Trumbull Project Executive John Nemmer recently rappelled down 22 stories as part of Over the Edge, an event that raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Western PA & WV Chapter. The Society offered John a spot as a “thank you” for providing a special project tour for a 3-year-old leukemia patient back in August. Although John has rappelled before, this event was different — something tells us he’ll go back Over the Edge in 2019!  (Photos provided by PJ Dick, Trumbull and Lindy Paving)

Civil Engineering Professor Kent Harries Named ASCE Fellow

PITTSBURGH (Oct. 18, 2019) — Kent Harries, PhD, FASCE, FACI, P.Eng., associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) this month. The Fellow status, FASCE, signifies members of the organization who have made celebrated contributions to the field and developed creative solutions that have enhanced lives. Fellows make up just three percent of ASCE’s members.

The election recognizes Harries’ work on international standards-writing committees and on the use of nonconventional materials, like carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymers, for structural repair, the structural application of full-culm bamboo, and his design-oriented teaching that teaches students to use both conventional and nonconventional materials.

Harries’ research interests also include the seismic design and retrofit of building structures, the design and behavior of high-rise structures, applications of full-scale structural testing and the history and philosophy of science and technology. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD in civil engineering – structures from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Harries currently serves as a vice-president of IIFC, Senior Editor of Journal of Construction and Building Materials, chair of ACI Committee 440F (Repair of Concrete with FRP) and on numerous other U.S. and international codes and standards development committees including ASCE FCAPS. Harries is presently leading the effort to revise ISO 22156 Bamboo Structural Design. A Fellow of both ACI and IIFC, Harries is a professional engineer in Ontario, Canada, and was Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Bath (UK) in 2018.

As summer comes to an end, ESWP hosted their 4th Annual YMF Summer Social at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on September 6, 2019.

This end of summer event was co-hosted by seven different professional organizations: ASCE, ASHE, Engineers Without Borders, PSPE, Tau Beta Pi, SAME, and WTS Pittsburgh Chapters. At this event, 75 young professionals met to network and learn about the various technical societies in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. At the event, ESWP did a 50/50 raffle to benefit Bridges to Prosperity. Bridges to Prosperity work with isolated communities to create access to essential health care, education and economic opportunities by building footbridges over impassable rivers. We also offered door prizes to each person that attended. The door prizes were provided by each of the participating organizations.

We are proud and excited to bring together a community of young professionals to network and look forward to continuing this effort. We hope to see you at ESWP’s next event visit, https://eswp.com/events/.

Congratulations to Cameron Bunner, on being selected as the recipient of the ESWP 2019-2020 Members Scholarship valued at $2,500.00.

Cameron is a 2019 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, where he graduated #1 in his class. Cameron now attends the Penn State University in State College, PA, where he majors in Biomedical Engineering, Cameron is the son of ESWP Member Mathew Bunner. Congratulations Cameron!

WQED’s pilot summer camp of Design Lives Here (DLH) kicked off on August 1, 2019 with the support of ESWP.

WQED partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Western PA and South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) on the pilot program. With materials provided by WQED both groups earlier completed DLH Challenges prior to coming together for a day of engineering challenges in the WQED studios. Design Lives Here activities are inspired by the popular PBS KIDS program and website, Design Squad Nation.  For more information on Design Lives Here, visit https://www.wqed.org/education/designliveshere. Photos provided by WQED Edu.

The ESWP Annual Golf Outing returned to Treesdale Golf & Country Club, in Gibsonia, PA on Monday, July 22, 2019….

It turned out to be a great day for the 71 players. Despite the rain prior to and during the first hour of golf, the weather was cooperative and the sun came out at the end of the outing. Players enjoyed great golf, food and fellowship, all benefiting ESWP’s Student Outreach Activities. Following dinner, Event Chair Wayne Johnson distributed the team and skill prizes. Thanks to all of our sponsors and raffle prized donors for helping to make the event a big success! Photos from the event (coming soon) and all the winners are here. We hope to see you at our next event!

Sad Member News…

ESWP mourns the passing of Harold G. Hall, President of the Society in 1989, and recipient of ESWP’s Metcalf Award in 1997.  Mr. Hall, age 96, of Mt. Lebanon, passed on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. His obituary: Beloved Husband for 67 years of the late Anne S. Hall; loving father of Marcy (James) Richard, William  (Ruth), Dr. David (Suzanne), H. Mark (Donna), Jonathan (Beth) and Ed (Mary Ellen) Hall;; also survived by nineteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Harold was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp during World War II, and served  as a Pilot flying C-47s and DC -3, conveying Troops and Supplies to fortify the Alaskan Front. Afterwards attending and graduating from Carnegie Tech as a Mechanical Engineer, he started to work as a Manufacturing Engineer for Standard Coil and Machine located in South Side of Pittsburgh. Within a few years he organized with a handful of investors to purchase Standard Coil Co.  and renamed it Hall Industries, Inc. With his Entrepreneurial Spirit over the next 60 plus years and the 2nd generation of management, Hall Industries has grown from a modest 15 man machine shop to become a diversified Engineering, Manufacturing and Service Business in a dozen states and overseas in the Czech Republic. Harold George Hall affectionately known as “HG”,  truly lived his Mentor Andrew Carnegie’s motto, ” My Heart is in The Work.”  He continued to make it to work everyday through his 95th birthday, not suffering as a “work-aholic”, but because he truly loved Electro Mechanical Manufacturing, the dialog with co workers, and participating in commerce anyway he could contribute as a “Problem Solver”! His accomplishments and civic contributions were extensive: Board of Trustees St. Clair Hospital,  President of Engineer Society (Metcalf Awardee ), President Alumni  and Trustee of Carnegie Mellon University, President Small Business Council, Rotary Club, Fellows Club, Aero Club, Antique Automobile Society of America, St. Pauls Church Vestry, Mason and  Boy Scout Master. In recognition, contributions may be made to East Liberty Family Health Care Center, 6023 Harvard Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.