Thornton Tomasetti

Ever since he was a child, Guery Quispe has been driven to understand why structures fail.   Today, as a senior structural engineer in our Forensics practice in New York, he investigates collapses, responds to emergencies and helps determine root causes. His work supports safer designs and more resilient communities.   As co-leader of our drones community of practice, he optimizes our firmwide drone resources and uses advanced technology to support investigations. Guery also mentors early-career engineers, sharing technical knowledge and practical experience.   Watch the video to learn more about his professional journey.   #Eweek2026 #EngineersWeek #TransformYourFuture

From designing local projects in London to working on stadiums and tall buildings worldwide, Senior Engineer Clíodhna Duggan has always been motivated by the ability of engineering to solve problems and leave a positive impact.   Cliodhna, who started her career as an intern in our New York office, recently volunteered with Engineers In Action and Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) and is passionate about global responsibility and sustainability.   One thing she especially values in her role at Thornton Tomasetti is the culture of curiosity and new ideas, which reflects this year’s Engineers Week theme, “Transform Your Future.”   Learn more about her journey in the video below.     #Eweek2026 #EngineersWeek #TransformYourFuture

The Year of the Horse got off to a lively start across our offices this week as we marked Lunar New Year.   Gathering in workspaces adorned with red lanterns and paper cuttings, our teams shared favorite Chinese dishes, tried their luck with red envelope scratchers symbolizing good fortune, played games and learned about the centuries-old origins and traditions behind the holiday.   Staff tried their hand at calligraphy, practicing and learning about traditional characters. The celebrations even included a plant raffle as a symbol of growth and renewal. Shout out to our Mosaic employee network group, who helped coordinate these events across the firm.   Wishing you prosperity, good health and the right amount of horsepower to carry you through the year ahead! #LunarNewYear2026 #LunarNewYear #ChineseNewYear #YearOfTheHorse

From welcoming visitors to advancing wildlife research, the Toronto Zoo is expanding what its front door can do. Work is progressing on its new Community Conservation Centre, a reimagined public gateway and campus-style entrance that recently celebrated a structural topping out. The centre includes two new buildings at the 710-acre park’s main entrance: a one-story guest services facility and a two-story hybrid mass timber academic building. Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural engineering services to Zeidler Architecture for both buildings. The guest services facility features an outdoor river otter habitat and encourages visitor exploration, while the academic space, developed in collaboration with the University of Toronto Scarborough to advance wildlife education, training and research, will house state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories. When not used for classes, the spaces will serve the broader community for meetings and events.    The project combines an intricate mix of systems and materials, including cast-in-place concrete, structural steel, CMU, composite deck and façade clad in alternating ribbons of precast concrete and glass. The academic building uses a hybrid mass timber system, pairing cast-in-place concrete walls with glue-laminated timber framing, and nail-laminated timber floors and roof, balancing durability, sustainability and reduced embodied carbon. Mass timber is being supplied by Ontario-based manufacturer Timmerman Timberworks Inc. as part of the project’s regional and community-driven approach. The facility incorporates space for endangered turtle conservation breeding and is being designed in close collaboration with Indigenous consultants to support the Toronto Zoo’s mission of blending scientific and traditional knowledge. Construction is being executed to Toronto Green Standard Version 4 in support of the zoo’s TZNet0 Environmental Sustainability Plan and is scheduled for completion in 2026. 

What if disused building materials were valuable assets instead of waste? Duncan Cox, director and U.K. lead for sustainability and resilience, explains how circular design and embodied carbon are reshaping the way we think about building materials, from glass façades to concrete and beyond. By keeping materials in use longer, reusing them at their highest value, and designing for future recovery, we can cut carbon while unlocking value from existing buildings. Learn more about how circularity can move the industry beyond recycling and towards material reuse: https://lnkd.in/emVggJdr

Congratulations to Managing Principal and Senior Advisor Tom Scarangello on being elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), a distinction widely regarded as one of highest professional honors in the field of engineering. One of 158 new members, Tom was elected by his peers “for advancing engineering in the economical design, fabrication and construction of large, long-span, static and kinetic building structures.” “This recognition is truly well deserved,” Thornton Tomasetti Co-CEO Squarzini Michael said. “Tom’s creativity and innovation have consistently pushed engineering boundaries, which is evident in the many complex projects he has helped bring to life. His impact on the AEC industry extends far beyond just projects. Through his passionate mentorship, he has guided and inspired the next generation of leaders and builders.” Tom’s engineering career spans nearly 50 years, during which time he led teams in the design and analysis of a variety of buildings, including Yankee Stadium and the New York Times Building in New York, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. He also played a key role in the World Trade Center response and recovery effort in the aftermath of 9/11. Tom, who formerly served as Thornton Tomasetti’s chairman and CEO, was an early proponent of technology adoption and innovation in the AEC industry. He was influential in the formation of TTWiiN, Thornton Tomasetti’s technology incubator, and AEC Angels, an investment platform focused on emerging technologies within the industry. Tom will be formally inducted with the rest of NAE’s Class of 2026 at the organization’s annual meeting this fall in Washington, D.C. 

