AIA MN Honor Awards
December 11, 2013 – We congratulate the 2013 AIA Minnesota Honor Award winners and are pleased to have served as structural engineer of record on three of the winning projects: U.S. Land Port of Entry in Van Buren, Maine (Julie Snow Architects), the Weitz Center for Creativity at Carleton College, Northfield, MN (Meyer Scherer Rockcastle), and the Hall Residence, Duluth, MN (Salmela Architect).
Kurt Kindermann Joins MBJ
November 21, 2013 – Meyer Borgman Johnson welcomes Kurt Kindermann, PE, SE, LEED AP, as Director of Engineering in our Phoenix, Arizona, office. Kurt takes on a strong management role here at MBJ that includes team and project leadership, structural design and oversight, quality control, proposal writing, and client care. Having worn many hats throughout his 28-year career, he brings a wealth of experience spanning his days starting out as a project engineer and firm associate to several top tier leadership positions, including principal/chief engineer and principal/business development of a national structural design firm. He has led structural teams on multi-phased, complex projects, mentored and trained staff working in a 3D digital environment, helped define design standards, and forged new business opportunities and partnerships to help grow his company.
As a licensed engineer with a master of science in construction management and a wide variety of project experience, Kurt understands the overall project from early structural input through construction to occupancy and the life cycle issues that follow. His major projects include The Mesa Arts Center, Arizona State University (ASU) Polytechnic Academic Buildings, ASU Hassayampa Academic Village, ASU ISTB 4 Laboratory Research Facility, Northern Arizona University Health and Learning Center, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and the Phoenix Fire Training Academy.
Contact Kurt at kkindermann@mbjeng.com or 480 747 6737.
Jerod Hoffman Speaks at PSSC 2013
November 4, 2013 – Jerod Hoffman, PE, spoke at the 2013 Pacific Structural Steel Conference held in Singapore on October 11. Addressing an international audience and focusing on steel construction, Jerod described how building information modeling (BIM) increasingly is being leveraged in the United States as a tool for speedier and more cost-effective project delivery during construction phases. The main focus of his presentation was how to move from using BIM in traditional silos to something Jerod calls “Integrated BIM,” which can be considered a subset of integrated project delivery (IPD).
Jerod is a licensed professional engineer and a principal at Meyer Borgman Johnson. He leads the firm’s efforts to leverage BIM as a tool for speedier and more efficient project delivery in the areas of digital joist procurement, steel frame and connection design, light gauge design, and BIM models with construction level detailing.
MBJ Names New Associates
November 15, 2013—Ryan Hopeman and Matthew Smith have been named associates of the firm, a position of leadership embodying MBJ’s culture and values. Both are licensed professional engineers in Minnesota, as well as in other states. They have achieved technical excellence and exhibited strong managerial capabilities, performing a variety of roles that include project manager, design engineer, and lead engineer.
Ryan Hopeman, PE, SE, LEED AP
Ryan is skilled with many types of structural systems covering a range of market segments, bringing to his projects a unique set of problem-solving skills, sometimes honed in international arenas such as Central America, the Middle East, and Africa. His experience includes design team participation on high-rise projects up to 80 stories, as well as K-12, commercial, higher education, medical, and residential projects. Ryan’s strong project leadership and BIM skills make him an excellent resource for clients and coworkers.
Matthew Smith, PE
Matt touches many aspects of our practice. Whether he is working with our Preservation Engineering Group, our MSP Airport aviation team, or on office, government, or medical projects, Matt benefits clients and coworkers alike with his knowledge and research abilities. Since joining the firm, he has contributed as a leader of MBJ’s Revit training program, developing standards and training curriculum for staff and mentoring individuals in the use of an array of 3D modeling and analytic software.
Arts Center Wins PAM Award
August 29, 2013 – As structural engineer for the Weitz Center of Creativity at Carleton College, we are pleased the project has been recognized by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota as one of ten projects to receive an
annual award. The LEED Gold project reuses a 1910 building that had functioned as a middle school to create a new space for performing and visual arts, including classrooms, cinema, dance studio, a museum, and other spaces.
