中文 Consulting Structural Engineers LERA Practice Projects by Type Projects by Region Partners and Key Personnel PARTNERS: Winnie Kwan, Richard Zottola, Daniel Sesil, William Faschan, Elias Matar, Nayan Trivedi, Benjamin Cornelius, Richard Garlock, Seokkwon Jang, Douglas González ASSOCIATE PARTNERS: Patrick Hopple, Sami Matar, Matthew Melrose, W. John Pugh, Jason Stone, Antonio Rodriguez, Zhaohui Ding, Sangho Han, Michael Hopper Architect 2 WING-PIN (WINNIE) KWAN Managing Partner | Ph.D., P.E. Professional Experience 2000 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé RICHARD ZOTTOLA Partner | P.E., S.E. Professional Experience 1982 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Wing-Pin (Winnie) Kwan, Ph.D., P.E. is the Managing Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2000, she currently serves as the Managing Partner for LERA, and leads LERA’s operations in Greater China. Winnie has extensive experience in the structural design of tall buildings around the world. She served as Project Manager for the iconic Shanghai World Financial Center (492 m; 1,614 ft) in Shanghai, China, and was involved in the design of the Lotte World Tower (555 m; 1,820 ft) in Seoul, South Korea—the fifth tallest building in the world—and the PNB 118 tower (600+ m; 1,968+ ft), currently under construction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in addition to other large-scale mixed-use developments such as The Spirit of Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and KLCC Lot 185, 167 and 176 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Winnie has also designed unique buildings on a smaller scale, such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame & Museum in Charlotte, NC, which won the 2013 AISC Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture Award, and the Suzhou Museum in Suzhou, China. Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, Winnie has directed numerous projects in China, including the Chongqing 101 Tower (430 m; 1410 ft), OCT Shenzhen Tower (300 m; 984 ft) and Jinan Zhong Hong Plaza (300m; 984 ft), as well as the peer review of the Guangzhou East Tower (530 m; 1,740 ft), the Chongqing Shui On International Trade and Commerce Center (470 m; 1,540 ft) and the Wuhan Tiandi Lot B1-B5 Development. Intimately familiar with the Chinese Code and standard practice, Winnie served with other Chinese experts in a panel for the structural review of the Qingdao China Resources Center. Having specialized in earthquake engineering in her doctorate research, Winnie spearheaded the application of performance-based seismic design (PBSD) in LERA's practice since 2001. Besides implementing PBSD in many Chinese projects, she applied her expertise to designing buildings in high-seismic zones, such as the Exquadra Tower in Manila, Philippines and the Esentai Tower, Kazkommertsbank and JW Marriott Residences in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Winnie has received numerous professional awards and recognitions, including the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business award in 2015, Building Design and Construction’s “40 Under 40” award in 2011 and Structural Engineer’s “Rising Star in Structural Engineering” award in 2012. Winnie holds a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering and Operations Research with highest honors from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. Richard Zottola, P.E., S.E. is Partner of LERA Consulting Structural Engineers. With the firm since 1982, he has experience with a broad spectrum of public and private project types, with particular expertise in the design of academic buildings, healthcare facilities, laboratories and technical institutions. In addition, he has designed numerous office buildings, residential developments and restoration projects, and has led numerous investigations projects for LERA’s Forensic Engineering division. Rick is currently leading the design of the SUNY New Platz Innovation Center in New Paltz, NY; CUNY Lehman College Nursing School in Bronx, NY; the Almaty International Medical Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan; and two major feasibility studies for NYC EDC for the New York City Public Health Laboratory system and Metropolitan Hospital in New York, NY. Recent academic projects include the award winning CUNY Advanced Science Research Center in New York, NY; the Cord Blood Facility at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY; the LEED Platinum-certified Science Facility at CUNY Lehman College in Bronx, NY; the Mott Haven Campus for NYC SCA in Bronx, NY; and Academic Building I at CUNY Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. Previously, Rick led the design of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, and the Buffalo Life Sciences Complex, also at Roswell Park. Rick’s other notable experience includes the LEED Gold-certified Metro Green Apartments in Stamford, CT; the United Nations Capital Master Plan & Infrastructure Upgrade in New York, NY; the restoration and expansion of historic Apollo Theater in New York, NY; and the renovation of historic Sara Delano Roosevelt House in New York, NY, which was modernized to become the new home of the Public Policy Institute at CUNY Hunter College. An active member of ACEC NY, Rick serves on the NY State Board of Directors, chairs the NY State University Construction Fund Liaison Committee and sits on two other committees. He has authored numerous papers and presented at engineering seminars and conferences internationally. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering (Structural), both from Cornell University. DANIEL A. SESIL Partner | P.E., C.E., S.E. Professional Experience 1983 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé WILLIAM J. FASCHAN Partner | P.E., S.E., F.ASCE Professional Experience 1978 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Daniel A. Sesil, P.E., C.E., S.