Hosted by the College of Engineering and the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering

Abstract

The construction industry has been notoriously slow in adopting innovative ideas. What that really means is many opportunities exist for new engineering ideas and innovative construction techniques. As technology continues to evolve and the need for innovation in construction approaches a crisis level, there isn’t a better time to be an engineer.

Ron Klemencic has enjoyed a 40-year career at the leading edge of structural engineering and construction innovation. He will share highlights of what has been accomplished, what is new, and what he believes is next.

Biography

Ron Klemencic is Chairman and CEO of Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), an award-winning, 155-person structural and civil engineering firm founded in 1920 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. He has designed projects in 29 states and 25 countries, with some as large as 11.5 million square feet and as tall as 112 stories, including Rainier Square in Seattle; Aqua towers, 150 North Riverside, and the 1,200-foot-tall St. Regis in Chicago; and the 1,070-foot-tall Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. An industry innovator and preeminent high-rise structural engineer, Ron is sought by developers, architects and contractors worldwide for his creativity, “big picture” approach and ability to produce cost-effective and inventive designs.

As a director of the Charles Pankow Foundation and MKA Foundation, in addition to his work as a practicing structural engineer, Ron leads research and development that furthers the engineering profession. He has championed numerous innovations — from Performance-Based Seismic Design for high-rise buildings in the mid-1990s, to the development and successful application of the first-of-its-kind, nonproprietary SpeedCore structural system in the early 2000s, to recent advancements in Performance-Based Wind Design and Structural Fire Design.

Ron was named a Fellow by the American Concrete Institute (ACI), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI). He was also named Engineer of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington. Ron is a member of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a Distinguished Member of the ASCE.

Ron earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a member of the UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni. He received an honorary Doctorate of Engineering, the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award and the Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award from Purdue University.