Structural Engineer vs Architect - Design Meeting

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this engineer is very well spoken it’s mind blowing how he keeps someone engaged and interested a conversation about construction

At my old firm, our structural engineer was 82 and still sharp as a tack. He worked on the original WTC and countless other impressive projects. Those meetings with him were by far the best because you're the one that now has to sit, listen, and learn. He would calmly look over the architecturals and bust out his calculator and start pumping out calculation after calculation, sizing beams and joists and always making sure that his structurals wouldn't interfere with our designs. RIP Franz

fun fact: you didn't search for this but you actually stayed and watch

The words every architect would love to hear from engineers: "We'll make it work " #teamwork

(Good Engineer + Good Architect) = Perfect Design 😍

This video makes me realize that I need to get better at speaking cohesively and professionally while keeping cool. Oof.

The architect is the dreamer and the engineer is the genie making his wishes come true

ahhh I see... so this is what engineers do... (I have an engineer degree, and apparently, I learned nothing.)

It's nice to see a video talking more about the structural aspects of buildings for a change. It would be nice to see some more of your videos on your thought process of structural designs.

Construction is an interesting industry. It's easy to see an architect as the master designer and be-all and say-all of a project. But there is a definite pecking order which everyone getting into the industry should understand... An architect designs a building to look nice, they make the pretty pictures and decide where the doors go and essentially sell the project to a client, they will have final say on anything as they are essentially taking responsibility for the design of a project. The main contractor (general contractor in the US) is the company/person paid by the client to build the project which has been envisioned by the architect. They are ultimately the top dog, they are the ones spending the clients budget to make the project a reality, if they can deliver under budget then they make more money, if costs spiral then they lose money or have to beg the client for more. The actual extent of works that a main contractor will carry out themselves depends on their abilities. The engineer liases with both the architect and the main contractor as well as relevant sub contractors to figure out what is actually required to make the thing not fall down and kill someone or that the building doesn't fail in slightly less important ways. They have to do this for the lowest possible costs otherwise the main contractor will not be happy. If they massively over engineer things, the main contractor will lose money, if they under engineer things, the building and lives may be at risk. Subcontractors work for the main contractor and perform smaller elements of the main project, their works are typically much more specialised such as glazed and cladded facades, elevators, modular building elements, even down to steelworks, concrete works, balconies, canopies, rooflights, mechanical and electrical elements, security consultants, environmental impact contractors as well as about 30 other trades and specialists. I work as a designer for a facade contractor, we design a solution to try to meet the specification of both the architect and engineer while maintaining the requirements (in cost and performance) set out by the main contractor. Finally you have the boots on the ground, the people actually constructing the building. They have to work at a level of detail which is almost impossible to appreciate in paper right up until the highest detail of 3d models. They are the ones who realise that the opening cupboard door is clashing on the side of an oven. Or that a cladding panel is 3mm too short resulting in an excessive gap around an opening or that an EPDM seal is not sufficient in the corner of a curtain walking screen. Construction is only possible because everyone works to their strengths.

21:21 "If it's been built a million times, you don't need a structural engineer. But once there's something unique about the design, that's when professionals get brought in."

as a college junior in civil engineering this is such a cool conversation to watch

I have never seen a duo of educated men talk so respectfully and collaborate this well with one another. There was no power tripping or ego, just communication and solutions. Incredible!

One of the greatest videos I’ve seen on YouTube in a while

As an aspiring structural engineer, I have to say this is one of my favorite videos of @30X40 Design Workshop! This engineer is so well spoken and the visuals help explain the details discussed in this meeting.

I’m in my third year of architecture school and I have always wondered how a conversation and negotiation between a structural engineer and an architect would be played out. This is very helpful. If you could, im sure many future architects would appreciate future conversations between you two again. Just thank you!

I first watched this video when I was still in high school, confused on what to study in college, whether structural engineering or architecture. I did not understand anything way back then. Now that I am a first year college studying structural engineering, I'm happy to understand their conversation even just a little. 5 years from now, hopefully when I graduate, I'll comeback here and try to understand this completely.

Architect: The Artists that dreams up ideas. Engineer: The person who has figure out how make them a reality.

THIS IS FASCINATING! You guys speak so patiently and thoroughly. I can imagine this meeting was hours long, if not, at least an hour. There is no interrupting or impatience at all it seems. I can't WAIT to see the final product.