Another year is coming to a close and so it is natural to reflect on the past year. We have had quite a year here…
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origin: starting the conversation
Archive for 2021
Redefining Progress in the Tulsa Arts District
Is progress still progress if there’s an ugly side to it? As a recently replanted Tulsa transplant (one who moved to Tulsa almost ten years…
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The Importance of Existing Drawings
The Importance of Existing Drawings I am sure all of you have seen it in movies or TV shows but maybe you never really thought…
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A Day in the Life of a Structural Engineer: Kyle Haskett, PE, Associate
What’s it like to be a structural engineer? This week, one of Wallace Design Collective’s newly promoted Associates, Kyle Haskett, PE, shares with us the…
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Spotlight on OSU CEAT 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee Carrie Johnson, PE, SE
This year, we’ve been fortunate to be able to celebrate 40 years of success as Wallace Engineering and toast the company’s current and future progress…
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Cold-Formed Steel – Who We are and What We Do
At the start of the year, we developed this blog series to spotlight the various services Wallace offers. On June 1, our 40th anniversary, we…
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Concrete Combat Review: The Competitive Reality Show Designed for AEC Nerds
Everyone’s got that one reality tv show they’re just a little bit embarrassed to admit they like to watch… Mine used to be Holiday Wars….
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Just Your Standard Engineer DIY Project: Above-Ground Storm Shelter Footing and Anchorage
Normally, new homeowners get indoctrinated into the cult of “homeownership” with the standard DIY projects: painting, caulking, building IKEA bookshelves, etc. Unless the new homeowners…
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Structural Engineering Terms 101: Top 3 Commonly Confused Structural Engineering Terms
Every profession or industry has its own lingo. And if you’re an industry insider, you may not give some terms a second thought – they’re…
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Wallace Design Collective Intern Spotlight 2021
Almost any professional will tell you that school can only teach you so much – nothing can replace real world experience! Wallace Design Collective understands…
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Engineers Can DIY Anything (Or We Think We Can)
Several years ago, when I was studying to take my licensing exam, I decided to blow off some steam and one thing led to another….
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Five Tips for Taking Better Photos for Your Assessment or Inspection Report
As an engineer, when you’re on site for an assessment or inspection, you’re confident you have a good handle on the issues. You take notes…
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Champlain Towers South Condo Collapse: An In-Depth Look at Concrete Spalling
The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, FL has left us with a number of questions. Most importantly, what caused this 12-story…
Read More 40 for 40: 40 Insights from Tom Wallace to Celebrate 40 Years – Part 5
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know a little more about Wallace Design Collective’s founder, Tom Wallace! This week, we wrap up our “40 for…
Read More 40 for 40: 40 Insights from Tom Wallace to Celebrate 40 Years Part 4 – Success
What does success look like? Find out about the philosophies and influences that Tom Wallace believes contributed to his professional and personal accomplishments. Plus, get…
Read More 40 for 40: 40 Insights from Tom Wallace to Celebrate 40 Years Part 3 – Structural Engineering and Technology
A lot has happened in 40 years – especially when it comes to technology. This week, we get Tom Wallace’s thoughts on how technology has…
Read More 40 for 40: 40 Insights from Tom Wallace to Celebrate 40 Years Part 2 – Entrepreneurship
This week, we’re continuing our “40 for 40” series with eight insights from Tom Wallace on the subject of entrepreneurship. Find out more about Tom’s…
Read More 40 for 40: 40 Insights from Tom Wallace to Celebrate 40 Years Part 1 – Evolution of Wallace Engineering
In 1981, a young structural engineer purchased a $15,000 HP-85 computer with a 6 inch screen and 16KB internal memory, rented a 500 square foot…
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Retro-Fit Structural Analysis: Prelim Lateral and the 10% rule
Some of my favorite projects involve retro-fit, or modifying an existing structure for a new tenant’s use. One thing I try to stress to architects…
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Journey to Doe Mountain
When I graduated with my master’s degree in civil engineering, one of the first things I did was send a copy of my thesis to…
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Structural Forensics Engineering Breakdown: What are building owners’ top structural concerns?
In a previous post, I presented an overview of various routine forensic structural engineering projects our team tackles and broke down our forensics work to…
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Engineers’ Alliance for the Arts
By now you have most likely heard of “STEM” or “STEAM”, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics. There has been quite a push…
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Engineer-Contractor Relations Part III: Teamwork in action at OKPOP
The past few weeks, we’ve explored what goes into a positive, effective engineer-contractor relationship. We asked engineers what qualities they like to see in their…
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Engineer-Contractor Relations Part II: What Your Contractor Wishes You Knew
As engineers, we know what we like to see when it comes to contractors, but the engineer-contractor relationship works both ways. What qualities do contractors…
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Engineer-Contractor Relations Part I: Enhancing your engineering career through quality contractor connections
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort. Hatfields vs. McCoys. OU vs. Texas. Engineers vs. Contractors. Some epic rivalries will just…
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Workout Like a Professional (a Professional Engineer….)
The Quarantine-15 struggle is real. Summer’s coming up, and everyone is trying to shed some unwanted pounds and fit into their bathing suit after a…
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All Aboard The STEAM Engine: Inspiring Oklahoma’s Next Generation of STEM Professionals
Have you ever witnessed an “ah-ha” moment? That moment when a lightbulb turns on and someone, especially a child, suddenly realizes their potential? A few…
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Who We Are and What We Do: Land Surveying
Long before a building is constructed, before any ribbon cutting, steel erection, concrete pour, or even the ground breaking ceremony, all you have is a…
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Heave or Settlement? Digging into the Cause of Slab on Grade Damage
Slab Investigations As a structural engineer, I get called to investigate all kinds of damage, and I’ve especially seen my fair share of slabs on…
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The Gathering Place: More than Meets the Eye
There’s more to Tulsa than meets the eye. But don’t be fooled, it’s not because there’s nothing to see at first glance. It’s because there’s…
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How to Prep for the 16-hour Structural Engineering Exam: Tips and Advice from Licensed SEs
If you’ve looked into taking the NCEES PE 16-hour Structural exam (usually referred to as the “SE exam” in structural engineering circles), you have probably…
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You Can’t Be What You Can’t See: Unlocking Hidden Potential in the Next Generation of STEAM Professionals
On an average day at Stanford University in the late 1970s, Sally Ride, then a PhD student in physics, was paging through the university newspaper…
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Tune Into Forensic Structural Engineering
Sounds like it would be a great TV show, doesn’t it? Picture it: a bunch of nerds (cool nerds, mind you) running around in their…
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How to Calculate Snow Weight from Depth and Density
Last week, the Northeast got another heavy dose of snow when a winter storm dropped more than 17 inches in Central Park and upwards of…
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Who We Are and What We Do: Structural Engineering
If you’re familiar with the TV show “How I Met Your Mother,” you might remember the episode “Mosbius Designs” (S4E20), where Ted Mosby, Architect (*wink*),…
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Engineering Productivity: 5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Work Day
Do you ever feel like there’s not enough time in a day? Or make it to the end of a work day, only to realize…
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