CARL HOWE
Principal at C.W. Howe Partners Inc.
Carl Howe
FAME: When was your company founded, and what does it specialize in?
CH: My company was founded in January 1995. We specialize, very broadly, in the structural engineering design of buildings. But we have worked on, and designed, pretty much anything and everything that stands up, that is considered a “structure”.
We have helped design bridges, utility towers, all manner of walls, retaining walls, unusual stairs, swimming pools on many of Los Angeles’ hillsides and even furniture. But mostly we provide structural design for buildings - residential, commercial and multi-family projects.
We also added Civil engineering design about ten years ago (another interview will be needed for that subject).r interview will be needed for that subject).
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FAME: Did you always know that you wanted to become a structural engineer?
CH: No. I didn’t know that structural engineering existed when I was eighteen years old and thinking about college. Like most people probably, I thought I knew what an architect was (and I liked the sound of that) but I did not think I was “artsy” enough to be an architect.
So, I enrolled in generic “engineering” (to be practical) at Cal State Northridge. Then, I stumbled upon the School of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. They have a degree program in Architectural Engineering (ARCE), which is structural engineering. To my impressionable mind, I loved that this program had both the words “architecture” and “engineering” in the title – so I made it my goal to only go to school at Cal Poly, SLO.
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FAME: For any clients reading this, can you describe what an engineer does?
CH: An engineer designs, specifies, and explains how to build all the parts of the structure that you may not see when the job is completed. This means the foundations, what’s inside the walls, and what the floors are constructed of.
Engineers have to “solve” the balancing act of three elements:
1. A configuration or architectural design
2. The materials used
3. The loads imposed upon the configuration and the materials.
The loads are made up of vertical loads, i.e., the weight of the building and the people and things inside the building, and lateral loads, which are due to earthquakes or wind forces and are prescribed by building codes.
“An engineer designs, specifies, and explains how to build all the parts of the structure that you may not see when the job is completed. ”
FAME: What are some common misconceptions clients have about engineers?
CH: I guess I would say that clients, and perhaps some architects, think that engineers have a lot of control over the outcome of a design. We do have some control but not as much as when we are allowed to be a part of the design team.
This is because the three elements of a structural problem, those listed in question 3 above, are given to us by the architect and the building codes and are out of our control - if we are not allowed to input. Engineers can be most helpful if we are part of the design team from an early stage.
That way, we can give suggestions and have input on design choices to make an efficient design.
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FAME: How much do you need to coordinate your work with the architect? How do you facilitate that process?
CH: The engineering design and the architecture must agree. The engineering must follow the architecture and fit it exactly. This is coordination and there probably can’t be too much of it. We coordinate by means of preliminary structural plans, meetings, explanations of what is in our plans, adjustments, and more plans and meetings.
Really whatever works for the team. Sometimes 3-dimensional computer modeling helps with this but still, I believe sitting down with the architect, with a plan, and explaining the structural system is the best.
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FAME: What should a client look for when hiring an engineer (i.e. what traits should an engineer have)?
CH: An engineer should have experience of course, but also an engineer must be sensitive to architecture and must know what the architect (and client) are trying to accomplish.
A good engineer can offer design alternatives that are easier to build yet still fit the design vision.
“An engineer who provides structural design of buildings, one working with an architect, must have experience, of course, but also must be sensitive to architecture.”
FAME: Is the engineering for a single-family home different or more challenging than other types of buildings?
CH: In fact, very much so. Custom single-family homes are really very challenging. They can be extremely complicated with multiple materials used. There can be concrete, steel, masonry, wood – all used in a completely unique way for each custom home.
Homes are also not usually stacking and orderly like a commercial building. So much imagination and effort go into the architectural design of custom homes – and we have to make that vision come true.
What is your favorite type of project to take on?
CH: Well, even though they are the most challenging, custom residential is my favorite.
So much work, dreams and effort go into the concept of a home, a beautiful unique home that is the finished product, that although it is difficult to achieve - is worth it.
FAME: Give us a fun fact about yourself.
CH: Engineers aren’t fun, ha! Well, I love Spain, the city of Madrid in particular.
My third year of college was spent in Madrid learning everything not related to engineering, language, art history at the Prado and even cooking for 5 flatmates for lunch. I am from Los Angeles so living in a European city was a completely different style of life for me – one that I loved.
I return often and I also “make” my family go. I have twin daughters who are now 14 years old. I tried to duplicate my college experience a bit for them in 2022-23. My wife and daughters and I spent 10 months in Madrid where my daughters attended 7th grade at a Spanish school – in Spanish! They are still recovering (they say).
Thanks to my business partners, Katie Baad and Martin Guzman – and our whole team, for letting me do that.