15th Annual SEAOI Structures Symposium

SAVE THE DATE
September 16th, 2025 at The Franklin

The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois is delighted to offer with the 15th Annual Structures Symposium, which provides a forum for engineers to share analysis, design, and construction information from recent projects in Illinois and across the nation with unique and/or distinguishing characteristics. Attendance typically represents a diverse cross-section of all aspects of the profession, including design, construction management, material suppliers, academia, general contracting, and owners’ representatives.

Program

7:30 am - 8:00 am	Registration/ Breakfast/Visit exhibitors
8:00 am - 8:10 am	Welcome to the Symposium
8:10 am - 8:40 am	Pathway to Mass Timber Structures for Inpatient Healthcare John Rushing and Lily Rodriguez - SmithGroup
8:40 am - 9:10 am	Diagnosis and Repair of Thermal and Settlement Distress in a New Distribution Center Jeffrey Viano - SGH
9:10am - 9:30 am	Pin Oak Community Center Fernando Saz - The Structural Group
9:30 am - 9:45 am	Break - visit exhibitors
9:45 am - 10:15 am	Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 5 Expansion Mark Hendel - HOK
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Shedd Aquarium - Entry and Ticketing Pavilions Melissa Bayer - Thornton Tomasetti
10:45 am - 11:15 am	Shedd Aquarium - Entry Experience Renovations Michelle Ryland - K&H
11:15 am - 12:00 pm	Lunch - visit exhibitors
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION -- Al Spada on Artificial Intelligence Al Spada - UIUC Professor
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm	Introduction to Structural Stainless Steel Materials and Design Benjamin Baer - Sheffee Lullin & Associates, Inc.
1:30 - 2:00 pm	Condition Assessment and Evaluation of Historic Timber Buildings
	Timothy Fitzgerald, WJE
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm	Building Blocks Reimagined - The Bio Block Pavilion Benton Johnson - SOM
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm	Break - visit exhibitors
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm	New Highmark Stadium Structural Design Justin Barton - Walter P. Moore
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM	Designing the Unusual, Together: Three Case Studies with Special Steel Joists Gerald McKenzie - Vulcraft
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm	USACE Mobile District Headquarters Lukasz Bukowski - Wight & Company
4:15 pm - 4:45 pm	Engineering Knowledge by Design: Sharing Smarter for Better Project Outcomes Dan Schriks - Stantec
4:45 PM	Adjourn

Location

The Franklin
222 W Adams St
Chicago, IL 60606

Registration

Member: $425
Non-Member: $525 

NOTE: Registration closes September 8th!

Group Registration: Companies with 5+ attendees will receive $30 off each registration fee.

Sponsors/Exhibitors

Exhibitor Opportunities -- $1,000 - (5 AVAILABLE)

• Dedicated table outside event space
• One admission to event
• Recognition in the program and from the podium
• Access to participants during breakfast, lunch and breaks during the day

Each additional Exhibitor registration is $250

Sponsor Opportunities

Program Sponsor - $2,200 – 1 available

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Program Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• Dedicated back page of program given to all registrants
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• Two registrations to event

 Lunch Sponsor- $2,000 – SOLD OUT

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Lunch  Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Lunch
• Lunch served with cocktail napkins branded with sponsor's name/logo
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• Two registrations to the event

 Platinum - $1,500 – 4 available

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Platinum Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• Two minutes of speaking time during the program
• Two registrations to the event

A/V Sponsor- $1,000 - 1 available

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the A/V Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• 24” x 36“ Sponsor recognition poster at event entrance
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• One registration to event

Breakfast Sponsor- $1,000 - 1 available

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Breakfast Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Breakfast
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• One registration to event

Afternoon Break Sponsor- $1,000 – 1 available

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Afternoon Break Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Afternoon Break
• Dedicated Welcome Slide
• One registration to event

Gold - $1,000

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Gold Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• Sponsor logo and recognition as a Gold Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
• Two registrations to the event

Silver - $700

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Silver Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• Sponsor logo and recognition as a Silver Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
• One registration to the event

Bronze - $500

• Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Bronze Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
• Sponsor logo and recognition as a Bronze Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
• One registration to the event

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

Lunch Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS!

