Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Image credit: Nic Lehoux)
News + Views is the official newsletter of TYLin Group. TYLin is a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With 3,000+ employees working in 60+ offices throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, we provide support on projects of varying size and complexity.
For more information or to contact us, please visit www.tylin.com.
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WELCOME TO News + Views
We use the term “built environment” to identify human-designed spaces that shape our lives and activities. This encompasses bustling urban centers with buildings where we live, work, and play, vast networks of transportation infrastructure and water systems that promote healthy communities, and open spaces designed to expand human connections and experiences.
In this issue, you’ll learn how we partner with clients to advance the built environment through our holistic ability to plan, design, and oversee complex local projects across a range of markets and geographies. The common thread for every project is our passion for using infrastructure to unite people, places, and ideas in creative, sustainable, and equitable ways.
Our feature article for this issue focuses on our Buildings Market. We are excited to spotlight how this talented global team brings innovation, technical excellence, and a spirit of collaboration to new and existing buildings around the world.
Best wishes,
Matt Cummings President and CEO Global Infrastructure
We are deeply passionate about design in the built environment and its ability to improve local communities and bring together people, places, and ideas.
With more than 50 years of experience, TYLin’s Buildings Market has successfully provided structural engineering services for over 30,000 projects of all types and sizes across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific Regions. In the face of climate change, we also maintain a keen eye on sustainable practices as we redefine “resilience” to safeguard the built environment for generations to come.
Building Excellence
The philosophy of our Buildings Market is grounded in the “Joy of Structure,” where we find pleasure and satisfaction in designing and engineering structurally sound buildings and infrastructure for our clients. Our work also demonstrates an inarguable fact: true innovation is born from collaboration, which ensures our clients’ vision remains at the heart of every project.
“We excel at bringing the most complex designs to life through a combination of sophisticated technologies, fundamental engineering methodologies, and partnership,” says Nat Oppenheimer, PE, LEED AP, Buildings Sector Leader. “This kind of experience is essential today as our industry is propelled into the future by new technologies and the demand for critical and sustainable infrastructure.”
Our Buildings Market is also united with the worldwide organization of TYLin and our affiliated companies. Access to such a wide array of resources allows us to bring different technologies and design approaches, as well as to act as a valued client intermediary on building projects where an architectural design partner is needed to help address the transportation and water infrastructure needs of a project.
From Dreams to Reality
We have helped hundreds of public, private, and institutional clients realize their dream projects across the Commercial, Cultural, Education, Government, Healthcare, and Science + Technology sectors. Our passion is bringing the most complex designs to life through structural engineering excellence. Here are some examples.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Our design approach for new construction leans upon decades of experience and results in the appropriate structural engineering solution for each unique project.
The Whitney Museum in New York, New York: To better display its extensive collections, the Whitney Museum commissioned a new 9-story building in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District with architectural partner Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The building cantilevers dramatically over a public plaza, creating a recessed entrance that opens into vast lobby with a free-entry exhibition space. Steel framing to achieve the design’s long spans and open plan layout.
The Heights in Arlington, Virginia: To contend with its dense urban site, this new 775-seat public school by Bjarke Ingels Group has five traditional one-story bar-style classrooms stacked atop one another and rotated around a pivot point. Throughout design and construction, we worked closely with the contractor and steel fabricator to ensure economical solutions and constructability.
Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center in Wantagh, New York: This new visitor center by nArchitects comprises a 330-footlong building built atop a foundation of new and existing piles, with a superstructure of glulam framing with wood shear walls. The net zero energy facility focuses on the study of climate change.
Taipei City Music Hall and Library in Taipei, Taiwan: TYLin is serving as Prime Consultant for this new smart building by KRIS YAO | ARTECH, which will open in 2028 as the first sustainable facility in Taiwan to combine a highquality music hall and library.
Image credit: Nic Lehoux
Image credit: Michael Moran
ADAPTIVE RE-USE
As accelerated growth and urban decay threaten the welfare of cities and communities, we apply our knowledge of archaic structural systems and experience with the renovation of existing buildings to convert vacant, underused, or abandoned facilities into new spaces.
Amherst College Student Center in Amherst, Massachusetts: This project with architectural partners Herzog & de Meuron and Sasaki will build a new student center and dining hall on the site of two former facilities. Since sustainability is a key performance metric, TYLin is reusing the lower castin-place concrete structure rather than demolishing it. A mass timber structure will be built atop the old structure to create an efficient, sustainable facility.