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1983, his extensive expertise lives in special design projects that answer to function and innovation. He specializes in long span, column-free spaces, high-rise buildings, creative solutions and research initiatives. Dan is currently Partner-in-Charge of a wide range of high-profile, sensitive and complex projects, including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, CA; the Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL; a new Acute Care Tower at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, NY; the US New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Nassau, Bahamas; the US New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Ankara, Turkey; and the US New Consulate Compound (NCC) in Nogales, Mexico. Projects of his that are currently under construction include the Kimmel Pavilion at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, NY; and the New Academic Building, School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY. Throughout his career, Dan has led the design of several of LERA’s landmark projects, including the multiple award-winning Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY; the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Expansion in New York, NY; the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum in Little Rock, AR; the Newseum and Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C.; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland, OH; the Miho Museum Bridge in Kyoto, Japan; the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA; and the Prada Soho renovation in New York, NY. He also leads LERA’s structural design efforts for Global Building Modules, a steel framed modular system, inspired by shipping containers, whose scale and design allows for efficient transportation and offers a potential solution to high-cost housing. Dan is a widely published author, having written articles in STRUCTURE Magazine, Modern Steel Construction and Civil Engineering Magazine, among others, and is a frequent speaker at design and engineering events. He serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) Industry Advisory Group and the Marquette University College of Engineering Thought Leaders Council. For his actions following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, he received the Medal of Valor from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Marquette University, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. William J. Faschan, P.E., S.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1978, Bill is a highly regarded expert in the structural design of the entire spectrum of building types, ranging from high-rise buildings to long-span structures. He has worked on a variety of projects worldwide, including supertall commercial towers, cultural facilities and civic buildings. As Partner-in-Charge, Bill has led the design of a number of high-profile and complex projects in both concrete and steel, such as the 72-story 4 World Trade Center in New York, NY; the 120-story World One Tower in Mumbai, India; the 68-story Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Academic Building I at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY; the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar; the 37-story Espirito Santo Plaza in Miami, FL; and the 21-story Standard Hotel in New York, NY. Currently, he is guiding the structural design of the M3M Golf View Estate, a mixed-use development in Mumbai, India; Capitol Crossing Platform, a 1.2 million-sf multi-level podium being constructed over an active interstate highway in Washington, D.C.; a new mixed-use development in the rapidly expanding Hudson Yards district of New York, NY; and a new 500,000-sf residential tower in Seattle, WA. A respected author and speaker in the field of structural engineering, Bill has been published in such industry publications as CTBUH’s International Journal of High-Rise Buildings and STRUCTURE Magazine, and has presented at an array of major conferences and events throughout his career. He serves on the AISC Blast and Impact Resistant Design Committee, the New York City Building Codes Structural Loads Committee and the Cornell University School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Advisory Council, and he is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In recognition of his significant contributions to the field, he was cited by Engineering News-Record as one of “Those Who Made Marks in the Construction Industry,” and he was awarded the World Trade Center Medal for Exceptional Service for his efforts in helping to repair and reopen the World Trade Center following the 1993 bombing. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science with distinction and a Master of Engineering (Civil), both from Cornell University. ELIAS S. MATAR Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 1990 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé NAYAN B. TRIVEDI Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 2000 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Elias S. Matar, P.E. joined the firm in 1990 and became Partner in 2008. He has worked on a wide range of project types around the world, including mixed-use towers, commercial and residential developments, academic buildings, healthcare facilities and complex renovations. He leads the firm’s Special Inspections department, and plays an active role in managing the firm. Elias has led the structural design of a number of interior fit-outs at 4 World Trade Center and other locations in New York City, including the Hudson River Trading office, the MediaMath office, the Weber Shandwick office, Burger & Lobster Bryant Park and several retail and dining outfits at Westfield World Trade Center, as well as academic projects of all sizes and types for both public and private institutions, such as the Cooperman Library Renovation at CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY; the new Gateway Center at SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY; and special inspections for the new Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY. He has also led the design of notable public projects for the New York City Parks