Jeremiah O'Neill, P.E.

Seyedomid Sajedi and I are really looking forward to speaking about the #AI revolution in #structuralengineering and why it’s #revolutionary and not just #evolutionary and why it solves some of our big challenges now! CORE studio at Thornton Tomasetti

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21 lessons as we start our 9th year in business at H+O Structural Engineering 🚀 1. Good people aren't hard to find, your company is. 2. Growth is mostly removing constraints. 3. Don't mask disorganization by calling it collaborative. 4. Time spent does not equal value created. 5. Entitlement in the workplace starts with leadership 6. You can't pay someone to be better. 7. Being too busy is something you can control. 8. Open Book Financial Management is a super power. 9. Judgment and leverage > time 10. Curiosity is the gap between what you know and what you want to know. 11. Success is predictable. 12. Accountability is a differentiator. Most justify and deflect. 13. Content is the new oil. 14. Create an offer so good people feel stupid saying no. (Hormozi) 15. Make sales to get customers, not get customers to make sales. 16. Communication skills compound your value. 17. Hire A players. 18. Mission, vision and core values is where you start. 19. Predictable, sustainable and transferable raises enterprise value. 20. Be an objective thinker. 21. Change is required to stay relevant. What lesson would you share? 👇🏼 #engineering #architecture #leadership #realestate #construction

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Following the incredible shake table results at PEER, I headed out on the road conducting lunch and learn presentations (https://lnkd.in/gEvk5u_7) for design professionals. Since most of the attendees for these events were structural engineers, and I most certainly am not one, I was quite intimidated at doing these, telling the audience that at least they'd get a lunch out of the deal! It turned out that far and away the most common comment I got from engineers, who were all quite impressed with the video evidence I showed them, was whether or not we had and ICC report. I wasn't certain what was involved in getting such a report, so I called ICC up. A nice man from the International Code Council came to our Burbank, California offices and I showed him the video I'd shared during the lunch and learns and then I showed him the Safe-T-Proof fastening system. What he revealed next shocked me. Apparently, in the history of the code council, no company had ever sought to get an evaluation report, the one the engineers were asking for, on a product that utilizes adhesive-based fasteners to keep items in place during an earthquake. Nobody. Ever. It would take ICC some time, I was told, to even come up with a plan on how to test the efficacy and holding power of such a system. While I was eagerly anticipating the report, the first thing I had to do was wait. And then wait some more. And some more. And in the end, something called a "Plan of Evaluation" was created. It was quite complex. More on that plan next time...

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I came across this graphic recently that really struck me as being relevant for the construction industry.  Let me explain... I think that many architects think of the customer as the user of the building, but in commercial construction that may be an entirely different person than who is paying the bills to build the building or the folks making the decisions about what and when to build. I've also worked with many enclosure consultants who have a hard time recognizing that working for a GC is different than working for an Architect or Lawyer. Being a sub-consultant makes it even harder to know who the real customer is. The concept of being customer-centric is more than just a buzzword—it's about truly understanding WHO the customer is and HOW to convince them of your value. To make it easier, let's break it down into the four categories: 1️⃣ Users: Those directly utilizing the product/service. 2️⃣ Payers: Those funding the project. 3️⃣ Decision-makers: Those calling the shots. 4️⃣ Influencers: Those shaping decisions behind the scenes. Each of these 4 categories comes with distinct needs and expectations, demanding tailored approaches for effective engagement. Understanding this dynamic is not just advantageous—it's essential for success in selling products or services within the industry.  Even when the only thing you are selling is your idea. #customerengagement #marketanalysis #thecustomerisalwaysright 📸 image credit: Jeroen Kraaijenbrink ___________________ Join the journey towards innovation and excellence in architecture and construction! 💬 Let's spark meaningful conversations and collectively advance our understanding of building science and construction materials by engaging in the comments below. ♻ Reshare this post with your network and follow me for more insightful content. 

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Some great transformative ideas floated at the SEI - Structural Engineering Institute Towards Net Zero Conference this week. Among my favorite ideas for addressing #embodiedcarbon from the Construction and Deconstruction breakout I moderated with Erika Winters Downey: --SEI could develop a guide or standard for assessing the #reuse and #deconstruction potential for existing buildings. Structural engineers could use the guide to evaluate the opportunities and limitations for adaptive reuse (e.g. increased floor loading, lateral system constraints, etc.), and also catalog and label the salvageable structural components that could be extracted for reuse in a future deconstruction project. --Similarly, SEI could develop a guide/standard for evaluating and designing with #salvaged structural materials. Such a guide would reduce the perception of risk associated with material reuse and lead to code provisions addressing material reuse. --Finally, we proposed that a national salvaged material exchange with tracking mechanisms would go a long way towards improving the supply of salvaged structural materials and making structural engineers more comfortable with designing and specifying them.

