFF at the conference at UCLA. It was inspiring to hear about the great work that Professor Gaurav Sant and team are doing at ICM. We were able to connect with some of the relevant climate tech businesses that have spun out of ICM and discussed how we can collaborate. The conference also highlighted different voices regarding climate action, and it was very informative to hear how investors think and fund new climate technologies as well as discussing the challenges of scaling. We’re excited to see the progress and direction we’re taking as an industry and we at KPFF are doing our part to move the needle towards net zero embodied carbon in our designs. KPFF’s 2022 SE 2050 ECAP Partnering with Clients to Educate and Find Environmentally Responsible Solutions With all the environmental concerns we’re facing, it’s important for architects and engineers to work together to come up with sustainable building solutions that reduce carbon emissions and energy waste. By working together, we can combine our unique expertise to create sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient buildings while reducing the overall carbon footprint of the built environment. Paulett Taggart Architects (PTA) has been a close partner with KPFF on affordable housing projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Affordable housing projects should not only serve our underserved communities but also be sustainable as climate change disproportionately affects these same communities. We presented at PTA’s office on how we could reduce the embodied carbon in our designs together. We discussed our SE2050 Commitment how to quantify embodied carbon using programs like Tally and excel and reduction strategies aimed specifically for affordable housing. We had a great time hanging out with our colleagues at PTA and so did they! The team gave us an instructive, accessible, and encouraging introduction to embodied carbon analysis terms and methods. The presentation offered great insight into KPFF’s embodied carbon reduction efforts, and the discussion helped me see opportunities for coordination between our teams to further reduce the carbon footprint of our projects. –Lily Oyler, Designer Visit our Sustainability + Environmental Responsibility page to learn more about KPFF’s pledge to leaving it better than we found it. The complete ECAP can also be viewed here. --- ### Port of Everett Norton Terminal \
is Officially Open - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/port-of-everett-norton-terminal-is-officially-open-news/ - **Published:** 2022-12-29 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** On December 2nd the Port of Everett officially opened its new Norton Terminal, involving redevelopment and clean-up of the former Kimberly-Clark mill site. **Content:** Port of Everett Norton Terminal is Officially Open Ribbon cutting ceremony held on December 1st On December 2nd the Port of Everett officially opened its new Norton Terminal, involving redevelopment and clean-up of the former Kimberly-Clark mill site.  The $40 million maritime infrastructure investment redeveloped 40 acres of new upland cargo capacity for the Port of Everett and Puget Sound region. KPFF designed the new terminal. The project includes asphalt paving and significant new terminal utilities including over a mile of water main, ½ mile of heavy-duty trench drain, storm water treatment, sewer, lighting, and electrical/communications infrastructure. This work is funded in part by a $17.75 million Federal BUILD grant administered through MARAD and a $7.65 million Washington State Department of Ecology MTCA cleanup grant. Check out the Port of Everett’s YouTube Timeline Video below. For more information on this project, click the links below. Port of Everett News https://www.djc.com/news/bu/12153085.html https://www.heraldnet.com/news/port-of-everett-christens-new-norton-cargo-terminal KPFF Staff that contributed to this project: Nathan Watson, Adam Bergman, Ed Debroeck, Kyle Edwards, Erik Nielsen, Roxanne Oynes, Kaleb Prough, Andres Rondon, Sean Story, Laura Trovesi, Donald Yu, Bob Riley, Qiaqia Zhu, Martin Gomez --- ### KPFF and Ferry Operations in NY Harbor - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/kpff-and-ferry-operations-in-ny-harbor/ - **Published:** 2022-12-19 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Beginning over a decade ago, KPFF has been engaged in ferry planning, design, and consulting with most of the major operators in New York harbor. **Content:** Beginning over a decade ago, KPFF has been engaged in ferry planning, design, and consulting with most of the major operators in New York harbor.  KPFF’s Marine Transit Consulting Group (MTCG) has worked with the Staten Island Ferry (SIF), NYC Ferry, and the Governors Island Ferry, as well as NJ Transit (NJT), NJ DOT (NJDOT), and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on planning and infrastructure projects. As local ferry operators expand their services and transition to zero-emission operations, KPFF will continue to provide expertise and support for ongoing and future operations and electrification efforts. KPFF’s Marine Transit Consulting Group KPFF’s MTCG was created in 2008, leveraging our unique in-house expertise to provide comprehensive consulting services to the ferry industry. In 2009, the MTCG was selected by the Staten Island Ferry to develop a 20-year fleet plan and design guidelines for vessels to replace the John F. Kennedy and Barberi-class vessels, which were reaching the end of their useful service life. The work led to the development of the concepts and performance specifications that formed the basis of the Ollis-class ferry design. The plan recommended the acquisition of three new vessels and the third just recently arrived in NY Harbor. Staten Island Ollis-Class Ferry Building on the success of the fleet planning work, KPFF continued working with the SIF to modify crew and vessel schedules to reduce overtime, support increased overnight service, and study the feasibility of SIF providing service to additional destinations in Manhattan, a service which was recently implemented by the EDC’s NYC Ferry. KPFF’s marine engineering group is also working with the SIF to design improvements to the piers at the St. George Ferry Maintenance Facility to provide safe mooring for the ferry fleet under heavy weather and hurricane conditions. This work includes an assessment of the existing structural capacity, development of mooring arrangement concepts, and designs for new mooring hardware and supporting structures. Expanding Ferry Operations Working with our partners from the SIF planning work, KPFF provided operations consulting and operating cost estimates for some of the PANYNJ’s regional ferry studies looking at both Cross-Hudson and East River services.  