Andre Newinski, S.E., A.M.ASCE
Why do you think it is important to contribute to ASCE Collaborate and the civil engineering profession as a whole?
I always believe that Engineering is a creative profession, We aim for positive change. Our designs impact communities and inspire innovations while playing a significant role as buildings perform better. In future times, Will the next generations enjoy a better world? ASCE Collaborate provide us knowledge & motivation and perhaps bond Engineers on finding the solutions for designated purposes. Aesthetics and Social causes need to come first: “Quality of Life” – because if not, Human life can be in danger. Its Philosophy can enlighten Actions and Thoughts, as Justice enables Advocating for maintenance that our profession requires. All contribution here is extremely important, therefore communication styles can evolve to a next stage. ASCE has a Vital role by triggering a powerful effect in a Rapid Changing World, propelling us forward. Together, We are an excellent Team… so we can Advance with ASCE 😊.
What advice do you often share with someone early on in their civil engineering career?
“There is nothing more practical than a transparent Theory - Jörg Schlaich” .
Knowing the existence of different Approaches is the best way to see how Structures works (e.g., truss analogy theory), a core example when advancing “performance-based design”. Structural Art has gifted us with the works of Jörg Schlaich and his Team”, and yet as seen in the Bridges of Swiss Hero Robert Maillart… so many ultimate visual experiences! I Encourage you to take a look into the ASCE “Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century” - meet the expectations of responsible charge. Changes are in the way and we (Civil Engineers) are strongly happening to the World! (A New Industry). Be proactive, Be Aware, Be Yourself and Stay Together. Align with initiatives like: ASCE Future World Vision and SEI Vision for 2033 (Structural), Net Zero E-Carbon Structures (www.se2050.org). Participate / Engage in Conventions, Congresses, Conversations, Events, Sessions, Activities, and try to Investigate what is going on in the Committees, on the Technical Advancement (CTA), .e.g. and the Global Activities Division (GAD). They should soon achieve their goals as our path continues to unfold: “we need an energy revolution, a prosperity for all . . .” And you can be a Valuable Engineer for the Future.
Why did you become a civil engineer?
When I was a teenager, I started creating Advanced 3D Worlds (Maps) by using Hammer - A Level Designer tool provided by Valve Developer Community for Half-Life PC Platform. I end up recreating almost the entire University Campus of our Civil Engineering School: URI 3D Complex 2008-2010 (a parallel research activity started in cooperation efforts with Prof. Dr. Márcio Antônio Vendrusculo). At that time, he was my Soil Mechanics professor and the Head & Director of the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Sciences from Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missoes (URI University).
To Answer Why: One Experienced Structural Engineer suddenly appears in my High School Classroom, and he introduced insights about what a Civil Engineer could do (Create): bridges, roads, constructions, buildings and others structures. I was instantly interested! I got to know Professor Denizard Batista de Freitas “CES Ouvrages d'Art” (ÉCOLE NATIONALE DES PONTS ET CHAUSSÉES, ENPC, France) years later, on my path also attending his structures disciplines. He was my mentor and an old friend whose thoughts have been evoked a profound gratitude that answers Why I became a Civil Engineer.
He gives me the task to find the “State-of-Art in Prestressed Concrete Beam Sizing” in order to defend my final dissertation. I was going for the best U.S. structural platforms! but he was still disappointed because I didn’t align with the French Engineering Knowledge he would like. At that window of time, bridge technologies from TDV GmbH (Austria) already have been acquired by Bentley Systems, Inc. … I had to do all the work alone for a long time as we progressively reestablish our friendship.
Accessing Bentley RM Bridge V8i was another complex challenge. Someone gives me the chance to join the most Advanced Structural firm of my state, providing me AASHTO codes – Section V (an almost nonexistent material here in Brazil, since ABNT supremacy codes couldn’t design prestressed members up to fc=15ksi). I move to the capital to work with 2 newly installed mentors: MSc. Marcos Hamann Beier @ UFRGS & His father Martin Alfredo Beier: Delegate of the Brazilian Association of Structural Engineering and Consulting (ABECE) – “The Owner’s of Deltacon Engenharia S/S Ltda in Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil”. They were really supportive, I stay there working for additional 120 days when Marcos reveals the internship opportunity, I was really thankful to them! I was happy to shared a lot of new experiences and to find some friends over there (in office), and in the city, same time.
I accept DZ’s initial request because I always knew, that someday in the future I would approximate my Simulated Designs into Real World Experiences (Structures and the Foundation of Everything). Since them, I have dedicated my time to study more structures. I receive my first BSc degree in Civil Engineering in 2011, an additional BA in Physics 2017, and the recent groundbreaking Astrophysics X-Series Program from ANU (2019). With this, I could know now what others major Structures coexists in our Universe, being insightful about other Worlds & Universes, Stellar Formations - so life can exist, so multiple possibilities. I think this answer is well covered, as the Journey remains!.
What do you enjoy most about being a civil engineer?
Engineering has endless potential in the fields of IDEAS, use your Imagination! We can provide alternative resolutions to an array of complex systems, analysis can be conducted to multiple perspectives if you want / when it is required (possibilities). In this way, Engineering permits express Art, and Adapt something into new reality, “every person can achieve really good purposes with this life-long learning dedicated process!” Its really a great profession! I enjoy the most when Engineers are able to develop conceptions, connections and freely express Intuition, Feeling, Thinking and share their Experiences with people, while using some energizing structural technology at times. I am very proud and profound about the Engineering uniqueness that impacts our society (distinctively). Working with Engineers and Architects for at least 10 years makes me capable of provide impressive structural designs for society and gain some field experience at times.
What is the most challenging project you have ever completed?
Over 100 structural designs, it has occurred the most challenge design: NPROJ001 by default is our First Futuristic Impulse Building 2020-2021. The Extreme Performance Buildings Initiative @edextremo exists in a Team: Andre Newinski, José Carlos Lunardi and José Diniz Lunardi… (this initiative is being now powered by my family support: Davi Newinski & Carmen Maria Zuculoto Newinski). We are leading the searching to increase resilience and further sustainability for newly installed residential buildings at the city we live - Santo Ângelo. It was necessary to Revolutionize the entire Building System: Design, Analysis, Construction and Experimental Validation in a Holistic way, so the Team could start to thinking in performance objectives (A New Thermal Enclosure & Art). At the same time, I am always attending ASCE-SEI continuing education, and the special events of SEI President Glenn Bell. I attended to ASCE 2021 Convention & SEI Structures Virtual 2021, also powered by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI of ASCE), I also had recently joined SGH to learning purposes.
Since 2012 I have done some experimental research works that enables Evolution in Structural Concrete Frames based on ACI competitions at times: STATE-OF-ART of Advanced Conceptions for Complex Experimental Structures Towards Aesthetics Performances (Highly Efficient Geometries) subjected to Impact Eccentric loads With / Without Shear reinforcement (Joanna Dark IV / XR-20 was my final creation in the structural research field). Doing this, it helps you to gain confidence, and to create a database to use while Designing Structures. One of my beautiful structures awaiting completion is the covered street at nearby city of Entre-Ijuis. done in Alliance with the partnership of Fortes Engenharia & Arquitetura (Professor Arq. João Fortes and his Civil Engineer son), that we hope to be ready soon, next year (2022).