Department, including the recently completed Hudson Park and Boulevard in New York, NY and the Brooklyn Bridge Park DEP Conversion Site in Brooklyn, NY. Currently, Elias is the Partner-in-Charge for a series of renovation projects at various historic New York Public Library branch locations; the new Medical Arts Pavilion at the SNCH Long Beach Campus and Southwest Addition at the SNCH Oceanside Campus; new additions at PS 131 Q and PS 144 Q in Queens, NY; the restoration of the historic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Monument in New York, NY; the CUNY Kingsborough Community College Performing Arts Center Renovation in Brooklyn, NY; the CUNY Medgar Evers College Carroll Street Building Renovation in Brooklyn, NY; and the CUNY Lehman College Bookstore Relocation in Bronx, NY. Elias’ mixed-use project experience includes Espirito Santo Plaza (now Brickell Arch) in Miami, FL; Hermitage Plaza in La Defense near Paris, France; Agribank in Hanoi, Vietnam; and towers in Lima, Peru. His residential experience includes 250 East 49th Street, 315 East 46th Street, 505 West 47th Street and 495 West Street, all in New York, NY. He has worked on the renovation of the historic Surrey Hotel and the restoration and expansion of the historic Union Square Pavilion, both in Manhattan. Since 2005, Elias has been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He also gives regular presentations on structural engineering to high school and college students. Elias is an active Member of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network, SEAoNY and ASCE. He was awarded the World Trade Center Medal for Individual Acts of Valor for his work following the 1993 bombing. Elias holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science with distinction in Civil Engineering, all from Cornell University. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Nayan B. Trivedi, P.E. joined LERA in 2000, was advanced to Senior Associate in 2006 and became Partner in 2010. Nayan has been integrally involved in the firm’s client relations in South Asia, as well as the opening of the firm’s Mumbai office. His experience includes supertall towers, mixed-use complexes, cultural projects, educational facilities and transportation projects. Currently, Nayan is the Partner-in-Charge for 2050 M Street in Washington, D.C., an innovative office building that was named Best Future Project in 2017 by Architectural Review; a highly anticipated mixed-use development in the rapidly expanding Hudson Yards district in New York, NY; the 120-story World One Tower in Mumbai, India, which upon completion will become the tallest residential building in the world; and a number of commercial, residential and mixed-use developments in India and around the world. Nayan has managed the structural design of a range of projects in India, including Oberoi Commerz, a 35-story, mixed-use development in Goregaon, and the 75-story Sky Tower, Mumbai. He has also managed projects in New York City, Vietnam, Dubai and Russia. He served as Project Director for the 68-story Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Other notable projects of his include the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar; 4 World Trade Center in New York, NY; and the United Nations Capital Master Plan and Infrastructure Upgrade in New York, NY. He also has extensive experience in the structural design of transportation facilities, including the Capitol Crossing Platform in Washington, D.C., built over the active I-395 highway; Yawkey Station in Boston, MA; the Police Emergency Garage at LaGuardia International Airport in Queens, NY; and more. Nayan frequently lectures at industry conferences and events, and served as the Chairperson of Structures for the 2015 Vertical Cities conference. He was recently interview for a feature on tall buildings in the November 2017 issue of Architecture and Interiors India. In 2008, he was honored with the “40 Under 40 Recognition Award” by Building Design & Construction Magazine. Previously, he has served as Chairperson of the ASCE Metropolitan Section Structures Group, as well as the Vice President of the Society of Indo-American Engineers and Architects (SIAEA). Nayan has authored numerous papers for industry publications, including “Bitexco – Symbolizing Vietnam’s Global Emergence,” STRUCTURE Magazine (co-author, 2012); “Bitexco Financial Tower,” STRUCTURE Magazine (co-author, 2009); and “Luxe Workplace, Oberoi Commercial Tower,” EPC Age Magazine (2008). He was also part of the NYC Building Codes Structural Loads Committee. Nayan holds a Master of Engineering (Structural) from Gujarat University in India and a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from North Gujarat University. RICHARD GARLOCK Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 1993 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé BENJAMIN M. CORNELIUS Partner | P.E., C.E., S.E., M.L.S.E. Professional Experience 1994 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Benjamin M. Cornelius, P.E., C.E., S.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1994, Ben has over 25 years of experience in the design and rehabilitation of structures, including tall buildings and other complex structures. His projects include the Broad Museum in Los Angeles, the renovation and expansion of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the supertall TransNational Place in Boston. Currently, Ben is the Engineer of Record for the Trinity Condominium Tower Project in Seattle, a high seismic region with a unique hazard profile. As part of his work on the project, he directed the performance-based seismic design of the structure, utilizing steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) link beams to reduce rebar congestion and speed construction. Structural optimization performed by LERA resulted in substantial structural cost savings to foundations and core walls over a prior engineer’s design. Ben is also Engineer of Record for an expansion to the CUNY Hunter College Campus School in Manhattan and new science facilities at CUNY Brooklyn