The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, a new hub for fitness, learning and community in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, officially opened this week.    Project team members joined city officials and local leaders at a ribbon cutting on Monday to celebrate the new facility and the legacy of trailblazing leader Shirley Chisholm, a longtime Brooklyn resident and the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress.    Designed by Studio Gang, the 74,000-square-foot center includes an indoor pool, gym and walking track, fitness rooms, multipurpose and media spaces, a teaching kitchen, and a public plaza for neighborhood programs. Thornton Tomasetti provided integrated structural, geotechnical and civil engineering and building envelope consulting services to Consigli Construction Co., Inc. for this fast-tracked design-build project.    One of the building’s most distinctive features is the mass timber roof over the natatorium. Spanning the pool hall are 75-foot-long, fish-bellied glulam beams that create a warm, light-filled space, with lighting and mechanical systems integrated into the structure, while helping to reduce embodied carbon. Our team worked closely with our design and construction partners to ensure the timber performs in the high-humidity pool environment.    The exterior blends large prefabricated precast panels with brick facing and curtain wall systems, balancing performance, cost and constructability. Wide paths, green spaces and accessible routes connect the center to the adjacent park, school and nearby homes, while an integrated stormwater system combines green infrastructure with underground detention.    A key challenge was meeting the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s new regulations for stormwater management. To comply with the new Unified Stormwater Rule, the project required post-construction stormwater management practices (SMPs) to allow for infiltration on site and to reduce the runoff volume that discharges to the municipal system. As part of this effort, a thorough subsurface investigation was performed to confirm the soil conditions. Among the SMPs incorporated into the project were two large bioretention areas, a green roof, tree plantings, an on-site detention system and a proprietary stormwater treatment filtration system to improve site resilience.    Supporting the city’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, the center earned LEED v4 NC Platinum certification.

As the structural engineers behind many world-class sports venues, we know first-hand the passion that fans bring to every game. And as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots get ready to go head-to-head in Super Bowl LX this weekend, Thornton Tomasetti’s Seattle and Boston offices have an extreme case of football fever. Staff on both coasts hosted in-office “tailgate” parties in support of their hometown teams. “All season long, the Seahawks showed us what happens when you don’t care about the noise—only the mission,” Associate Principal and Seattle Office Director Brian Morgen said. “That mindset is something our Seattle team lives every day. We look forward to our office celebrating this Super Bowl win!” Over in Pats Nation, fans are just as confident that quarterback Drake Maye will help bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Boston, just like the team did in its 2015 Super Bowl matchup with the Seahawks, which was an absolute squeaker. “Hey, Seahawks,” Senior Principal and Boston Office Co-Director Lisa Davey said. “Maybe try running the ball this time if you get near the goal line." As football GOAT Tom Brady has said, may the best team win. Enjoy the game! #SuperBowl #SuperBowlLX #SB60

Utilities across the U.S. face a growing challenge: how to expand capacity without overbuilding infrastructure. Traditional upgrades, such as substations and transmission lines, are costly, slow and increasingly unsustainable. Distributed energy resources (DERs)—including solar, batteries and microturbines—offer a more viable alternative. When deployed strategically, DERs provide flexibility, defer capital investment and enhance resilience. Using optimization models, Vice President Hiva N. of our Applied Science practice shows how DERs can fill “megawatt gaps” efficiently for both utilities and communities. Innovative contracts between DER owners and utilities can provide dispatchable power without requiring full ownership, creating a flexible, adaptive grid. The grid of the future is decentralized, resilient and responsive. DERs aren’t just backup; they’re a strategic asset. To meet growing demand, utilities must plan smarter, integrating DERs into operations rather than relying solely on fixed infrastructure.  Read more about how flexible energy resources are reshaping utility planning, and how Hiva and our Applied Science team are helping utilities turn DERs into a practical, data-driven path toward a resilient, cost-effective grid: https://lnkd.in/erEsjM7e

Anagram Gowanus, a 20-story mixed-use development rising along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, has topped out.     Designed by SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU, with Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC serving as architect of record, the approximately 203,000-square-foot development at 450 Union St. will feature 158 rental apartments, including a portion designated as affordable housing, along with about 22,000 square feet of retail and community space. Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural engineering and resilience services, supporting the design team and client TANKHOUSE.      The reinforced-concrete building features a sculpted form that opens to light, air and views while anchoring a public space along the canal. Rotated floor plates give apartments sweeping views toward Downtown Brooklyn, Manhattan and along the canal. Amenities include fitness facilities, workspace, children’s play and art rooms and communal lounges. Due to its site within a FEMA AE flood zone, flood resilience was a central design consideration. Thornton Tomasetti contributed to a flood-mitigation strategy that meets New York City Building Code standards and responds to the challenges of the waterfront location.     The development is being built by TANKHOUSE, MacArthur Holdings and Global Holdings Management Group as part of a larger effort to transform a former industrial site into a dynamic waterfront destination. Completion is planned for Q2 2027.     Pictured at the topping out are Senior Engineer Salman Khan Mohammed, left, Managing Principal & New York Metropolitan Region Co-Leader Eli Gottlieb and Associate Principal Marco Coco.