The 2008 Structural Engineers’ Buildings Conference & Expo was held on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 2-3, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta; with a one-day pre-conference seminar, "BIM Fundamentals: Taking it to the next level," held on Wed., Oct. 1. In total, 182 speakers and attendees learned much on a variety of current hot topics, including integrated design, wind engineering, building codes, building information modeling (BIM), and leadership. In addition, focus sessions offered granular discussions of technical topics including structural design of concrete, steel, wood, and masonry.

The conference
Attendees were energized by conference chairman Charlie Thornton, Ph.D., P.E., as he implored structural engineers to take on new leadership roles within the AEC industry. Stating that we need to "fundamentally change the way we deliver buildings," Thornton surmised that "BIM will push structural engineers into a leadership role on the design team." Additionally, integrated project delivery and the role of the structural engineer, including the new AIA documents, were discussed throughout the event.

Another topic of keen interest is research and development within the current building design and construction industry. Charles Pankow Foundation Executive Director Robert Tener, Ph.D., P.E., led a panel discussion to a standing-room-only crowd questioning the lack of demand for innovation within our profession. Panelist Paul Chinowsky, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Colorado, reported that the top employers of structural engineering graduates are business consulting firms and the banking industry.

With little interest in innovation and graduates flocking to other industries, the resounding message from many of the speakers was that structural engineers need to command a leadership role in the new era of project design and delivery.

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