After my fourth year, I joined Walters Group, a structural steel fabricator and erector, as an estimating co‑op student, and it’s where I’m currently employed. Before joining, I knew little about the structural steel world, but quickly discovered that Walters had contributed to many high‑profile projects and offered opportunities to work on meaningful projects. As an estimator, I worked on a wide range of commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and renovation projects across Canada and the US. I learned about the bidding process, how to develop accurate cost estimates, and the factors that impact a project’s budget. My first major estimate was the Massey Hall revitalization in Toronto, an exciting and overwhelming introduction to bidding on landmark projects.
After graduating, I continued estimating and worked on projects such as the David Geffen Hall restoration at Lincoln Center. This was my first real introduction to our New York installation team and clients. I quickly learned that the New York market is demanding, fast‑paced, and full of strong personalities, but also incredibly rewarding, offering the opportunity to work on projects that push the limits of what’s possible to build.
Over time, I transitioned into a coordination role, helping coordinate between our teams during major bids. One significant bid I led was for 10 World Trade, an office and life sciences tower in Boston supported by four large steel arches spanning over an active subway line. The building would be challenging to construct, since all four sides of the tower are concave with no straight edges, and the tower slopes outwards with the floor areas getting larger as you go up. We developed a strong proposal and won the project.
About a year later, I was asked if I wanted to manage 10 World Trade, the same project I had helped win. I accepted, even though I had never managed a project before, let alone one of this size and complexity. The first few months felt chaotic. Although I knew the project from the bid stage, much had changed, and I had to learn new project management processes quickly. With only a few months before steel erection was scheduled to begin, the pressure was on as we worked to complete engineering, issue shop drawings, and fabricate enough steel to support installation.
The biggest adjustment was the volume and urgency of communication. I would receive hundreds of emails a day and constant calls from team members, suppliers, the client, and the site team. Nearly every call required immediate action because delays could halt work. One memorable moment was receiving more than ten calls shortly after midnight because a piece of steel was missing while we were working at night on a portion of the building that was over an active highway ramp. Managing the project was stressful at times, however it was also a fulfilling learning experience. I learned how a complex structure is designed, fabricated, and built. It’s satisfying to know I played a small part in a landmark project every time I visit Boston. It reinforced why I chose civil engineering in the first place.
After completing the project, I returned to the preconstruction team and continued leading pursuits in Boston and New York. I was also lucky enough to spend the spring and summer months in Estonia while continuing to work on projects, where I had the opportunity to experience day-to-day life in Tallinn and travel around Estonia. Some of my favourite parts were guided tours of Linnahall and Patarei Sea Fortress and Prison, swimming in the bogs of Soomaa Rahvuspark, visiting Rummu Quarry, going to a sauna floating on the Baltic Sea, participating in the Üliõpilaste Suvemängud (University Student Summer Games), and running in the Tallinn Half Marathon.
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Other notable projects I’ve had the chance to work on since then include the Belmont Park redevelopment and the NewYork-Presbyterian Cancer Center. Recently, with signs that New York’s commercial office market is picking up again, we should have a chance to build a super tall tower again, one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed working with our New York team.