Battery Maritime Building in New York, New York: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Beaux-Arts style building first opened in 1909. Working with architectural partner Marvel, we provided structural engineering services for the renovation and reinforcement of the existing building and a glass-clad vertical expansion containing a boutique hotel with a rooftop restaurant.
Rendering credit: Herzog & de Meuron
SPECIALTY STRUCTURES
Our Buildings team, including the specialists in our Lightweight Structures Group, combine detailed design consulting, engineering, and materials investigation with imaginative thinking to create innovative buildings and special structures.
Domino Square Shade Net in New York, New York: TYLin’s Lightweight Structures Group developed a stainless-steel cable net suspended from three masts to function as permanent infrastructure at Domino Park. The seasonal mesh fabric panels provide shading for the public. We also provided adaptive reuse services and structural design for the old Domino Sugar Refinery.
Confluence Park Sculpture in San Antonio, Texas: The junction of the San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek is the backdrop for the pavilions at Confluence Park. Designed by Matsys in collaboration with Lake|Flato Architects, the fluid shapes of the concrete structures are used to collect and funnel rainwater while simultaneously providing shade and shelter. The entire site is used as an outdoor classroom.
Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois: TYLin is providing design services for the visually striking screen wall of the Museum at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park in Chicago. The screen wall consists of 40 individual ultra-highperformance concrete (UHPC) panels, each approximately 8 feet by 30 feet and designed for ease of erection.
Image credit: Cade Bradshaw & Stuart Allen
Rendering credit: The Obama Foundation
HISTORIC PRESERVATION + RENOVATIONS
After consulting on over 400 registered landmark structures, we have developed an incomparable ability to gain a holistic understanding of older buildings’ unique architecture and structural systems to enhance building integrity and ensure modern functionality.
Michigan Central Station in Detroit, Michigan: This large-scale renovation by architect Quinn Evans is part of the Ford Motor Company’s new transportation innovation development. Originally built in 1912, the building consists of a train station and an 18-story office tower. Renovation scope includes the office tower, main waiting room with Guastavino tile vaults, concourse and site structures, and basement and unexcavated belowgrade areas.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC: TYLin designed structural upgrades and modifications to this historic building, which was designed by Mies van der Rohe. In contrast with the existing 1972 building, which features a disciplined grid of exposed structural steel, this renovation, designed by Mecanoo, introduced elements with soft, rounded forms.
Image credit: Jason Keen
Image credit: Robert Benson
FAÇADE ENGINEERING
Collaborating with architects, building owners, owners' representatives, specialty contractors, and fabricators, we provide building envelope and façade engineering services for existing buildings and new construction.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC: Designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, the museum’s iconic hollow cylindrical design stands in contrast with its traditional neighbors along the National Mall. TYLin provided structural designs for elevator renovations, envelope repairs and improvements, exterior precast panel replacements, balcony glazing, and roofing, all while improving energy efficiency and humidity control.
UPenn Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: TYLin is providing structural engineering services for a new 37,300-sf Student Performing Arts Center. The design is characterized by three suspended trapezoids floating above the ground.
Rendering credit: Steven Holl Architects
ARCHITECTURE AND CODE CONSULTING
The bedrock of safe construction is found in modern building codes that reflect ongoing advancements in new materials, technologies, and methodologies. We collaborate with all disciplines to develop integrated, code-compliant solutions.
North Aud Block Development in Buffalo, New York: TYLin is leading a team of nine firms to provide Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation with the multi-discipline planning study, master plan, and development concepts for 600,000 sf of mixed-use space at five buildings on a 2.3-acre block.
Austin Steward Plaza in Rochester, New York: This high-profile project is in the heart of Rochester’s downtown business district and the “ROC the Riverway” revitalization initiative. TYLin led the design and overall project management, including Architecture and Code Compliance, for this urban riverfront space.
CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES
TYLin’s teams in Europe and Latin America bring deep knowledge of the design, construction, management, inspection, and assessment of buildings, bridges, and unique structures.
A Legacy of Leadership
TYLin’s Buildings Market represents the united vision of our legacy firm leaders, both past and present:
Tung-Yen (T.Y.) Lin (1912-2003): Our founder, T.Y. Lin, is a recognized pioneer in the use of prestressed concrete in the design and construction of buildings and long-span bridges.
Bob Silman (1935-2018): Founder of Silman (now TYLin), Bob is remembered for his engineering talents and insights and his advocacy for historic preservation and sustainability long before they were commonplace.
New Passenger Building at Santiago de Compostela Station in Spain: Integrating rail, bus, and urban transport services, this new facility is transforming an important station on Spain's high-speed rail network. The ambitious project is under the management of ADIF Alta Velocidad, with construction supervision and construction management services provided by TYLin.