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Everyone's looking for a little extra space at home, whether it's for storage, a home office, a functional workshop, or an in-law suite. Second stories, dormers, and attic finishing are three of the best approaches to adding space, but each has its own unique pros and cons. 🏠 Second Floor Additions: Ideal for increasing square footage without extending your home's footprint. This option is perfect for creating entirely new living spaces, like additional bedrooms or a primary suite. 🌟Dormers: Great for adding natural light and headroom to existing attic spaces, making them more livable without a full-scale addition. 🛠️Attic Conversions: Utilize existing space to create functional rooms. This is often the most cost-effective option, perfect for home offices or guest rooms. Each method offers different benefits depending on your needs and existing home structure. To dive deeper into the details and determine which option is best for your home, check out our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/e-f-hmef Transform your home with the right addition and enjoy the extra space you need! 🏡✨ #HomeImprovement #HomeAdditions #ExtraSpace #Remodeling #HomeUpgrade

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Last week's earthquake in New Jersey serves as a reminder that seismic activity can occur in unexpected places, not just in regions traditionally associated with earthquakes like California or Japan. Assessing the overall health and condition of your building, including its structural integrity, foundation stability, and the condition of non-structural elements such as walls, ceilings, and utilities can help minimize damage from natural disasters. Three buildings in Newark, New Jersey, have been deemed unsafe due to structural damage following the 4.8-magnitude earthquake, according to the Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé. READ MORE HERE: https://loom.ly/aCLp51g Call in the experts at TG Basile. We specialize in assessing the structural integrity of buildings and can identify weaknesses in the building's design or construction that may make it susceptible to damage during an earthquake and recommend appropriate retrofitting or reinforcement measures. Reach out today! https://loom.ly/pu1Dh-k #earthquakenj #structuralintegrity #buildingcodes #safe

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What is your favorite piece of engineering technology to use in your workflow? 🌟 In this week’s episode of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, hosts Rachel Holland, P.E., and Mathew Picardal, PE, SE, were joined by Santosh Vangala, P.E., Structural Engineer at AECOM, to talk about the transformative impact of programming in structural design, the importance of mastering engineering software early in one's career, and the future directions of the structural engineering industry. Tune in 🎧 https://bit.ly/TSECEp132Y #Engineer #Engineering #Software #StructuralEngineering

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A few months ago I was on the All Things Facades podcast with Adrian Lowenstein, P.E., MBA. We talked about some of the differences between European and North American fenestration. It was a good discussion but there are some things we didn’t get to and one of them has to do with the way companies go to market and the effects we see over and over. In the US and Canada fenestration companies are usually large vertically integrated system designers that manufacture their own systems and usually distribute through a dealer network. There are exceptions like storefront systems, stick curtainwall and vinyl windows but there has been lots of consolidation and even vinyl windows are going the way of mega manufacturers. Europe and most of the world is different. System designers are rarely fabricators, they design systems and either manufacture or distribute components like extrusions and hardware which the sell to fabricators. Different companies have different levels of training, certification and auditing. There is also drastic differences in the amount of job specific engineering involvement. This leads to real problems. Smaller fabricators can do awesome work, treat every window like it’s a piece of fine furniture and really put their hearts and souls into the product. However the craftsmanship and pride doesn’t replace experience and engineering. Selling into a foreign market with different requirements, tests, installation methods can turn a good job bad quickly. Structural loading and water resistance are two issues we see over and over on projects. For mid and high rise buildings you just can’t get a 65mm and now even 75mm windows to pass the structural requirements on most buildings over 90’ in height. The modern systems all have big thermal breaks, sometimes 1/3 of the frame is polyamide which is an awesome material but has physical limitations that need to be respected in the design process. Smaller companies don’t always have the wherewithal to evaluate the system and sometimes don’t have the experience to know it’s even an issue. Same goes for water penetration resistance, the standards, tests and expectations are way different in most European cities. So we have problem jobs and the client keeps paying the lab to test and fail, over and over. The fabricators send their best guys to try and develop a fix. Not easy or practical to do that on site, so it drags on and on. We started offering Diagnostic mockups at our new lab. Ship the window to the farm, if we can swing it we will help them by sending a truck to pick up. Then set them up off-site with no jobsite activity, no interruptions just work on figuring out the solution then we test as many times as required to verify the fix. We don’t charge normal per test rates for this, daily and weekly “rental” with a reasonable # of tests. It works. They usually get it figured out in a week. Www.bet-na.net https://lnkd.in/ePcBEe6V

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This is a brilliant diagram explaining the immense financial inpact of Design Freeze in factory built construction.

