SEI Richmond recently held its first official event, a site visit to the VCU Arts and Innovation Building in Richmond, organized by co-chairs Rajath (Ray) Haritsa and Mahmoud Abdullah. The building, designed as a musical and performance hub featuring auditoriums, will be a masterpiece upon completion. Before the tour, Ben Pavlich, Structural Engineer at Dunbar Structural, provided an insightful structural overview of the project. This was followed by a detailed site walk led by Alex Altizer, Construction Manager at Hourigan, who shared the unique challenges and highlights of this remarkable structure. Tower cranes were seen actively supporting construction progress on-site, with the project slated for completion in 2027. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the entire site, gaining valuable insights into the construction and design process. We concluded the visit with snacks and networking, marking a successful close to SEI Richmond’s first event.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Alex Altizer, Ben Pavlich, and the teams at Hourigan and Dunbar Structural for their generous time and guidance, which made this site visit possible. Special thanks to Paige, ASCE President, for her support, cooperation, and valuable feedback throughout the planning and execution of this event. Finally, we thank all the attendees for joining us and making this site visit a memorable learning experience. We look forward to more engaging events ahead.
To see more photos of the tour, visit the gallery by clicking here.