College, among other projects. Ben leads LERA’s Investigations and Expert Witness Practice and is an experienced expert witness. He has conducted more than 30 forensic investigations in North America, Europe, and Asia in disputes totaling over $1 billion. He has provided consultations in disputes involving tall buildings, residential structures, embassy complexes, medical facilities, historic buildings, sports and entertainment structures, transportation facilities, and modular construction. He has testified in mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings. Called upon to assist clients in some of the highest profile construction disputes around the world, he recently presented to over 90 attorneys, insurance carriers, parties, and experts in a mediation involving a structural failure at a large sports and entertainment facility. The result was the withdrawal of an eight-figure claim against his client and agreement to a seven-figure award for his client by other parties to the dispute. In another recent case, he provided trial testimony before a jury that was crucial to an eight-figure award for a client whose historic residence was damaged by an adjacent construction project. Currently, Ben has been retained in structural failure and collapse cases across the United States and in Europe. Ben is Chair of the Executive Committee of ASCE's Forensic Engineering Division and has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design. He received his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, for which he was awarded the Professional Practice Activities Award from the Professional Engineers in Private Practice of Pennsylvania and the Gladys M. Baird Memorial Scholarship. He remains a member of both the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Phi Alpha Epsilon Architectural Engineering Honor Society. Richard B. Garlock, P.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1993, he has over 25 years of experience designing efficient structural solutions to realize complex architectural visions. His expertise ranges from academic and research buildings to high-rise office and residential towers to institutional and cultural facilities. Rich’s experience includes numerous high-profile and complex projects. He served as Project Director for the structural design of 4 World Trade Center in New York, NY, which was the first building to open on the original WTC site; the Hudson River Trading Office, which occupies two full floors at 4 WTC; the School of Architecture and Butler College Residences at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ; the United Nations Consolidated Building in New York, NY; and a mixed-use development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently, he is the Project Director for 520 West 41st Street, a 1,100-ft residential tower in New York, NY; the new Nordstrom and Ethan Stowell Restaurant at 1776 Broadway in New York, NY; and a new headquarter office for a major tech firm. His other notable projects include the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum in Little Rock, AR; the Prada SOHO Renovation in New York, NY; the Baltimore Convention Center Expansion in Baltimore, MD; the Friend Center for Engineering at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ; and the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, NV. In addition, Rich has worked on a number of supertall mixed-use projects internationally, including the BDNI Center in Indonesia and two supertall towers in Malaysia. Rich is a Structures Specialist for the State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Urban Search & Rescue Team, and has been a Visiting Lecturer for Princeton University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering since 2005. He is also a member of both the Structural Engineers Association of New York and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Recently, he was an invited presenter at NASCC: The Steel Conference, where he accepted the Presidential Award of Excellence in Engineering for 4 World Trade Center, the highest honor in the American Institute of Steel Construction’s annual awards program. Rich was a member of the WTC Recovery Team following the September 11th terrorist attacks, and participated in the investigation of the baseline performance of the WTC towers conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University. Rich also coaches youth sports and is on the Board of Trustees for two non-profit organizations, the University League Nursery School and the Princeton Youth Hockey Association. SEOKKWON JANG Partner | Ph.D, P.E., M.ASCE Professional Experience 2004 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé DOUGLAS P. GONZÁLEZ Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 1991 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Seokkwon Jang, Ph.D. P.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). Seokkwon started with the firm in 2004, and he has expertise in wide range of building types from high-rise buildings to security related designs. In addition, he has made research related projects in the firm. Since 2009, he has worked on a series of Korean research projects in collaboration with RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology) who is the largest research center in Korea. He was leading a LERA’s role to assist in the development of the use of very high strength steel in tall buildings by focusing an attention on the primary vertical and lateral load resisting systems of tall buildings. His study recently extends to research and develop the use of very high strength steel in other applications such as platform structural system to be built above railways or highways, long span truss system, composite structures of mega bracing system, alternative flooring system, etc. that may maximize potential advantage of the high performance steel materials in cost effectiveness as well as constructability. Currently, he is the Partner-in-charge for the technical support of the Global Business Center (GBC) of the Hyundai Auto Mobile Company in Korea in collaborating