Some of this work was leveraged from previous efforts done in 2013 when KPFF was part of the team for the 2013 Citywide Ferry Study for the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), on which we assessed governance models, maritime labor issues, operating schedules, and operating costs. The 2013 Citywide Ferry Study determined that an East River ferry service could be successful so the EDC decided to move forward and create the East River Ferry, serving five terminals in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.  KPFF’s unique expertise continued to be utilized to help with the implementation planning and development of additional recommendations that were incorporated into the planning for the expanded NYC Ferry system. As NYC Ferry was starting up, a team led by KPFF was brought onboard to provide a range of consulting services, including assessments of the new operators Safety Management Systems, labor agreements,… --- ### Epic Summer Part 4: The History - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/epic-summer-part-4-the-history/ - **Published:** 2022-11-30 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** The calendar may say fall, but we’re wrapping up our Epic Summer Series detailing our Intern Program in Los Angeles Structural. We’ve explored how we enhanced the intern experience, heard... **Content:** The calendar may say fall, but we’re wrapping up our Epic Summer Series detailing our Intern Program in Los Angeles Structural. We’ve explored how we enhanced the intern experience, heard from interns in our 2022 program as well as interns who are now full-time employees, and learned how communication ties everything together. In our last and final entry, we’re going to discover the history of the LA-S Intern Program. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS We’ve always had some form of an intern program, but it wasn’t as robust as our intern program today. Largely unstructured, no one knew what to do with the interns and no one was monitoring their success. The interns were bored, and we weren’t benefiting from them as part of our team. In 2016, Mike Dygean created a more focused approach to the intern program on his team. He hired two summer interns and developed the Intern Design Project (IDP) to give the interns something to do when they didn’t have a task. “We needed something that was real, live engineering and something to judge their skills on,” he says. 8–10 WEEK INTERVIEW When KPFF LA-S moved to Downtown Los Angeles in 2018, the intern program was refined further. We struggled to hire entry-level engineers, and those we did hire had a 50% turnover rate. Could we use our intern program as an 8–10 week interview to see if the interns were a good fit as full-time employees? “That’s what I tell my interns,” Neil Bahen shares. “It’s a two-way interview for sure.” “It’s our interview process for them, but it gives the person a deeper insight into what they would be doing as an Engineer,” Mike adds. “It’s them interviewing us. The interns appreciate that.” This approach has proved successful: roughly two-thirds of our interns return either as repeat interns the following summer or as full-time employees. FURTHER REFINEMENT During the pandemic, the intern program became more defined. While we were fully remote, we were able to have interns living in other geographic locations. But when it was time to return in-person, there was a need for further refinement. Team leaders expressed concern about Juniors and even some Seniors joining our team. But Juniors are arguably the most essential interns. “Juniors go back to school with one year left to the same University we want to hire from, and they talk,” Mike explains. “Let’s see if we can get more people applying from these schools.” And so far, it’s worked – the 2022 Summer Intern Class was the largest class to date with 20 interns! To accommodate the younger engineers, we interviewed the team leaders and created a wish list. From this list, we developed the Crash Course Series to get engineers up-to-speed so they could jump into projects right away. In addition to the crash courses, interns also had emotional intelligence, core strengths, and crucial conversations trainings, in addition to other summer activities throughout the office. TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? Our intern program has evolved… --- ### Epic Summer Part 2: View from an Intern - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/epic-summer-part-2-view-from-an-intern/ - **Published:** 2022-08-23 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** KPFF Los Angeles Structural takes a look at their Summer Intern Program through the eyes of current interns and shares their perspectives. **Content:** Epic Summer Part 2: View from an Intern Featuring Suha Hussain, Clayton Sumner, Courtney Huitt, and Kiana Sarad In Part 2 of our Epic Summer Series, which looks at our Intern Program, we reached out to our current interns and an intern who later became full-time employees for their perspectives on the program. The KPFF LA Structural Intern Program was restructured in 2018 (more on that in a future blog). Last summer, we ran the numbers: 67% of LA Structural interns either return the following year as repeat interns or join KPFF after graduation as full-time employees. GETTING IN THE DOOR Before our interns become interns, they have to find us first. And how exactly do our interns (and full-time employees, for that matter) find us? We asked some of our current interns to share how they discovered KPFF. Suha Hussain, a current Cal Poly SLO student and first-time intern, shared she started with LinkedIn, cross-referenced her findings with online ratings, and talked with her friends who had previously interned with LA Structural. “Most of the firms I interviewed with were civil engineering only or land development,” she shares. “ I wanted exposure to true structural engineering before deciding on a focus for my senior year.” Courtney Huitt similarly found KPFF via LinkedIn, though she had a slightly different approach: “I go to Cal Poly SLO, so I looked at the recent Cal Poly alumni – where they interned and now work full time. A lot of Alumni work at KPFF.” THE DECIDING FACTOR Most of our interns interviewed with multiple firms but ultimately decided on KPFF, but every intern’s deciding factor was different. “I was originally trying to find something at home in Colorado,” Clayton Sumner explains. “In the Structural Engineering world, you have to worry about seismic, and Los Angeles is the best of the best. If you work in California, you can pretty