For more information on our Buildings-related services, please contact Nat Oppenheimer.
Bob Radley, PE (TYLin - Retired):
Bob’s vision of a diverse architecture/ engineering team in the eastern U.S. helped inspire TYLin’s tradition of excellence in project management for buildings and transportation infrastructure.
Nic Goldsmith, FAIA, LEED AP: As the founding director of our Lightweight Structures Group, Nic’s interest in material efficiency and sustainability over 40 years has led to ground-breaking tensile and fabric structures.
Chuck Naeve, PE: Since founding his firm, now known as AEC, A TYLin Company, in Austin, Texas, Chuck is known for creating buildings that complement architectural goals and designing sustainable structures in harmony with the environment.
Transforming Pedestrian Bridge Design: The X-Factor Concept
The X-Factor Concept, a collaboration between TYLin and Bridge Brothers, is redefining pedestrian bridge design by combining advanced customization with the efficiency of prefabrication. This innovative approach brings bold, affordable solutions to communities prioritizing walkability and visual appeal.
The idea began with Hunter Ruthrauff, Design Manager and Bridge Architect in TYLin’s Architecture and Visualization Group. Inspired to provide clients with affordable yet striking pedestrian bridges, Ruthrauff envisioned merging high-end customization with prefabricated efficiency. His concept aimed to deliver bridges that are unique, practical, and accessible to clients with varying budgets.
Working with TYLin colleagues Bobby Sokolowski, PE, Lead Bridge Engineer, and Greg Blanpied, Computational Designer, Ruthrauff led the development of a Grasshopper script, a computational design tool that ensures seamless adjustments to bridge dimensions, from length and height to curvature and alignment. This parametric design approach not only preserves structural integrity, but it also streamlines production timelines and costs, making ambitious designs feasible for a broader range of clients.
To bring X-Factor to life, Ruthrauff cultivated a partnership with Bridge Brothers, an industry leader in prefabricated bridge manufacturing. Together, they developed a customizable Vierendeel Truss design, featuring sleek aesthetics achieved by replacing traditional diagonals with standard structural pipes cut to size and 3D-printed connectors. This hybrid approach simplifies assembly and keeps costs competitive.
Soon, a browser-based platform hosted by Bridge Brothers will allow clients to customize their bridge designs in real time, adjusting elements like span, curvature, and sine wave patterns while maintaining structural soundness. This intuitive tool will empower communities to create pedestrian bridges tailored to their needs and aesthetics.
Set to launch in early 2025, the X-Factor Concept marks a new era in pedestrian bridge design, blending innovation and accessibility to benefit communities worldwide.
Learn more details about X-Factor.
Aesthetic pedestrian bridges like this will soon be available through X-Factor at a lower cost than custom designs.
AUS Concourse B and Tunnel Design Services
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA
TYLin is part of the Page/Fentress Joint Venture (JV) team selected for the Concourse B and Tunnel Design Services at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Austin, Texas. This project is a direct response to the airport's rapid growth and a critical component of the Airport Expansion and Development Program to position AUS as the preferred gateway to the Texas Hill Country.
TYLin's primary responsibilities will be the design of an underground tunnel, including fire life and safety, that connects the new 26-gate Concourse B to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal. We will also provide the design of the new vertical node connecting the existing terminal to the new tunnel. The tunnel will be crucial in easing congestion, improving passenger flow, and accommodating baggage handling and utilities.
TYLin’s airfield tunnel design experience dates to the late 1990s, when the firm was engineer of record for modifications to Miami International Airport’s Midfield Tunnel. Most recently, TYLin designed the Midfield Satellite Concourse tunnel at Los Angeles International Airport.
Texas airports are key to TYLin’s continued aviation growth strategy, and we are excited to work closely with the City of Austin and our project partners to deliver a world-class solution that will elevate the passenger experience at AUS.
CMAP Initiative for I-290 Blue Line Corridor Program
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA
TYLin recently announced our involvement in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Corridor Development Office (CDO) initiative for the I-290 Blue Line Corridor Program. This groundbreaking project aims to reimagine and reconnect communities along this vital transportation corridor, addressing aging infrastructure and promoting equity among stakeholders.
The corridor faces significant challenges, including outdated roadway, transit, and pedestrian facilities that require substantial funding for repairs and modernization. Securing robust funding will require a collaborative approach among asset-owning agencies.
A shared vision will guide the improvements, investments, and changes desired by stakeholders. A key project goal is to foster community benefits and equity. The CDO will develop a program of projects that go beyond typical road and transit improvements, aiming for thoughtful designs that make the corridor a desirable place to live and work. Meaningful engagement with stakeholders will be crucial to achieving this vision.