with the Kunwon Engineering in Seoul, Buro Happold in Hong Kong and Jacop in Seoul until the construction is complete. Also, he has led the structural design of the projects in Korea, including Cheongna International City Tower (CICT) that is the tallest observatory tower in Korea and 6th tallest observatory tower in the world; HDC Central IPark in Busan; and a number of redevelopment projects of GS Construction Company and Hyundai development company (HDC). Seokkwon was involved in the peer review of New York’s Freedom Tower, a 540m, 104-storeis high tower, and involved also in the design of the recently opened award-winning 4 WTC on the World Trade Center site. Seokkwon also managed several other prominent projects at LERA including award-winning projects such as the JW Marriott Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, Johnson Museum of Art’s New Wing at Cornell University, the Hyderabad Office Tower in India; the Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Seokkwon holds a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He earned a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota, and completed his Bachelor and Master of Science level studies at Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea. Douglas P. González, P.E. is a Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers. With the firm since 1991, Doug helps to lead LERA’s efforts in healthcare, science, and adaptive reuse/renovation work, and has considerable expertise designing cultural, civic and other institutional facilities. In his role as Quality Assurance Manager for LERA, he oversees LERA’s Quality Control and Knowledge Management processes/programs. Currently, Doug is overseeing a number of the firm’s healthcare projects, including a major hospital campus transformation in New York; the Coney Island Hospital Critical Services Structure & Campus Renovation in Brooklyn, NY; the Southwest Addition and Central Utility Plant at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Oceanside Campus; the new Medical Arts Pavilion at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Long Beach Campus; the Cardiovascular Institute Renovation at Mount Sinai West Campus; the new NYC Public Health Lab in New York; and the new Hillman Cancer Hospital at UPMC’s Shadyside Campus in Pittsburgh, PA. His previous healthcare experience includes the Kimmel Pavilion, Energy Building, Emergency Department Expansion and Tisch Hospital Elevator Tower for NYU Langone Health in New York; the Clinical Laboratory of New York and the Center for Advanced Medicine Renovation for Northwell Health in Queens and Long Island; flood mitigation at Bellevue Hospital in New York; the Radiation Oncology Research Office for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in East Hanover, NJ; and the Almaty International Medical Center in Kazakhstan. Doug’s academic and higher education experience includes the Academic Buildings & Research Greenhouse at SUNY Binghamton; the renovation of the historic Sara D. Roosevelt House at CUNY Hunter College; Princeton University’s Friend Center for Engineering Education; and the renovation of the Grant Street Administration Building for the NYC SCA. Historic restorations and structural upgrades include New York’s Apollo Theater in Harlem and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Monument in Riverside Park. Other cultural and civic projects include the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, NY; the Newseum and Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C.; the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, AR; the Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT; the United Nations Headquarters Capital Master Plan and Infrastructure Upgrade in New York, NY; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH; and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, CA. Doug is an active leader with many industry organizations. He served as President of the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) for the 2016-17 term, and has served on the SEAoNY Board since 2011. He is a member of the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) and American Concrete Institute (ACI), and previously led the ASCE Metropolitan Section Structures Group. He also assists the NYC Department of Buildings with their update of the Building Code and their forthcoming Existing Building Code. Doug holds a Master of Science from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Engineering from The Cooper Union in New York City. Download Résumé PATRICK L. HOPPLE Associate Partner | P.E. (PA) Professional Experience 2006 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers SAMI MATAR Associate Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 1995 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Patrick L. Hopple, P.E. (PA) is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2006, he specializes in the design of architecturally-exposed structural steel and architectural concrete structures, and has extensive experience in a variety of government, cultural, educational and healthcare facilities. Pat is a primary contributor to the firm’s Analysis and Modeling Standards Committee, and serves as LERA’s Revit and BIM Manager for engineering services. Heavily involved in LERA’s federal practice, Pat is currently the Project Manager for the US New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Nassau, Bahamas, the US New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Ankara, Turkey and the US New Consulate Compound (NCC) in Nogales, Mexico. He also contributed to the designs of the Staten Island Courthouse in Staten Island, NY and the US Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Regional Office in Boulder City, NV. In addition, he has worked on a number of high-profile cultural, education and healthcare projects, such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Chicago, IL; the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA; the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY; and the New Academic