much work anywhere.” Courtney describes how the program’s overall structure appealed to her: “The crash courses, the entry-level seminars, and the Intern Design project the Interns would participate in throughout the internship were appealing to me. I’m a younger intern – I haven’t graduated yet, so I knew I wouldn’t have a ton of experience. The idea of having all these classes, I thought this would be the internship I would learn the most.” GETTING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE The interns found us, interviewed with us, and chose to work with us. So what does a day in the life of an intern entail? From weekly lunch-and-learns to the intern design project and summer activities, there’s always something to engage our interns. “This was my first time doing design work,” current employee and former intern Kiana Sarad explains. “I was given a lot of responsibilities as an intern. KPFF allowed me to bridge the gap between what I learned in school and what is done in the industry.” “I didn’t expect so many activities in the office!” Suha adds. “The picnic, the Summer Olympics, the Wellness… --- ### Epic Summer: How LA Structural Enhanced the Intern Experience - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/epic-summer-how-la-structural-enhanced-the-intern-experience-news-kpff/ - **Published:** 2022-07-20 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** KPFF's LA Structural group provides an in-depth look at their summer internship program and the elements within it that provide real world experience and skills. **Content:** The LA Structural Intern Training Program As we do every summer, KPFF LA Structural welcomed our 2022 Summer Intern class to explore the world of structural engineering and experience our interactive office culture. This summer, we have twenty interns. While the stereotypical tasks of an intern may include getting coffee, moving boxes, and making copies all day, this didn’t fit into KPFF LAS’ long-term vision or mission. We want our interns to feel they’ve had a productive summer – learning skills on the job to help their academics and beyond. During the first week of their internship, interns are assigned to an engineering team and a live KPFF project. To bring the Interns up to speed and provide them with the skills needed to contribute to these projects successfully, we created a comprehensive training program. By giving Interns these skills early in the program and connecting them with engineers at all levels, the interns can jump into projects immediately and experience what it is to be a structural engineer. When I asked staff to gauge interest in leading the seminars, I was AMAZED how easy it was to find eager volunteers. We had 47 volunteers to conduct training sessions – 26 veteran trainers and 21 new trainers for the Crash Course series! The trainers range in experience from new engineers to 25-year engineering veterans. This enthusiasm exemplifies our “Forefront” philosophy. Forefront, our education philosophy, provides a supportive and positive environment to make it happen. The forefront experience starts the day you walk in the door at KPFF and continues as a career-long effort to help us all advance and grow together. Engineers at all levels bring something to the table and can be resources to their colleagues. Putting together a training series or revamping one from previous years is no easy task. Trainers met weekly for several months to create outlines, models, reference guides, practice examples, and PowerPoint slides; and then performed dry runs of the material before the first training session. Although our office was busy overall, the level of effort and attention to detail in this training was unparalleled. At the beginning of this calendar year, when discussing how to improve our intern training program, we met with the Team Leaders since they are the ones who train the Interns and assign the engineering tasks. We incorporated the feedback into our 2022 Intern Training Program, which features the following components: ENTRY LEVEL CRASH COURSES Entry Level Crash Courses are a new addition to the 2022 training schedule, intended for new engineers and interns coming right out of school. Ideally taken during the first week of employment or their internship, these practical trainings include elements of structural engineering design. The Interns and new hires are brought up to speed faster and can jump in on projects more confidentially. We intentionally recruited junior trainers for the Crash Courses – they are closer to the actual numbers, spreadsheets, etc., and can offer more recent lessons learned than some of the more… --- ### "I Was Made For This" - Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2022 - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/i-was-made-for-this-celebrating-international-women-in-engineering-day-2022/ - **Published:** 2022-06-23 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Mary Cuthbert, KPFF Los Angeles, talks about her journey as a woman in the engineering industry as we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. **Content:** “I Was Made For This” – Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2022 I was made for this. I don’t mean that I was born for this. Some people have this sense of destiny or fate, or they just really know what they want to do when they “grow up.” They just seem to know what they want to do (insert shrug here). Not so with me: it took me a while to figure “me” out – to make me. As I look back on that process of making me who I am now, the most impactful, life-changing moments were the most subtle. EDUCATION I grew up with little means but with well-resourced schools and teachers who recognized a kid with an insatiable appetite for learning. After school, my dad would take my sister and I to the library where we devoured as many books as we could get our hands on. I didn’t discriminate; I read Reader’s Digest, To Kill a Mockingbird, books on entomology, and the backs of cereal boxes. