Chris B. Kahanek, P.E., S.E., AIA, CMEngNZ

Background

Mr. Kahanek has expertise in civil/structural engineering and architecture, and he provides expert solutions to large, complex, and multi-discipline projects and disputes. His 19 years of experience spans a wide variety of professional services, including:

• Storm, fire, and earthquake damage repair design
• Seismic retrofit design
• Restoration evaluation and design
• Property claim response
• Builder’s Risk claim response
• Construction & design defect litigation support
• Code compliance consulting
• Seismic risk evaluation
• Vibration analysis
• Dispute resolution
• Trial testimony
• Multi-discipline project management

Mr. Kahanek performed professional services on a variety of building types, including commercial, industrial, single-and multi-family residential, institutional, educational, athletic, agricultural, parking structures, winery, and healthcare facilities. His past clients include architects, attorneys, insurance companies, insurance adjusters, contractors, property managers, and property owners.

Mr. Kahanek has extensive international work experience. He studied architecture in Italy, participated in a half-year worker-exchange program in Denmark, performed on-site retrofit design at the podium of Burj Khalifa, evaluated earthquake damage in Mexico City, and managed an office of forensic engineers in Christchurch, New Zealand for more than four years in response to the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, Cook Strait, and Kaikoura earthquakes.

Automation of business operation processes and deliverables has become a focus for Mr. Kahanek as he assumed more management responsibilities in recent years. He has become proficient in coding with Javascript, XML (HTML, KML, IFC, etc.), and the Microsoft Power Platform in his efforts to advance web-based tools that facilitate communication about forensic evaluation of buildings.

What is your most interesting project or accomplishment?

My years in New Zealand were packed with exciting accomplishments. Most importantly, I met my future wife; for some reason we both had to travel halfway around the world to find each other! The work experience was very unique and demanding. I investigated thousands of earthquake-damaged buildings insured for billions of dollars (literally!). Some buildings investigated early on had collapse hazards and all had various forms of distress. We played a major role in investigating the unique structures at the Marlborough wineries after the Cook Strait earthquakes. In hindsight, it’s possible I observed more real structural damage in those few years than I may see in the rest of my career. Additionally, I had the extreme pleasure of leading the office of bright and ambitious forensic engineers – at one point we had a couple dozen living in Christchurch.

What do you love about your job?

The part of my job that I have enjoyed the most is managing young engineers. It is a satisfying challenge to help bright, stubborn individuals tackle new challenges and learn from their mistakes while simultaneously balancing client demands and budget constraints. Existing buildings and their owners offer an unlimited supply of new, unexpected challenges!

Why did you follow your career path?

I made the unusual choice to ‘straddle the fence’ and pursue dual licensure as both an architect and structural engineer because I found the gaps between and overlaps of the two professions are particularly interesting. I enjoyed learning about architects that pushed structure to its limits, and I equally enjoyed engineering problems driven by external ‘real-world’ use and constructability constraints. Also, many of the most important components of buildings are overlooked when they fall into gaps between the cores of the two professions. Building enclosure assemblies are the prime example, as well as “nonstructural” seismic bracing of pipes, ducts, and furniture, “nonstructural” walls and floor slabs, and assemblies made with atypical materials.

What are your interests outside of work?

My wife and two children are my most important interests outside of work. However, I am a chronic hobbyist with a bad DIY habit. My hobbies include maintaining a saltwater reef tank, baking bread, beer brewing, desert landscaping and gardening, and many unfinished construction projects in and around the house.

Who or what motivates you?

I am motivated by explicit but constantly evolving visions of how the world around me should be, rather than its current state.

Who do you love to work with?

I need to work with colleagues who are intellectually curious and excited to expand their technical knowledge. I need them to know more than I do about something or (ideally) everything. A team of this type creates a healthy competitive environment that inspires me to continue learning and setting new goals.

Favorite Quotes:

“…great engineers will only work for a great engineer.” – Elon Musk

 

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” – Ron Paul

Years of Experience:

I graduated from UT in 2003, so 20 years now.

Awards, associations, organizations, etc.:

AIA, NCARB, NCEES