About the Speakers

Benton Johnson
Principal, Structural Engineer - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Benton Johnson brings new technologies and approaches to SOM’s work in structural engineering and sustainable design. Applying his expertise in research and industry partnerships, Benton has led SOM’s timber tower research project, a multiyear initiative involving full-scale structural, fire, and acoustic testing of mass-timber systems. He has also emerged as a leader in 3D-printed buildings through collaborations with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Building Blocks REimagined - The Bio Block Pavilion

Composed primarily of algae-based bio-concrete, the zero-carbon Blocks could significantly reduce global CO2 emissions as a 1-to-1 replacement for Concrete Masonry Units. Importantly, the installation was assembled using conventional masonry techniques and constructed by the International Masonry Institute and J&E Duff, further proving the viability of the material in construction.

Mark Hendel, PE
Engineering Practice Leader - HOK
Mark is the engineering practice leader for HOK’s New York studio where he has led structural design from concept through construction on a number of high-profile and award-winning projects.

Mark’s experience includes projects from interior fit-outs of existing buildings to large-scale multidisciplinary projects. As an expert in major modifications and additions to existing structures, his portfolio includes several airport terminal expansions across the U.S, including LaGuardia Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 5 Expansion

O’Hare International Airport’s first major expansion consists of a new two-story, 300,000 sq. ft. east concourse addition and a smaller expansion of the existing headhouse. This endeavor increased the terminal’s capacity by 25 percent and upgraded existing gate sizes. The 31-year-old facility will continue operating smoothly for decades to come without the large embodied carbon footprint associated with constructing an all-new facility.

Timothy Fitzgerald
Senior Associate - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates
Tim joined WJE in 2015 and his practice focuses on the evaluation, testing, repair, and strengthening of existing structures. Mr. Fitzgerald’s project work has encompassed a variety of contemporary and historic structural materials and systems, such as structural concrete, steel and historic ferritic metals, glass, composites, masonry, aluminum, and timber.

Condition Assessment and Evaluation of Historic Timber Buildings

Successfully assessing and evaluating timber structures requires a sound understanding of the fundamentals of wood as a structural material as well as how contemporary design methodologies can be applied to existing timber structures. This presentation will provide a practical overview for assessing and evaluating existing timber structures.

Gerald McKenzie, SE, PE
Design Engineer - Vulcraft
Gerald McKenzie, SE (UT), PE (ME, DE, TN) is a Design Engineer in Vulcraft's Indiana division. He has 20 years of experience as a specifying engineer of record, with 13 years as part owner in a consulting engineering firm in the Salt Lake City area. He also has five years of project management experience for a commercial construction company.

Designing the Unusual, Together: Three Case Studies with Special Steel Joists

Steel joists are often viewed as standard components, but can grow to fit long spans and unusual geometry. This presentation will explore three real-world structures in where custom steel joist solutions emerged through close collaboration between engineers, fabricators, and contractors. Each case underscores how proactive communication between structural engineers and joist specialists can unlock new design possibilities.

Jeffrey Viano
Senior Project Manager - SGH
Jeffrey D. Viano has experience providing structural engineering consulting services across a wide range of investigation, rehabilitation, and design projects. Jeffrey possesses a keen understanding of the behavior of various construction materials, including concrete, steel, post-tensioned and prestressed concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed steel.

Diagnosis and Repair of Thermal and Settlement Distress in a New Distribution Center

Steel joists are often viewed as standard components, but can grow to fit long spans and unusual geometry. This presentation will explore three real-world structures in where custom steel joist solutions emerged through close collaboration between engineers, fabricators, and contractors. Each case underscores how proactive communication between structural engineers and joist specialists can unlock new design possibilities.

Dan Schriks
Structural Group Manager - Stantec
Dan Schriks is the Structural Group Manager for Stantec’s Midwest Business Center, leading teams across Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio. He has extensive experience delivering large highway bridge projects—from scoping and project management to the design of complex bridge elements. Dan is proficient in a variety of structural analysis tools and well-versed in phase III construction support. He recently completed graduate studies at Northwestern University in leadership and organizational design.

Engineering Knowledge by Design: Sharing Smarter for Better Project Outcomes

Discover how smarter knowledge sharing can lead to better technical outcomes, stronger teams, and more resilient project delivery. This session will explore the science behind how engineers learn and collaborate—covering remote work, trust, tacit vs. explicit knowledge, and practical management strategies. Walk away with actionable tools to foster a culture of knowledge exchange that elevates both your projects and your people.