Building, School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Several of his projects have gone on to win some of the industry’s highest honors, including the AIA NY Best in Competition Award for the Vagelos Education Center; ENR Project of the Year, Southern California for the Broad Art Museum; the SCUP/AIA Honor Award – Excellence in Architecture for a New Building for the Natural History Museum of Utah; and the ACEC NY Diamond Award for Engineering Excellence for the Gateway Center at SUNY Westchester Community College. Pat is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Architecture at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and serves as President of the Penn State Structural Engineers Association (PSSEA). He is also a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Pat holds an Integrated Bachelor of Architectural Engineering/Master of Architectural Engineering from Penn State University, where he made Dean’s List and was the recipient of the Vincent L. Pass Scholarship. Sami Matar, P.E. is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1995, Sami currently leads several of LERA’s high rise building designs as well as security related designs. Sami’s design experience over the years has included the structural design of tall buildings, museums, educational facilities, office buildings, residential buildings, laboratory buildings and retail facilities. It has also included both new structures and adaptive reuse of existing structures. His background and continued experience as a structural designer of high-quality building projects positions him well to provide sound advice and recommendations in our peer reviews. Sami is currently the project manager for the Lodha World Towers project in Mumbai India which includes the 429m tall World One Tower, the Istana project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Al-Assima development in Kuwait which includes a 350m tower and a large multi-use podium. Other notable projects in his portfolio include the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, the Ağaoğlu Maslak 1453 development in Istanbul, Turkey, Hermitage Plaza in Paris, The New-York Historical Society building renovation, the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library, and the new Ambulatory Care facility at Bellevue Hospital. In addition, Sami has designed security enhancements and upgrades for several government buildings to harden and protect the structures against explosions and other security threats and, to mitigate progressive collapse. Sami is a member of the Structural Engineer’s Association of New York (SEAoNY). He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of New York for his advisory work following the September 11th Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center. Sami received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University and His Master of Engineering from Cornell University. MATTHEW D. MELROSE Associate Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 2002 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé W. JOHN PUGH Associate Partner | P.E., M.ASCE Professional Experience 1978 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Matthew D. Melrose, P.E. is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2002, Matt has a strong expertise in complex and unique building types. He is renown for collaborating with the industries best architects to achieve their design vision while enhancing structural efficiency and integrity. He has worked on many of the firm's cultural, academic and civic projects including Columbia University Medical Center’s Medical & Graduate Education Building (CUMGEB), a 15 story post-tension concrete superstructure with complex geometry coordinated using BIM. The CUMGEB was honored with the esteemed Annual Award from the Concrete Industry Board's 2014 53rd Annual Roger H. Corbetta Awards Program. In addition, Matt was honored as one of ENR’s Top 20 Under 40 for 2015. Recently, Matt was the Project Director for the Center for Design Innovation, MassArt, in Boston, a complex adaptive reuse renovation project. He also worked on the Broad Museum in Los Angeles. In his experience with LERA, Matt served on-site surveillance engineer for the Newseum and Freedom Forum, a 643,000-sf facility in Washington, DC. He was a Project Manager for the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and contributed to the design of structures including the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha-Qatar; Staten Island Courthouse in New York City; the Gateway Building at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York; and Public Farm One in New York City, a competition winning innovative, sustainable structure on view at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in 2008. Matt holds a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Environmental Engineering, with distinction, from Cornell University. W. John Pugh, P.E. is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 1978, he has managed many commercial, residential, and municipal projects in the USA and overseas. John’s high rise building experience includes the 492-m. Shanghai World Financial Center, a mixed-use building containing residential, hotel, and office uses. Additionally, he has been involved with the design of many well-known structures in LERA’s portfolio. John was Project Manager on German Historical Museum Addition in Berlin, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and Baltimore Convention Center. John is an expert detailer and has reviewed many projects as a Construction Supervisor. He provided details to special features of The Broad museum in Los Angeles. He was an onsite as Senior Resident Engineer and for the Bank of China in Hong Kong. He was also a Construction Supervisor for the World Trade Center Repairs due to the 1993 Bombing, and the Government Center, Toledo, OH. John’s project experience also includes the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Museum, Charlotte, NC, the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, AR, Puerta de Europa towers in