Paul Parfitt

Experience

Paul Parfitt joined the Washington, D.C. office as a full-time associate in 2008 after working in the Denver office as a summer intern during 2007. He has gained extensive experience working on structural evaluations, collapse investigations, and load testing of new and existing buildings and bridges. Mr. Parfitt has worked on a broad range of projects, including post-tensioned, precast, and conventionally reinforced concrete structures; wood-framed, light gauge metal structures; structural steel structures; pre-engineered buildings and building components; and concrete and brick masonry wall systems. Mr. Parfitt is also part of WJE’s Difficult Access Team.

While attending the Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Parfitt was awarded first place for his thesis design study of a performance-based designed seismic lateral system. He previously worked at the Pennsylvania State University and Symmes Maini & McKee Associates of Boston.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Collapses

• Dulles Jet Center - Reston, VA: Structural analysis and investigation into jet hangar heavy truss roof collapse
• File Storage Warehouse - Landover, MD: Structural analysis and investigation into warehouse progressive collapse
• Miller-Coors Brewery - Elkton, VA: Evaluation of collapsed spent grain tank and structural review of in-service grain tank; ultrasonic testing on tank walls
• Watergate East - Washington, D.C.: Investigation into multilevel concrete slab collapse of parking garage

 

Repair and Rehabilitation

• Watergate West - Washington, D.C.: Paper wrapped, post-tensioned balcony and building facade repair design and construction observation
• Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant - Lusby, MD: Concrete survey, development of repair documents, and construction observation

 

Bridges

• Hawaii Department of Transportation: Specialized structural investigation of post-tensioned bridges
• Oklahoma Department of Transportation: Specialized structural investigation of post-tensioned bridges

 

Structural Analysis

• Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig) - Boston, MA: Safety audit of post-tensioned concrete structures
• Richmond Coliseum - VA: Investigation and analysis of hurricane shelter classification and retrofitting

 

Failure/Damage Investigations

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Annapolis, MD: Structural condition assessment of heavy timber Parallam wood members
• Blue Ridge Growers - Culpepper, VA: Structural condition assessment of damaged roof structure

 

Difficult Access

• Washington National Cathedral - Washington, D.C.: Condition assessment of post-seismic damage
• Kimpton Palomar - Philadelphia, PA: Facade inspection and assessment of masonry and terra cotta
• 1701 Florida Avenue - Washington, D.C: Condition assessment of post-seismic damage

 

Instrumentation/Monitoring/Load Testing

• Silver Spring Transit Center - Silver Spring, MD: Ground penetrating radar survey of post-tensioned concrete structure
• Miller-Coors Brewery - Elkton, VA: Installation and monitoring of instrumentation on ice-damaged fermenting tank

Professional Affiliations

American Concrete Institute (ACI)
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - Structural Committee NCS, chair; Professional Development NCS-YMF, chair
American Welding Society (AWS)
Structural Engineers Association (SEA)

Registrations

AWS Certified Welding Inspector
California OES Safety Assessment Program Certified
Professional Engineer in PA and VA
Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians - Level I
 

Education

The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, Structures Option, 2007
Master of Architectural Engineering, Structures Option, 2007
Minor of Architecture Studies, 2007