Stainless Steel Pipes and Fabric on “Pressure Springs”

We designed the cantilevered steel support structure for a future tensile fabric membrane at the Garrahy Parking Garage in Providence. Capco Erection is currently installing the stainless steel pipes for a future tensile fabric covering.

Glass Elevator Wins Silver Prism Award

We were structural engineers for the glass elevator and worked for Oasis to design this award winning elevator. Our team won the Silver Prism Award last week. Project located in Boston at Union Wharf and check out Oasis for more info…https://oasisspecialtyglass.com/oasis-glass-elevator_wins_2019_prism-award/

Here is our Revit model with some images…

We designed the glass, glass connections, steel and steel connections as well as wood and wood connections. Fun and challenging project!

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Erik to Present at “Steel School”

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Steel School: Practical Wisdom from 3 Industry Experts

3.0 SEAMASS-Certified PDHs

On October 9, SEAMass is hosting Steel School, an informative three-part seminar that will cover several aspects of designing with and working with steel.

Braced Frames, Moment Frames and Cantilevers
Presenter: Erik Nelson | Structures Workshop

• Lateral systems, axial thru forces, collector forces with amplification, and R factors
• Simple design advice on when axial forces are too high for beam web connections and when moment designation should be used
• Load paths on axial thru forces and moments on stiffener welds within the column web.
• Stiffeners and doubler plates within moment frames, a discussion
• Larges difference in connection review and design of cantilevers vs lateral moment connections– what to look out for

Walking Tour of Providence Hosted by Erik / SEARI

Tuesday May 21st, 2019 4:30-6:00

Come take a walking tour with us and learn about the development of the street and buildings on Westminster to learn about historic and modern building systems in this city. Erik of Structures Workshop will introduce the evolution of Providence’s streetscape, from late 19th century 5+/- story buildings (ie first building with elevator) to early “skyscrapers” (the first steel building in Providence) to later 20th century modern and post-modern buildings. We will determine which buildings are cast iron, which are concrete encased steel, and which are terra cotta facades We will see Art Deco next to Art Nuevo and discuss ides for the future of the city (Superman Building / Arcade / Etc) and walk by current transformations happening at the Old Projo and Kresge Buildings, as well as changes to Laptham / 270-290 Westminster and the Providence Library and many others. We start just east of the river and work west, first we will witness the early 20th century Federalist style makeover of Victorian Providence prior to touring downtown along Westminster. We will also see the height of the water elevation of historic flood events to remind us of the importance of the hurricane barrier.

Teach Forwards

If you decide to become an engineering educator, teach forward, not backward. This means, like our engineering history, our knowledge sharing should start from actively playing in the world and with materials - and then later asking how science and math contribute - not the other way around!

For example, I can lecture about the moment of inertia and provide the mathematical derivation or formula for stiffness. Or, I can hand the students strips of wood to play with and ask them "why is one stiffer and by how much and why?" The math should never be the start, it is the end (see "science is applied engineering" blog to understand how art and engineering are the beginnings, and science and math, the ends of design). Never teach backwards - unfortunately, that is how most do it (I am certainly guilty of this too sometimes, since it is actually much easier to teach backwards - but this is lazy and needs to stop).

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"Ethical Decisions in Engineering Practice" ASCE Conference in Orlando

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I will be presenting a session at this year’s ASCE conference in Orlando within “Ethical Decisions in Engineering Practice: How Will You Choose?”

My contribution is called “Humans, Trees, Ethics” Come join us! This talk will argue that all the main ethical traditions (Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, etc) should be strengthened by thinking beyond human interests but at the intersections of animals, plants, and the land.

Track: Business and Professional Practices  (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM) Thursday, April 25, 2019

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