People Spotlight: Meet Andrew

Tonkin's People Spotlight gives you behind the scenes insights about the technical specialists in our business.

A Structural Engineer in Tonkin's Sunshine Coast office, Andrew works on projects big and small - from simple structural building upgrades to complex multistorey structures. Prior to gaining his Bachelor of Engineering and starting his career with Tonkin, Andrew was in the metal and fabrication industry for 17 years. Andrew's trade background has complimented his engineering qualifications, giving him a well rounded understanding of both design and construction techniques.

How did you get into structural engineering?

Prior to becoming an engineer, I was a boiler maker (welder / steel fabricator) for around 17 years. Structural engineering was always an interest of mine, and I wanted to keep learning and pushing myself so I completed my Bachelor of Engineering a few years ago. Having a trade background definitely compliments my engineering qualifications, allowing me to have a practical understanding of the constructability of designs.

What types of projects have you worked on and projects get you the most excited?

I've worked across timber, masonry, concrete, and steel - from house renovations to full new builds, 2–3 storey school buildings, and large multi-storey, mixed residential projects. Doing the structural engineering for bigger buildings excite me most; working out the load path and lateral stability is where the real engineering challenge lies.

What challenges are your clients facing now and into the future?

Construction costs are a big challenge, particularly for our clients in the multi-storey residential space. Speedier construction means quicker occupancy and a faster return on investment, so a big part of our role is to optimise the design of the structure to make it more affordable and faster to construct, while also being robust and working within the architectural design intent. Clients in the multi-residential space are tending to look more into utilising precast members to accelerate construction time on site.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing a project go from a concept on paper to a standing building is always rewarding, especially with a tradesperson's background giving me appreciation for both sides of the process. I also enjoy working closely with clients and construction teams to adjust details to suit their methodology and sequencing, helping streamline construction.

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