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn, the more possibilities there were. I remember filling out college applications thinking, “How am I supposed to choose just one thing to study?” Engineering seemed like the best way of taking what I enjoyed (math, physics, and art history) while allowing myself to be useful. I chose to study structural engineering. Engineering seemed like the best way of taking what I enjoyed (math, physics, and art history) while allowing myself to be useful. TRAINING At KPFF, I have been blessed with generous teachers and mentors. I learned not only the technical aspects of structural engineering, but also how to plan, how to deal with stressful situations, how to use conflict to reach resolution, how to dialog. This work often feels hard because it is hard. But I have been trained to do hard things, and I can face them with both courage and creativity – this is what I hope to pass on to others I am training. I choose to do hard things. LOVE It’s not what I was looking for when we met, but I cannot stress enough how important my partner has been to my career. I found a real partner in life, someone who celebrates my choices and supports my effort and ambition. Though I feel blessed, I don’t feel lucky. I don’t think of love as being discovered, fated, or completely up to chance. I think of love as a choice and a habit. I choose to love him, and I choose to love my work. MOTHERHOOD I appreciate my parents much more now that I have children of my own – my parents had almost sainted levels of patience to have kept their cool as much as they did! Even so, I know my path to and through motherhood is more comfortable than my mother’s was and her mother’s was before her. My mother didn’t have a choice but to work, and… --- ### Renovation and Retrofit of 100 Stockton Street: Transforming an Introvert into an Extrovert - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/transforming-an-introvert-into-an-extrovert/ - **Published:** 2022-05-06 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Standing seven stories tall, with a Brutalist aesthetic and an aging facade, 100 Stockton in San Francisco (or Macy’s Mens) was originally designed for a single retail tenant in the... **Content:** Standing seven stories tall, with a Brutalist aesthetic and an aging facade, 100 Stockton in San Francisco (or Macy’s Mens) was originally designed for a single retail tenant in the early 1970s in a time when solid walls were acceptable and natural light was sometimes an afterthought. Rather than tear down this historic structure the developers tasked the design team with transforming this introverted, dated building into an extroverted, light-filled jewelbox. The overall project vision is to reshape 100 Stockton into a mix of retail and office space as well as add a rooftop restaurant and a wrapped outdoor terrace at the third floor. The engineering systems play a large role in this vision, so Lead Architect, Gensler collaborated with KPFF to explore options for both the site and building civil engineering and the complex structural systems required to give this Union Square icon a new life.  The work not only changed the building’s appearance and functionality but elevated the skills and confidence of several budding engineers.  Our structural team rapidly assessed over forty possible schemes, including interior cores and exoskeletons of various configurations. Creating this rapid response team during conceptual design encouraged creative solutions and ensured that the path taken throughout design was one that delivered a renovation and retrofit consistent with the developer’s expectations. Associate and Structural Engineer Nick Miley shared “working on 100 Stockton was a whirlwind at first. Our team had to respond to new tenant layouts and client feedback while evaluating a complex tangle of structural constraints. I was one of four engineers tackling the analysis challenge. We learned to work collaboratively and build on each other’s ideas – no idea was too crazy to be considered. This process taught me how to think about design options with the client’s objectives in mind and the importance of letting go of my preferred option in favor of new ideas that benefit everyone. Working on this project from design through construction has been a challenging but extremely rewarding experience that has shaped the trajectory of my career.” KPFF Civil Engineers modernized the stormwater management and added a new rainwater reuse system, to help achieve LEED platinum certification. Replacing the sidewalks renews the relationship of bustling pedestrian traffic and store entrances while complying with ADA standards. In addition, they negotiated systems design with new infrastructure for the Muni underground light rail extension adjacent to the basement level. “Being located close to our client and design team members allowed us to interact quickly and easily. Whether it was reacting to unforeseen conditions or coordinating with a massive and on-going public infrastructure project, we were able to develop solutions in a timely manner to keep the design and construction process moving. The time spent together early has built a level of trust and understanding that has grown throughout the project.” Ryan Beaton, PE,  Associate, Civil Engineer During Construction (sky due to 2019 fires) To increase seismic resiliency, add and enlarge windows, and create more open floorplates – multiple, complimentary structural… --- ### Design Matters Event Series - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/design-matters-event-series/ - **Published:** 2022-05-04 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Design Matters is KPFF Portland's event series on equity in the built environment. Engaging engineers and AEC professionals with their community. **Content:** Our Portland Civil office put together an event series, “Design Matters,” to deepen understanding of equity in designing the built environment. The goal was to learn meaningful engagement as AEC professionals and community members in the rapidly changing landscape in Portland. In an effort to look at equity in their firm, their practices, and their projects, this event was created to acknowledge the intersection of our expertise in civil engineering with that of planners, artists, community leaders, and citizens who also contribute to and live within the environments we design. This included events with local equity-focused organizations (e.g., Multicultural Collaborative, Design + Culture Lab), and within various local communities. --- ### Highlights of the New ASCE Structural Design \for Physical Security - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/highlights-of-the-new-asce-structural-design-for-physical-security/ - **Published:** 2022-05-04 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Sharon Gallant of KPFF highlights the new ASCE Structural Design for Physical Security standard. Key updates for protective design engineers. **Content:** The first update since 1999, Protective Design Managing Principal Sharon Gallant acted as an editor in collaboration with the Task Committee on Structural Design for Physical Security of the Blast, Shock, and Impact Committee of the Dynamic Effects Technical Administration Committee of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE. Structural Design for Physical Security, MOP 142, provides an