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#MassDOT is planning a $10 million upgrade to the West Hawley Road Bridge over the Deerfield River in Charlemont, MA. Engineers explained that the existing bridge has reached the end of its functional lifespan. In addition, it has numerous potholes, and its current design negatively impacts the flow of the Deerfield River. A new and improved Mass. 8A/West Hawley Road bridge is designed to be approximately 500 ft. in length and will be elevated higher than the current span to provide more space for water flow from the Deerfield River. The new span is also designed to be 10 in. wider, providing a total 34-ft.-wide roadway, including a sidewalk on the eastern side and a two-way, 5-ft.-wide bicycle lane and buffers will be constructed to separate cyclists from passing vehicles on the two 10-ft.-wide lanes. #transportation #highway #traffic #roadway #bridges #transit #aviation #rail #jobs #newengland #engineers #engineering #design #clients #projects

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Talk about pushing the envelope! After the Safe-T-Proof fastening system passed the initial testing intensity, we opted to turn things up a notch. Passing that first test was quite an accomplishment, as the structural engineer now had all the proof she needed to include the Safe-T-Proof system into the campus-wide earthquake fastening protocols she was creating; one for UC San Francisco and one for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. She was ready to pack up and head home. The team at the PEER shake table was not, however. One scientist told me, "There is nothing we can't break on this shake table." While I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, I had an idea. Things were about to get real intense. With an approval from the boss we set out to see just how strong the system was. At what point would it fail? For test two the shaking intensity was ramped up, to level four of the five settings the table had. Did the refrigerator move? Nope...not a bit. So, the folks at PEER ramped the testing up even more to level five, the one I lovingly call "The Armageddon Earthquake!" Forty-five seconds later, still no movement by the refrigerator. At this point the lead scientist from PEER said, "You guys need to notify the press." Mind you, during no time between the shake table tests did we ever re-apply or fix the fasteners in any way. The configuration remained exactly the same as in the first test and passed without significant movement on the unit despite ever-increasing intensity. But there was one more test to do. More on the final test next week...

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There was a skyscraper in NYC that was (unintentionally) designed to fail. Fortunately an engineering student caught it, and the design team pulled off a covert operation to fix it...while the building was occupied. Watch this video to see what happened...and learn how a construction business can also be... Designed to fail. #construction #constructionbusiness

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One of the huge benefits to working in the Construction Industry - failures/problems do get investigated, results can become a part of the culture under the "lessons learned" title. This example from Engineering News-Record: https://lnkd.in/gtdcaRqC #constructionindustry #failure #riskmanagement #marine #bridge #baltimore #engineeringnewsrecord #epcrecruiters

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In Episode 12 of 'Cheers with Engineers', I had the pleasure of interviewing Luke Nisley, P.E., S.E., a dedicated structural engineer and practice leader at American Structurepoint. Luke's passion for his work and development of team members is evident through our conversation. We discussed his favorite projects and invaluable advice for aspiring engineers. Give it a listen to gain insights for your engineering career! #structuralengineering #podcast #cheerswithengineers

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What exactly is the “Responsible-in-Charge'' responsible for? 🤔 In this week’s AEC Engineering and Technology Podcast, host Nick H., was joined by Bart Kemper, P.E., F.ASME, F.NSPE, DFE, Int.PE, Principal Engineer at Kemper Engineering Services, LLC, to explore the vital role of a “Responsible-in-Charge” in architecture, engineering, and construction projects. The conversation dives into key responsibilities and qualities of a “Responsible-in-Charge '' and how their role affects the success of engineering projects. Dive in 👉 https://bit.ly/AECTEp044Y #Leadership #Engineer #Engineering #ProjectManager #Responsibility

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We all need to embrace the Safe System Approach to ending roadway fatalities. Check out the interview with my HDR colleagues Beth Wemple and Olivia Polinsky about changing the way we think about road design to improve safety for all North American users. https://lnkd.in/excJjsAv #Transportation #VisionZero #RoadSafety

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We recently hosted the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), New York AI Innovation Symposium at The Spiral. The event brought together industry professionals to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in the design and construction of buildings and cities. The theme of “Exploring the Future of AI in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction Industry” discussed AI-driven productivity enhancements, the evolution of job roles, and AI’s potential to surmount longstanding industry challenges.   I was honored to be a part of the panel, where initial intimidation gave way to excitement as we faced our fears and realized the potential of this new technology. AI is already shaping the future of the construction industry and helping companies move forward. Turner is focused on integrating cutting-edge AI solutions into our everyday operations. The engaging discussions underscored the importance of collaboration in driving technological advancements and highlighted the collective effort required to harness AI’s full potential to build a more sustainable, efficient, and innovative future for urban development.   #TurnerConstruction #Panel #CTBUH #AI #BuildingTheFuture #Evolution Turner Construction Company Karan Girotra Robert Otani Charles Portelli, AIA RIBA CDT Chris Beck

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