Benjamin Baer, PE, SE
Structural Department Manager - Sheffee Lulkin & Associates, Inc.
Benjamin Baer provides structural engineering services for the design of miscellaneous building and non-building structures. He is a consultant to contractors and subcontractors with specialties that include structural and miscellaneous steel, cold-formed steel, HVAC and refrigeration, masonry, and demolition of buildings and bridges. Ben is a member of the AISC Committee on Structural Stainless Steel (COSSS), Vice-Chair of the COSSS subcommittee on the Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel.

Introduction to Structural Stainless Steel: Materials and Design

Stainless steel is becoming a more popular choice for its structural performance with little to no maintenance. This presentation will introduce the AISC documents for design and fabrication of structural steel components.

John Rushing 
Associate; Structural Engineer - SmithGroup
John Rushing, SE, RA is an Associate and structural engineer in the Chicago office of SmithGroup with more than 30 years of experience in structural design for health, science and technology, government, and other building types, utilizing a variety of structural systems and materials. He holds a B.S in Architectural Studies and a Master of Architecture degree, both from the University of Illinois. He is licensed as both a Structural Engineer and Architect in Illinois.

Pathway to Mass Timber Structures for Inpatient Healthcare

This presentation explores the planning and regulatory challenges of mass timber structural systems in healthcare environments, discusses the benefits to occupants of biophilic design, provides engineering pathways for future similar projects, and the potential use of mass timber structural systems in similar project types, such as laboratories and higher education facilities.

Fernando Saz, PE, SE
Senior Project Manager - The Structural Group
Bio coming soon

Pin Oak Community Center

The main prayer hall is typically the focus of a mosque. Even more so for this mosque as the entire prayer hall is under the large dome.

The project had been under construction prior to The Structural Group's (TSG) involvement, with foundations, basement, precast walls and double tee main floor structure erected before it was placed on hold for a few years. A new design team was brought in with TSG to revise the dome.

Lukasz Bukowski, PE, SE
Senior Structural Project Engineer - Wight & Company
Bio coming soon

USACE Mobile District Headquarters 

The new District Headquarters for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will replace an ageing facility in downtown Mobile, AL. Located on the site of the Mobile Civic Center, the 6-story, 199,000sf office building is part of a re-development that includes retail and residential to create a mixed-use destination.

Justin Barton, PE, SE
Principal, Senior Project Manager - Walter P Moore
Justin Barton is a principal and senior project manager at Walter P Moore. He was the Sr. PM on the New Highmark Stadium. Justin is a University of Illinois graduate and leads the Walter P Moore Sports Community of Practice.

New Highmark Stadium for Buffalo Bills Structural Design

New Highmark Stadium will open in for the 2026 football season and serve as the new home of the Buffalo Bills. The open-air stadium in the snow belt had a myriad of structural challenges and solutions that will be discussed during the presentation.

Melissa Bayer, PE
Thornton Tomasetti
Bio coming soon

Shedd Aquarium - Entry and Ticketing Pavilions

The Shedd Aquarium Entry and Ticketing Pavilions are designed to elevate visitor experience, create a sense of arrival and enhance operational efficiency. Encompassing eye-catching trellises that encircle the iconic ""Man with Fish"" sculpture, these pavilions are part of the aquarium’s Experience Evolution, a renovation aimed at transforming Shedd Aquarium ahead of its centennial year in 2030 and preparing the building for the next 100 years of service.

Michelle Ryland, SE, RA
Senior Associate II - Klein & Hoffman
Michelle Ryland is a dual licensed structural engineer and architect with Klein and Hoffman and has over 14 years of experience in the adaptive reuse, restoration, and repair of Chicago’s vintage building stock. Michelle is currently President-Elect of SEAOI and a 2nd year director of NCSEA.

Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium Experience Evolution - Phase 2 showcases a remarkable structural engineering achievement, seamlessly integrating historic preservation with modern enhancements. Part of the Centennial Commitment, Phase 2 of the four-phased renovation redefines a visitor experience while maintaining the highest standards of animal care and structural integrity.