Madrid, Spain, the PPG Corporate Headquarters in Pittsburgh. John has performed Peer Reviews on numerous projects including the Busan Lotte Town Tower, Busan, Korea, International Commerce Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, One Central, the Mandarin Oriental, Macau, China, Mary Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, Cupertino, CA, Jing Ao Center, Beijing, China, Icon Hotel, Dubai Promenade, Dubai, UAE, Landmark Tower, Hong Kong, China, First Bank Place, Minneapolis, MN, 101 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ, International Finance Center, IFC 1 and IFC 2, and Hong Kong Station, China John is a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY). He holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. JASON STONE Associate Partner | P.E. Professional Experience 2002 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ Associate Partner | P.E. (CA) Professional Experience 2006 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Jason B. Stone, P.E. is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2002, he has led the design of a variety of award-winning academic, cultural and mixed-use projects around the world. Some of his most notable projects include Academic Building I at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY; 4 World Trade Center in New York, NY; M3M Golf View Estate in Gurgaon, India; the Gateway Center at SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY; and the Kew Gardens Hills Library in Queens, NY. His projects have gone on to win a number of the industry’s highest honors, including the AISC IDEAS2 Presidential Award of Excellence in Engineering for both 4 World Trade Center and John Jay College, Academic Building I; the SEAoNY Excellence in Structural Engineering Award for the Gateway Center; the ACEC NY Platinum Award for Engineering Excellence for the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Visitor Center; and the AIA Architecture Design Award of Honor for the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Jason served as a juror for the 2016 American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS2) Awards, and has been an Associate Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Columbia University since 2008. He has been published in such highly regarded industry publications as Modern Steel Construction and STRUCTURE Magazine, and he presented on the structural perspective of modular construction for CTBUH’s Future of Construction Lecture Series in 2017. In 2016, Civil + Structural Engineer named Jason among a select group of “Rising Stars” in the AEC industry. Jason holds a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Antonio I. Rodriguez, P.E. (CA) joined LERA Consulting Structural Engineers in 2006, and leads the design for many of LERA's institutional and cultural projects. He advances the use of technology in design flow and in 2017, he helped launch IMMERSIFY, an immersive VR-based software platform for AEC professionals. Antonio is currently a project manager on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts in Los Angeles, CA. His previous projects include the Staten Island Courthouse, Staten Island, NY, Broad Museum, Los Angeles, CA, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Expansion, New York, NY, Gateway Center, SUNY-Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY, Agricultural Science & Technology Center, SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY, Roy & Diana Vagelos Education Center, Columbia University Medical Center, Tisch Hospital Elevator Tower, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY Hudson Park and Boulevard, New York, NY, NYC DPR, Idlewild Park Nature Center, Queens, NY, NYC DPR, Union Square North Pavilion, New York, NY and a custom FRP roof private residence on Long Island, NY. Antonio is an active speaker and presenter at a wide variety of industry conferences and events, such as ENR's Innovation Conference, IABSE’s Future of Design NYC and Tech+. In addition, he leads an AIA CES-registered professional development course titled “The Power of Virtual Reality as a Decision Making Tool,” in which he provides practical instruction on how to integrate VR into the design process. Antonio was profiled in the September 2016 issue of Civil Engineering magazine in an article titled “Virtual and Augmented Reality Resolve Remote Collaboration Issues,” where he was identified as a leader in VR innovation in the AEC industry alongside such industry heavyweights as NBBJ and AECOM. He holds a Master’s Degree in Numerical Methods for Design and Analysis in Engineering and a Postgraduate Degree in Structural Design and Analysis, both from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Universidad Simon Bolivar (Caracas, Venezuela). ZHAOHUI DING Associate Partner | Class 1 RSE (China) Professional Experience 2011 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé SANGHO HAN Associate Partner | P.E. (US/KOREA), LEED AP Professional Experience 2006 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Zhaohui Ding, Class 1 RSE (China) is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2011, Zhaohui is a pillar of LERA’s practice in China, helping to establish and develop LERA’s office in Shanghai. Zhaohui works on a wide range of project types around the world, including mixed-use towers, commercial and residential developments and healthcare facilities. Some of Zhaouhui’s project experience includes the Shenzhen OCT Tower (300 m) in Shenzhen, China; the Zhejiang Gate Twin Towers (300 m) in Hangzhou, China, Vanke Jiading Incity Commercial Complexity (340,000 sm); Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital; Shanghai Parkway International Hospital; Suzhou Center Pedestrian Bridges in Suzhou, China; The Spirit of Saigon towers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Kuala Lumpur City Center in Malaysia. His responsibilities include all phases of design, from schematic through construction administration and design team management. Zhaohui has performed peer reviews on numerous projects, including the