Joseph Burns is licensed as both an architect and structural engineer. This lecture will explore the unusual path he embarked on nearly 50 years ago when he enrolled in Notre Dame’s School of Architecture, then a department in the College of Engineering. He recently retired as a board member of Thornton Tomasetti, but remains engaged in the design and investigation of building structures at TT.
Joe Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Notre Dame and master’s degrees in architecture and civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With more than 40 years of experience, Joe is a passionate advocate for the deeper integration of architecture and engineering, which he promotes through innovation, collaboration, and leadership. He was a member of Thornton Tomasetti’s board of directors for more than 10 years, and while his practice is based in Chicago, he has overseen the firm’s practices as well as operations in the Europe, Middle East and Brazil.
His contributions to the A/E/C industry have been recognized with his advancement to fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and its Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), the American Institute of Architects, the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Design Futures Council. He is a trustee of the Chicago Architecture Center, the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation and the SEI Future Fund. He is a member of Northwestern’s Civil Engineering Advisory Committee and he leads a high performance building design studio at Northwestern and provides structural advice as a visiting critic to Auburn’s Rural Studio. He remains engaged in the design and investigation of building structures with Thornton Tomasetti.