2019 Women in Building Services: Maryanne Wachter, LERA Consulting Engineers

Name: Maryanne Wachter

Title: Design Engineer

Company Name:  LERA Consulting Engineers            

How many years have you been in your current field? 3.5

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
I was on the design team for the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art currently under construction in Los Angeles. This is one of the largest and complex projects that our company currently has under construction, and I was able to contribute to automating some of the design efforts in the last push before the building permit was issued.

What trend(s) do you predict to dominate your industry in 2019?
I believe we will continue to see more work and development of digital collaboration across disciplines, through shared workflows and coordination. There is also a lot of interest in mass timber for mid-rise design.

Which of your philanthropic endeavors are you most proud of?
I’m currently an ACE mentor working with the Manhattan Bridges School. This has given me an opportunity to introduce juniors and seniors in high school to structural engineering and encourage them to pursue careers in the built environment.