overview of the typical design considerations encountered in new construction and renovation of facilities for physical security. The constant change in threat tactics and types has led to the need for physical security designs that account for these new considerations and anticipate the environment of the future, with flexibility and adaptability being priorities. This Manual of Practice serves as a replacement for the 1999 technical report Structural Design for Physical Security: State of the Practice and is intended to provide a roadmap for designers and engineers involved in physical security. It contains references to other books, standards, and research. Topics include: Threat determination and available assessment and criteria documents, Methods by which structural loadings are derived for the determined threats, Function and selection of structural systems, Design of structural components, Function and selection of window and façade components, Specific considerations for retrofitting structures, Testing methodologies, and Bridge security. This book is a valuable resource to structural engineers and design professionals involved with projects that have physical security concerns related to explosive, ballistic, forced entry, and hostile vehicle threats. Learn more about our Protective Design Group. --- ### Creating a Safe Space to Develop\
Future Diverse Leaders - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/creating-a-safe-space-to-develop-future-diverse-leaders/ - **Published:** 2022-04-06 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** How the AEC industry can expand leadership capacity within firms. A KPFF perspective on developing diverse engineering leadership at every career stage. **Content:** As our industry looks for ways to change its landscape to create opportunity for all, we also need to expand the capacity of individuals to perform in leadership roles within organizations.  While efforts to recruit from and build AEC awareness within our underrepresented communities are of critical importance, we cannot lose sight of the diverse and talented people working alongside us every day. Action is required to make sure they are supported, sponsored and included in an authentic, meaningful way. In the words of 2021 Participant Matthew Trotter, “Leaders aren’t born. They are taught, they’re made, they’re created, they’re cultured.” With that in mind KPFF led the creation of a new Leadership Development Program in collaboration with the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization for Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA). The initial cohort of twelve influential professionals from architecture, engineering, and construction came together to build their skillsets, forge important relationships, and make meaningful connections with leaders in our local industry.  The inaugural program included a series of carefully programmed meetings around topics like Emotional Intelligence, Project and Practice Management, Client Development, Crucial Conversations and Strengths Finders. A variety of guest speakers and active participants from local and national firms including WRNS Studio, Partner Energy, Focus on Leaders, Elise Boggs Consulting, Crucial Learning (formerly Vital Smarts), ZGF, Cameron McAllister, 4RM+ULA, A3K Consulting, STOK, Eskew Dumez Ripple, CO Architects and Moody Nolan.  Ample time was reserved for dialog around shared experiences, creating an environment of understanding and respect. Openness and vulnerability came naturally, as exhibited by Janiece Williams, 2021 Participant – “I felt like I could be myself, like I could be transparent, like I could be emotional if I needed to. It’s almost like therapy for your career. It was exactly what I felt like I was missing.” Leadership is learned primarily by doing, with reinforcement and training that this program offers. Activating underrepresented voices equips managers and teams to explore the impact on perspectives, assumptions, and approaches, and identify ways to enhance the contribution of all. “When you learn from people different than you, you start to grow in a different pattern or direction than you would have expected.” – Rachel Bascombe, 2021 Participant This is just the beginning of a sustained effort to helping underrepresented talent thrive in our industry and hopefully ignite this type of program nationally. “This is really one step in a big puzzle of things we are all trying to address.” – Lance Collins, 2021 SoCal NOMA President Learn more about this program in this informative video. --- ### KPFF is a Signatory of SE 2050 - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/kpff-is-a-signatory-of-se-2050/ - **Published:** 2022-03-17 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF has signed the SE 2050 Commitment, pledging net-zero embodied carbon in structural engineering practice by 2050. **Content:** After years of the AEC industry working towards eliminating the operation carbon of buildings, the focus has started to shift to reducing embodied carbon associated with the building materials. As the carbon emissions related to structural materials can amount to up to 80% of a building’s total embodied carbon footprint, structural engineers will have a large role to play in making these reductions. KPFF was a signatory of the Carbon Leadership Forum’s 2018 Structural Engineers 2050 Challenge and are now a signatory of Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Structural Engineers 2050 (SE 2050) Commitment Program which states that: “All structural engineers shall understand, reduce and ultimately eliminated embodied carbon in their projects by 2050.” The goal of SE 2050 is ambitious, and SEI recognizes “the needs for coordinated action across our profession to achieve the globally stated goal of net zero carbon by 2050.”  The program is challenging structural engineers to educate themselves, our clients and the public in embodied carbon in building materials and drive the momentum to have new technology developed to help us reach our 2050 net zero goal. We, at KPFF, are dedicated to being a part of the solution. As citizens of this planet, many of us are doing our best to reduce our personal carbon footprint to help combat climate change, and as practicing structural engineers, reducing embodied carbon in our designs is one of the biggest impacts we can make. The KPFF Embodied Carbon Action Plan is central to our commitment to SE 2050 and to the path to net zero embodied carbon structures. View in its entirety below. KPFF Embodied Carbon Action Plan --- ### Pedestrian Bridge Installation at California \