MBJ Designs Duluth Tower
August 12, 2013 – Meyer Borgman Johnson was recently chosen as part of an A/E team, led by RSP Architects, to help design a new 15-story tower in Duluth, Minnesota. The $80 million dollar project is a private-public joint venture between its developers, 425 Project Partners, and the City of Duluth. Maurices will be the main tenant of the 300,000 square foot office building, which is expected to be complete by August 2015. Construction of a 600-vehicle parking structure, owned by the City, could begin in December 2013. Read more here.
Thanks to Charity Donors
April 18, 2013 – During the last week of March, Meyer Borgman Johnson staff participated in a week long campaign to raise funds for Minnesota FoodShare and Sharing and Caring Hands. We are especially grateful to those who so generously donated items for our silent auction and helped us exceed our contribution goal this year. Many thanks to the following donors:
Brendan Daly – Coordinated Business Systems
Tom Ditty – Superior Consulting Services
Meghan Elliott – Preservation Design Works
Luke Frederickson – High Point Networks
Stephen Glasper – Brookside Barbers
Ellen Haberman – Brookside Barbers
Michelle Kidder – Pro Staff
Krysta Larson
Jack Montgomery
Dallas Oldre – Associated Financial Group
Irene Peterson
Ray Rogers – Lyon’s Pub
Julie Sager – CES Imaging
Grant Strom – Managed Design
Matt Thomas
New MBJ Associate
February 13, 2013 – Meyer Borgman Johnson welcomes Joan Glasper as a new associate of the firm. Joan works with all of the firm’s offices, touching every aspect of marketing and communication. She manages project and client information systems, brand integrity, and web presence, while using her writing and design skills to effectively inform and educate others about our business. Associates are a vital part of our leadership team, representing our culture and values and demonstrating excellent technical and management capabilities.
John E. Meyer, P.E., 1923-2013
January 7, 2013 – John (Jack) E. Meyer, P.E., founder of Meyer Borgman Johnson, passed away on January 2, 2013 at the age of 89. John touched the lives of many people, both professionally and personally and in many different ways. Here at MBJ, he was our leader, mentor, teacher, and friend. Our daily interactions with him showed us the soundness of acting with integrity and the benefits of meeting life with cheer and goodwill toward others. He encouraged us with his humor, generosity, and patience. His “door” was always open to us.
John grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating from Marshall High School in 1941. In the fall of that year, he enrolled in the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota. His education was interrupted by military service between 1943 and 1946, but when he returned to civilian life, he resumed his education and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1947 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering.
In 1955, John started his own firm. Partners Jack Borgman and Rollie Johnson subsequently joined him to form our present company, Meyer Borgman Johnson. John’s enthusiasm for structural engineering and the building industry, in general, was infectious. He knew people as well as he knew his craft and mentored many a young structural engineer or architect, bringing insight and clarity to the challenges of building design and project management.
During his career, John served as president of ASCE in Minnesota, president of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers, officer of the Minnesota Association of Consulting Engineers (now ACEC/MN), president of the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Alumni Society, and was a member of various building code committees.
John was the structural engineer of record for many notable projects in the Twin Cities area. His passion for restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures led him to contribute immensely to the preservation of some of Minnesota’s most important landmarks. With his knowledge of historical structural practices and materials and his skill as a structural engineer, John helped reclaim many historically significant structures for the continued use and enjoyment of future generations. In 2008, he was recognized for these contributions by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
A few of John’s landmark projects, both historic and new, include the Minnesota State Capitol, Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minneapolis City Hall, Fort Snelling Commandant’s House and Officers’ Quarters, the St. Paul World Trade Center, Loring Green Towers, and multiple projects at the University of Minnesota. The list is incredibly long!
Long after his “retirement” at age 80, John continued to show up regularly for work, taking on projects and mentoring staff. Anyone who worked on Saturdays eagerly waited for John to arrive with the donuts.
Although he accomplished so much in his lifetime, when praised for his many achievements, John was humble, self-effacing, and always eager to deflect the focus onto the contributions of others. He was a strong leader in the sense that he quite naturally elicited the cooperation of everyone with whom he worked.
We remember his youthful enthusiasm and energy at work and play. His memory continues to inspire us as professionals and, also, personally. Words cannot express how sorely we will miss John.