Shanghai International Financial Center (220 m), Tianjin CTF Financial Center (538 m), the Chongqing Shui On International Trade and Commerce Center (470 m) and the Wuhan Tiandi Lot B1-B5 Development. Zhaohui was honored as First-Class of Chinese Top-Grade Structural Designer by the Structural Academy of China in 2005. Zhaohui holds an M.S. and a B.S. in Structural Engineering, both from Southeast University, Nanjing, China, and has been published in Building Structure, Structural Engineers and CTBUH’s International Journal of High-Rise Buildings. Sangho Han, P.E. (US/Korea) is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA). With the firm since 2006, He has led the design of a variety of high rise towers, mixed-use complexes, educational facilities and transportation projects. Some of his most notable projects include Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea; 4 World Trade Center in New York, NY; Lusail Plaza Towers in Doha, Qatar; KLCC Lot 91 and Lots 167,176 & 185 in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia; Lodha World Towers in Mumbai, India; Three Sixty West, Worli in Mumbai, India; Oberoi Commercial Towers - North Tower in Mumbai, India; High Tech Tower in Luanda, Angola; Oberoi Garden City Residential Towers in Mumbai, India; and the M3M Golf Estate in Gurgaon, India. His responsibilities include all phases of design, from schematic through construction administration and design team management. Sangho has performed peer reviews on numerous projects, including the Busan Lotte Tower, 281 Fifth Avenue Residential Building, Manhatten West NE Tower, 520 Park Avenue Residential Building and 1 World Trade Center, Freedom Tower. Sangho was awarded honor prize for Academic Excellence and was the recipient of the Scholarship for Academic Excellence by Yonsei University in 1996. Sangho holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea CARRIE VILLANI Director of Marketing Professional Experience 2013 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Contact Carrie MICHAEL W. HOPPER Associate Partner | P.E. (PA) Professional Experience 2010 to Present: LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Download Résumé Michael W. Hopper, P.E. (PA) is an Associate Partner at LERA Consulting Structural Engineers. Since joining the firm in 2010, Mike specializes in the design of concrete structures, and is an expert in the use of post-tensioning. Some of his award-winning post-tensioned projects include the Roy & Diana Vagelos Education Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY; The Broad in Los Angeles, CA; the Novartis Radiation Oncology Research Office Building in East Hanover, NJ; and the recently completed Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL. He is also working on several ongoing post-tensioned projects, such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, CA. Currently, he is serving as the Project Manager for a new academic complex at Princeton University, a high-end residential project in Washington D.C. and the firm’s adaptive reuse projects in Pittsburgh, PA. Mike is an active member of the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI), where he is a member of the DC-20 Building Design Technical Committee, and has served on a subcommittee that is advocating for changes to the post-tensioning provisions of the NYC Building Code. He is also a member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). Mike is a widely published author, having written articles for STRUCTURE Magazine, Concrete International, SEAoNY’s Cross Sections and more. He has also presented at several industry conferences and events, including the 2017 PTI Convention, and served as a juror for the 2019 PTI Awards. In the June 2019 issue of Civil + Structural Engineer, he was interviewed along other leading figures in the post-tensioning industry about the rising use and advantages of post-tensioned concrete. Mike is a Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he teaches a course on the design of concrete structures, and also lectures at Penn State University’s Architectural Engineering Department. He holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Penn State, earning Honors and Distinction. Carrie Villani, Director of Marketing for LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA), has shown her leadership skills and passion for the real estate industry throughout her career. At LERA, Carrie manages the marketing team and works closely with firm Partners and Associates on marketing, communications and business development efforts promoting LERA’s long tradition of innovative design, exceptional forensics and loss consulting services and advances in technology that has brought them to the forefront of the engineering profession across the world. Carrie is a dedicated member of the Society for Marketing for Professional Services New York Chapter (SMPS-NY). Carrie is the Chair of SMPS-NY’s Coordinators Club leading educational seminars. Carrie serves as the Chair of Communications for Association of Medical Facility Professionals New York City Chapter (AMFP NYC). She is a past Board member for Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW NY), and is a committed leader and member for numerous other AEC and professional service groups including Professional Women in Construction, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Legal Marketing Association, New York Building Congress, American Institute of Architects, ACE Mentor’s New York Chapter and has assisted LERA's award-winning CANstruction New York team. Carrie was honored as a Pioneering Women in Real Estate by Sokol Media, with an Outstanding Women in the Construction Industry Award from the Women’s Builders Council, a National Convention Scholarship from CREW-NY and was awarded Marketer of the Year in 2017 by SMPS-NY. Carrie holds a Certificate for Marketing Strategy for Business Leaders from Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts. © 2021 LERA Consulting Structural Engineers Contact Us: New York | Mumbai | Shanghai | Hong Kong | Seoul M/WBE Certified Firm