State University, Los Angeles - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/pedestrian-bridge-installation-at-california-state-university-los-angeles-news-kpff/ - **Published:** 2021-03-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** Pedestrian bridge installation for Cal State LA Student Housing East, expanding capacity by 1,500 students. KPFF structural engineering on the install. **Content:** Pedestrian Bridge Installation at California State University, Los Angeles The California State University Los Angeles Student Housing East (CSULA SHE) will be a new student housing facility, expanding housing facilities to accommodate approximately 1,500 additional students on campus. This transformative complex will offer traditional double and triple residence units for freshman and sophomore housing. The roughly 1,500 bed residence will include many amenities and gathering spaces such as: a fitness center, lounges, wellness room, laundry facilities, advanced vending machines, a kitchen, collaborative and independent study rooms, administrative spaces, and community and multi-purpose rooms. The project will also feature a new dining facility of approximately 20,000 square feet that will incorporate both a new and existing student housing dining program. Additionally, this construction effort will include some enhancements on the site that will improve circulation between these dorms and the campus core. The most exciting element is a new 112 foot long pedestrian bridge and 80 foot tall stair/elevator tower to provide quick and easy access for students traveling to and from the housing complex, especially those with disabilities, as the site of the new center is significantly lower in elevation than the main campus. While we look forward to the opening of this impactful project, the CSULA SHE building is still under construction. As of writing, the enclosure is fully complete except for some windows strategically left open for ease of construction. The elevator cores are nearing completion, and all floors have their basic structures built out. The interiors are being painted as quickly as the framers are finishing interior partitions. Other finishes, such as carpets, tiles and doors, are also being installed signaling the final stages before completion. --- ### Caltech Bechtel Residence and Integrated Project Delivery - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/caltech-bechtel-residence-and-integrated-project-delivery-news-kpff/ - **Published:** 2020-12-07 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** 211-bed Bechtel Residence: Caltech's first new undergraduate housing in 20+ years. KPFF on integrated project delivery for the 2019 opening. **Content:** Caltech Bechtel Residence and Integrated Project Delivery True Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) construction projects are rare and require an exceptional team to deliver the rigorous demands of a collaborative team that utilizes lean methodology to maximize operational efficiencies while working under a multi-party risk/reward contract. It takes an extraordinary building to inspire such a team, led by efforts from the Caltech ownership team, to create a new typology of on-campus living. The 211-bed Bechtel Residence, named after life trustee Stephen D. Bechtel Jr., kicked off in 2016 and was officially opened September 17, 2019, as the first new undergraduate housing facility to open on campus in over 20 years. Caltech approached the program with the goal to provide housing for all of their undergraduate students on campus for the duration of their studies. This multi-use residence houses undergraduates from all class levels along with two faculty in residence, a half-dozen graduate resident associates, and a residential life coordinator. This new construction frees up off campus space for graduate student housing, enhancing student life both on and off campus. Photo by Bruce Damonte The IPD delivery included a Tri-Party agreement between Caltech and our construction and design partners MATT Construction and ZGF Architects. KPFF was part of the Risk/Reward Team under the architect’s prime IPD agreement and participated in the Incentive Compensation Layer (ICL) of the contract.  The design and construction team depended on trust and financial transparency of each team member as individual profit for each team member depended on the overall performance by the team to meet the Final Target Cost at the construction completion of the project. This agreement kept the team focus on clear communication and collective problem solving in a supportive environment to achieve the required milestones. The design of the new residence encourages and enhances the collaboration and communal housing culture already on campus, while simultaneously offering residents new types of dormitory spaces intended for maximizing the collective experience. The six distinct buildings that make up the compound are all three-story structures surrounding a protected courtyard that acts as an outdoor living room. Influence by the landscape of the Pasadena area, the 105,000 SF buildings work seamlessly together to respond to site conditions, bring variability and visual interest from any vantage point. Student bedrooms are organized into suites of four to 12 with shared facilities such as restrooms and living spaces. Like many luxury multifamily complexes built today, there are a variety of amenity and community spaces including kitchens, lounges, conference rooms and study areas of different sizes. A beautifully appointed dining facility provides a sense of community, and an anchor for the residences. Photo by Bruce Damonte Photo by Bruce Damonte This LEED Platinum® building has been designed to achieve net-zero energy, utilizing sophisticated and cutting-edge sustainability solutions that were seamlessly integrated into the design. The building is fully powered by a series of hidden rooftop photovoltaic panels. By maximizing clever systems, such as siting of buildings, an open courtyard, material choices and thermal… --- ### Boise State University Micron Center for Materials Research - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/boise-state-university-micron-center-for-materials-research-2/ - **Published:** 2020-09-30 - **Modified:** 2026-05-05 - **Author:** kristen **Summary:** How do you take a nationally recognized material science department and turn it into a world class research institute? **Content:** Boise State University Micron Center for Materials Research How do you take a nationally recognized material science department and turn it into a world class research institute? This is the question that Boise State University found itself trying to answer.  