Structural engineers keep us safe through careful design and analysis of urban infrastructures. See how V3 Structural Engineer Joe Roy solves the safety puzzle using his lifelong passion for how things are built.
Written in the sand
Joe’s earliest engineering aspirations came in with the Florida tide. As a kid, he spent his family’s beach vacations skipping the traditional sandcastles in favor of laying out an entire city in the sand, digging out water retention ponds and detailed infrastructure. Construction and architecture captured his imagination from a young age and led him to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he studied civil engineering. The smaller school environment gave him the opportunity to explore his interests; when he found his way to structural engineering, he knew he’d found the right fit.
“Engineering is all about problem solving. When you’re designing a bridge, you can’t just put it anywhere; it’s almost like a puzzle to figure out where things are going to go. Maybe some people don’t like that but I like that planning phase: figuring out how things work, where they fit, and all the challenges you run into. It feels good when you finally find something that works.”
Joe landed his first of three internships with V3 in 2018. After telling his uncle—a construction worker—about the opportunity, he commented on how V3 is “a great company with good people doing outstanding work.” Joe agreed and took turns working with our survey, construction, and transportation/municipal engineering teams before joining the structural engineering team full time.
Working with solids supports
As a structural engineer, Joe has a wide range of responsibilities. He plans, designs, and inspects bridges, retaining walls, and other supportive infrastructure. This requires extensive use of geometry, drafting programs, and other tools to create safe, functional structures. V3’s commitment to producing quality work is a big motivator for Joe.
“People value our quality of work. Things don’t always go as planned, but we’re always open to working things out and producing high quality, straightforward plans. We don’t want our clients to feel like they’re reading a book in a different language; we’re easy to talk to and do everything we can to resolve issues.”
One of his favorite recent projects was the redesign and replacement of a Lake Forest, IL bridge that brought up many unexpected challenges along with a quick turnaround. In order to avoid prolonged construction delays, Joe reworked the design with creative solutions that were both functional and aesthetically interesting.
He’s currently working on the preliminary phase of high-profile Chicago project that’s spanning across V3’s many areas of expertise. Joe enjoys partnering with different specialties to find the best solution.
“We’re very collaborative here. There’s no set hierarchy. I work hand-in-hand with everyone here, from land development to natural resources and construction. Everyone is so good at helping out and offering their opinions; working together is so important, especially on these massive, complex projects.”
Bridging it all together
When he’s not inspecting bridges for structural integrity, Joe enjoys getting outside to fish or play in his park district’s softball league. He loves cheering for the Bears with his dad and cooking out before each game.
Joe has many goals for himself, including passing the professional engineering (PE) exam and using his drone pilot license during bridge inspections. He also aspires to become an Illinois Certified National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) Team Leader. His desire to take on more shows no sign of stopping.
“The structural team keeps taking bigger, more complex projects and I’m excited to see where that goes. Growing the team and my skills is a big focus and I’m happy to be part of it.”
Work with Joe and V3’s structural engineers
Ensuring that a structure can withstand the stresses of its environment and remain safe, stable, and secure is a critical component of any project plan or bridge assessment. V3’s structural engineers have you covered; connect with our team to learn more.