9Th Annual YOUNG ENGINEER’S SYMPOSIUM

The Young Engineers Committee (YEC) of SEAOI is pleased to announce its Ninth Annual Young Engineers Symposium both live in-person and virtually! On January 29th, 2025, all young engineers are invited to attend or present at a symposium geared towards showcasing their work and experiences. This event will be composed of five brief presentations on a variety of topics.

6:00pm – Start of presentations

Program

Learning Objectives

Load Rating of an Arch Bridge with no Record Plans

• Necessary information required to perform a complete load rating of a concrete arch bridge.
• How to combine inspection data, analysis results, and engineering judgement into a load rating that is accurate yet conservative.
• Insight learned from developing a concise and repeatable analysis and load rating method.

Mass Timber Floor Vibration 101: Bridging Theory and Practice

• Understand the theory of mass timber floor vibration, including its impact on occupant comfort and structural performance.
• Identify key factors of mass timber floor typologies that influence vibration performance, such as panel material properties, connection types, floor layout geometries, and composite behavior.
• Learn how to perform vibration studies for mass timber floors, using both hand calculations and finite element software.

• Explore real-world case studies showcasing the utilization of innovative structural steel systems, revealing strategies to streamline construction processes, minimize costs, and accelerate project timelines.
• Gain insight into hybrid steel-timber structures, focusing on understanding of the system’s key design considerations and environmental impact.
• Examine the circular economy model of steel, highlighting steel reuse case studies and advancements in reducing steel’s carbon footprint.

• Learn techniques structural engineers use to obtain information about an existing building.
• Understand how to analyze existing building using EFM and 3D frame model.
• Have a basic understanding of the two-way plate slab system with drop panels and column capitals.

• Understand the importance and scope of fire design for structural engineers
• Explore the current code landscape for addressing fire in the structural design
• Identify new testing procedures and possible solutions for post installed rebar under fire conditions

Design and Retrofit Considerations for Mitigating Human-Induced Vibrations in Building Floors

• The current recommended vibration limits for different building space uses.
• The theory, appropriate use, and limitations of design guide simplified hand calculation and finite element models methods.
• The importance of physical testing when possible during retrofit projects due to the complexity of unknowns in existing structures.

Event Details

Location

Civic Opera Building

20 N Wacker Dr

15th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606

Registration
In Person:
Members - $25
Non-members - $35

Livestreaming:
Members - $15
Non-members - $25

If using the Livestreaming option, you must have a free Zoom account to access the event.

Additional Questions

All questions regarding this event should be directed to the YEC at yec@seaoi.org

About the Speakers

Jacob Behnke, P.E.
Collins Engineers
Jacob Behnke is a transportation engineer at Collins Engineers in Chicago, Illinois where he has worked for 5 years. Jacob grew up in Sacramento, California and moved to Chicago in 2016 where he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.Eng in Structural Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His experience includes developing bridge erection and demolition procedures, performing load ratings, and designing various bridge repairs.

John Stark
Thornton Tomasetti
John Stark, E.I. is a Structural Engineer at Thornton Tomasetti in Chicago designing a variety of low to high-rise buildings including apartments, offices, and entertainment venues. He has experience in steel, concrete, and wood structures with a focus and interest in tall buildings and mass timber. Before working in industry, he graduated from MIT with a Master of Structural Engineering where he completed a thesis on tall mass timber buildings, and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UIC. John is also passionate about sustainable design and serves as an active member of the SEAOI Sustainable Design Committee.

Hannah Valentine, PE
American Institute of Steel Construction
Hannah is a NY-licensed structural engineer and Program Manager at AISC with over eight years of industry experience. She leads the AISC Steel Smarts program, which connects emerging design professionals with steel resources and innovations, technical committees, and the steel community. Her design experience spans the sports, commercial, and education sectors. Notable projects include the Mercedes Benz Stadium, Hudson’s Detroit, and ASU Science & Technology Research Lab. Hannah received her bachelor’s and master’s in Architectural Engineering from Penn State. She currently co-chairs the SEAOSC Mentorship Committee and is a member of the SEAOSC WiSE and Sustainability Committees. She is also a past SEAoNY board member and Diversity Committee co-chair. 

Elena Poludnitcyna
Thornton Tomasetti
Elena Poludnitcyna is a Structural Engineer working in the Renewal department of Thornton Tomasetti. Her areas of focus as an engineer are adaptive reuse, building rehabilitation, and structural design. With over two years of structural engineering experience in the United States, Elena has worked on a wide range of projects in the Greater Chicago area and across the country. The main ones are Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Elena completed her undergraduate studies at Saint-Petersburg state University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Russia, and earned her master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, USA. Besides working as a Structural Engineer, Elena enjoys playing the piano, winter sports, backpacking, and cooking.

Laura Bobich
Hilti North America
Laura Bobich works as a Structural Field Engineer for Hilti North America. In this role, Laura works with structural engineers to inform them on the latest innovations in the industry including new Hilti products and new research on a variety of technical topics. She also works in the field to ensure proper use and installation of the specified Hilti products. Prior to joining Hilti in 2023, Laura worked as a structural engineer at Larson Engineering for over 5 years where she worked on a wide variety of projects including many different types of building and construction equipment. When she’s not working, Laura enjoys being a volunteer docent through the Chicago Architecture Center giving Architectural Boat Tours along the Chicago River.

Luke Traverso
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates
Since joining WJE in 2022, Luke Traverso has worked on a variety of projects including vibration analysis of healthcare and energy facilities, structural health monitoring and instrumentation of bridges and buildings, structural evaluation, load testing, and laboratory testing. He has conducted condition assessment surveys of historic buildings, museums, and bridges. He has interest in human-induced vibrations, vibrations of heavy machinery, data acquisition systems, acoustics, and structural analysis. Prior to joining WJE, Mr. Traverso completed his B.S. and M.S. at Case Western Reserve University and had internships in structural design, construction management, and bridge Inspection.