The solution they came up with took a line right out of the movie, Field of Dreams: “Build it and they will come.” Boise State University set out to build a world-class research and educational facility for its Material Science Department that would attract the best and brightest researchers and students in the field. How? To attract top talent, there were 2 main goals for the new building: Create a world-class lab facility capable of supporting high-end research and hosting some of the most precise and sensitive equipment in the world (like high-powered electron microscopes). Create a beautiful, inviting, and functional space with faculty offices, a lecture hall, and classrooms.  To attract and retain the best and brightest, a space was needed that they would enjoy working in. Who? Hummel Architects partnered with Anderson Mason Dale Architects to lead the design and Hoffman to lead the construction.  Hoffman was brought on early in design as the construction manager, enabling collaboration between the construction and design teams as the design was being developed. KPFF joined the team as the structural subconsultant to enable the architect and contractor to create this vision. What? World Class Lab In order to allow the type of research done by the best and brightest in the field of material science, the new lab building needed to support some of the most precise and sensitive research equipment in the world. This is no easy feat!  When looking through a microscope at something as small as an atom, even the slightest vibration in the building will blur the image.  Vibration was the biggest issue we needed to deal with for the lab portion of the design. While we certainly had experience with vibration design in our Boise office, we had not done a vibration design to this level.  Fortunately, KPFF has many resources, and an industry leader on vibration in structures, Dr. Andy Taylor PhD, SE, FACI, is an Associate in KPFF’s Seattle office.  (Andy is so passionate about building vibration that his favorite hobby outside of work is to roam around Seattle with an accelerometer measuring the vibration of different buildings… or so the legend goes.) One of my favorite things about working at KPFF is that everyone across the company is willing to help each other out.  This allows us to leverage the huge amount of technical expertise across our 1,200-person company to solve challenges that a company with a smaller bench would struggle with. Dr. Joel Parks performed the vibration design for our Boise office and collaborated closely with Andy Taylor. At the elevated floors in the lab building, the primary concern that drove vibrations was footfall.  We ended up using a 15” thick mildly reinforced 2-way concrete slab floor system to provide the mass… --- ## Pages ### Engineering Opportunities for All - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/engineering-opportunities-for-all/ - **Published:** 2025-03-27 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF embeds justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into engineering hiring, mentorship, and leadership across every office and project sector. --- ### California Consumer Privacy Act Request Form - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/ccpa-request-form/ - **Published:** 2022-06-03 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** California residents can submit CCPA requests to access, delete, or manage personal information collected by KPFF through this form. --- ### Purpose, Vision + Values - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/purpose-vision-values/ - **Published:** 2022-02-24 - **Modified:** 2026-06-17 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF's purpose is to engineer opportunities. Our vision and values shape every project, hire, and community engagement across the office network. --- ### Projects + Services - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/projects-services/ - **Published:** 2022-02-22 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Service depth across structural, civil, surveying, and protective design. 40 years of multi-discipline integration on AEC projects at every scale. --- ### Advancing Our Professions - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/advancing-our-professionals/ - **Published:** 2022-02-21 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF advances engineers through technical mentorship, licensure support, conference funding, and internal academic programs at every career stage. --- ### Locations - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/locations/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** 1,500 engineers across 36 KPFF offices coordinate structural, civil, and survey scope for clients nationwide. Find your closest KPFF office. --- ### Benefits - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/benefits/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Health, retirement, family leave, professional licensure dues, and time off for KPFF engineers across 36 offices nationwide. --- ### Differentiators - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/differentiators/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Flat structure, project-led mentorship, multi-discipline integration, and 65 years of practice depth set KPFF apart from peer engineering firms. --- ### Forefront Education Program - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/forefront-education-program/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF's Forefront program supports licensure, technical depth, and career growth for early and mid-career engineers through internal continuing education. --- ### Sustainability + Environmental Responsibility - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/sustainability/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF is an SE 2050 signatory committed to net-zero embodied carbon. Sustainable structural and civil design integrated across every office. **Content:** Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32. --- ### Helping our Communities - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/communities/ - **Published:** 2022-02-18 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF engineers donate time and pro bono design through volunteer programs supporting local communities at each of the firm's office locations. --- ### News - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/news/ - **Published:** 2022-02-17 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Project milestones, technical articles, industry leadership, and team news from KPFF's structural, civil, and surveying practices nationwide. --- ### Everyone - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/everyone/ - **Published:** 2022-02-15 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Every