Extreme Engineer: Ken Maschke
Extreme Engineer Quote
"get involved in a related engineering society or group while in college and make a point to get to know your professors and faculty"
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What He Does
Through his work with Thornton Tomasetti in Chicago, Ken has had the opportunity to work on many exciting projects, including the practice facility for the Chicago Bears Football Club as well as working in Denmark with the Danish engineering firm, Leif Hansen. Ken's latest project is designing the structure for the second tallest building in the world, which will be located in Dubai! You can read more about Ken through his blog a http://blogs.asce.org/bridgingthegap/
Making a Difference
Ken feels that he makes a difference each day through civil engineering as he specializes in making sure that buildings he designs are structurally safe for public use. Working hand in hand with architects allows them (architect) to explore new shapes and designs through Ken's plans for support of their building model and also gives validity to the project.
Why Engineering?
While growing up on his family farm Ken always enjoyed building structures on the farm. At the time he wasn't aware that what he was doing was "engineering" until he went to high school. It was there that he participated in a Science Olympiad challenge that he discovered what he knew all along, that he enjoyed engineering! Once Ken started college at the University of Michigan he gravitated to civil engineering because he said "it was BIG and you could drive down the street and see the actual result."
Advice
Ken's advice to students starting out in any engineering field is to get involved in a related engineering society or group while in college. Ken also advised to make a point to get to know your professors and faculty because they can make a big difference when you begin to look for a job.
Hobbies/Free Time
When Ken is not working he enjoys hanging out with his boxer, Roxie and playing soccer twice a week. He also enjoys traveling and skiing when he can. Ken even manages to have time to teach an engineering structures class at the School of the Arts in the Chicago area.
Education
Ken attended Bad Axe High School in Bad Axe Michigan where he grew up. After high school Ken received his degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan.
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