engineer leading structural, civil, and surveying scope across 25 KPFF offices. Full roster with credentials and project work by team member. --- ### Principals + Associates - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/principals-associates/ - **Published:** 2022-02-14 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Senior PE and SE leadership directing structural, civil, and surveying scope across KPFF projects, sectors, and offices nationwide. --- ### Our People - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/our-people/ - **Published:** 2022-02-14 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Licensed structural, civil, and survey engineers leading KPFF projects nationwide. Principals, associates, and specialists with sector-specific depth. --- ### Culture + Careers - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/culture-and-careers/ - **Published:** 2022-02-11 - **Modified:** 2026-06-16 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Engineers at KPFF work landmark structural and civil projects across 36 US offices. PE and SE pathways, mentorship, and licensure support included. --- ### Do Not Sell My Info - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/do-not-sell-my-info/ - **Published:** 2022-02-09 - **Modified:** 2022-02-09 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi... **Content:** Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. --- ### EEO Policy - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/eeo-policy/ - **Published:** 2022-02-09 - **Modified:** 2023-08-23 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** KPFF is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and maintaining an inclusive culture. **Content:** KPFF is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and maintaining an inclusive culture. KPFF participates in the e-Verify program to determine the eligibility of our employees to work in the United States. KPFF will provide a reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in the job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/or interview process, please contact us. To view our affirmative action policies, click here. --- ### Style - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/style/ - **Published:** 2021-12-23 - **Modified:** 2021-12-23 - **Author:** Parath Chadha --- ### Home - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/ - **Published:** 2021-12-22 - **Modified:** 2026-06-15 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Structural, civil, and survey engineering for commercial, transportation, energy, and federal sectors. 25 KPFF offices, PE/SE led nationwide. [Fields: Search Short Description: KPFF \\\| Structural, Civil & Survey Engineering Firm...] --- ### Privacy Policy - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/privacy-policy/ - **Published:** 2021-12-22 - **Modified:** 2026-06-17 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** How KPFF collects, uses, and protects personal information for clients, candidates, and California consumer privacy compliance. **Content:** California Online Privacy Policy KPFF, Inc. (the “Company”) has developed this Privacy Policy out of respect for the privacy of our customers and visitors to our Website. This policy describes the personal information we collect, use, and disclose about individual consumers and website visitors who are California residents. This policy applies only to California residents who are natural persons; it does not apply to any entities (whether business, non-profit or governmental) or to any person who is not a California resident. Whenever you visit our website, we will collect some information from you automatically simply by you visiting and navigating through this site, and some voluntarily when you submit information using a form on the website, request information, or use any of the other interactive portions of our Web site. Through this website, we will collect information that can identify you and/or your activity. And whenever you communicate, interact or do business with us, whether online or at any Company locations or stores, we will be collecting personal information from you or about you in the course of our interaction or dealings with you. KPFF, Inc. may collect the following categories of personal information about you based on your specific transactions and interactions with the Company or its website. For each category of information, we identify examples of the category, the business purposes for which we use the information in that category, the categories of sources from which the information is collected, and the categories of third parties with whom we have shared the information in the last 12 months. Category of Personal Information Personal Identifiers & Contact Information Examples Name, mailing address, email address, phone number Business Purpose(s) for Which Information is Used ·  Responding to inquiries through Website; and ·  Verifying and responding to consumer requests. Categories of Sources from Which Information Received Visitors of our Website Categories of Third Parties to Whom Info Was Disclosed in Last 12 Months We do not share this information with any third party, unless required to do so by law or government agency or for the purpose of defending or prosecuting legal claims.   Category of Personal Information Protected Classifications Examples Gender, age, language preference Business Purpose(s) for Which Information is Used ·  Improving the Website experience for all visitors; ·  Understanding the demographics of our Website visitors Categories of Sources from Which Information Received Visitors of our Website and the device and browser used to access the Website Categories of Third Parties to Whom Info Was Disclosed in Last 12 Months We do not share this information with any third party, unless required to do so by law or government agency or for the purpose of defending or prosecuting legal claims.   Category of Personal Information Geolocation Data Examples IP Address Business Purpose(s) for Which Information is Used ·  Improving the Website experience for all visitors; ·  Understanding the demographics of our Website visitors; ·  Detecting security incidents; ·  Debugging to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality of the… --- ### Terms - **URL:** https://www.kpff.com/terms/ - **Published:** 2021-12-22 - **Modified:** 2022-02-09 - **Author:** Parath Chadha **Summary:** Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi... **Content:** Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim… --- --- # Navigation - [Documentation Overview](https://www.kpff.com/llms.txt): Return to the main documentation index