CMAP’s leadership in forming partnerships with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Transit Authority was instrumental to securing this project. It is unprecedented for CMAP, the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, to lead a corridor development office as a co-owner of its success.
As a subconsultant to CDM Smith, TYLin will initially focus on governance and communications to ensure effective stakeholder collaboration. Our advisory input will later address various infrastructure aspects, shaping a modern, equitable, and sustainable corridor that drives community benefits and future-proofs infrastructure.
TYLin Project Manager Beth McClusky, PE, Intermodal Growth Leader, says, “This project represents a unique opportunity to transform the I-290 Blue Line Corridor into a model of modern, inclusive infrastructure. We are excited to reinforce our commitment to multimodal solutions and contribute to a brighter future for the region.”
MaineDOT Awards Multiple Assignments Under Bridge
GCA Contract
MAINE, USA
Under TYLin’s 2020-2025 General Consultant Agreement, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has assigned the Falmouth office with preliminary design contracts for four bridges around the state. These projects present various design challenges, including tidal hydraulics and complex 2D hydraulic models, unique site constraints, and locations with challenging maintenance of traffic considerations. As Project Manager, TYLin’s Daniel Myers , PE will lead each of the following assignments:
Hancock Carrying Place Bridge Replacement, Phase 1:
This unique coastal bridge is located on Maine’s famed U.S. Route 1 over a 19th-century hand-dug canal with major tidal flow. The primary challenges are a tidal hydraulics model and maintaining traffic in a sensitive area with no feasible offsite detour. This project is approaching the preliminary design report, with most of the preliminary design complete.
Ellsworth Reeds Brook Bridge Replacement, Phase 1: This small bridge, part of a causeway crossing an arm of Graham Lake, must be replaced. With no feasible detour and phased construction not an option, maintaining traffic with a temporary structure will be the greatest challenge. The team is still early in the preliminary design phase.
Key TYLin staff for these projects
Prajwal Chalgeri
Nick DiMariano
Shawn Davis, PE
Chris Helstrom, PE
Jeff Legere, PE
Lucas Soo, PE
Paris Little Androscoggin River Bridge, Phase 1 : Located on the primary north-south highway in the western Maine mountains, this 3-span bridge requires a scour evaluation and deck replacement. In addition to completing a 2D hydraulics model for this river crossing, our team will develop a maintenance of traffic plan for staged construction in a busy industrial area.
Rumford Logan Bridge Replacement, Phase 1 : This structure sits on a quiet road beside the Androscoggin River just above Rumford Falls. While the bridge replacement appears straightforward, construction of the new bridge will require careful planning to minimize disruption to several buried utilities. Our team is working on the early preliminary design.
TYLIN IS DESIGNING THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE HANCOCK CARRYING PLACE BRIDGE, ONE OF FOUR CROSSINGS ASSIGNED BY MAINEDOT.
TYLin Secures 5-Year On-Call Contracts with MTA
MAINE, USA
TYLin has secured two new 5-year on-call contracts with the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA), covering construction services and engineering design. These contracts strengthen our long-standing partnership with MTA and our commitment to supporting Maine’s infrastructure.
Construction Services Contract : TYLin’s construction management and inspection team of 18 Maine-based professionals will oversee bridge, highway, maintenance facility, and toll plaza projects. Our detailed understanding of MTA’s processes and strong local contractor relationships will enable us to manage traffic efficiently and prioritize safety. Our local team of Project Management + Construction Management (PM + CM) experts support the quality and economic vitality of these projects by keeping skilled jobs within the community.
Engineering Design Contract : TYLin will provide a full spectrum of services – from surveys and design reports to construction plans – focused on bridges, roadways, and toll plazas. Our deep familiarity with Maine’s transportation needs allows us to enhance safety, improve travel efficiency, and incorporate sustainable practices that benefit the state in the long term. Local subconsultants in geotechnical, environmental, and survey services will to support these efforts. Local subconsultants in geotechnical, environmental, and survey services will collaborate closely to support these efforts.
With these two contracts, TYLin is positioned to help create a safer, more efficient turnpike network while fostering local economic growth.
We will capitalize on our prior experience with MTA to enhance the safety and efficiency of roadways, bridges, and toll plazas.
TYLin’s PM + CM staff will continue to support MTA on a variety of infrastructure projects.
Palmer Museum of Art
UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
The Palmer Museum of Art, located within the Arboretum at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, is the largest art museum between the major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. TYLin is providing structural engineering services for a new building that will nearly double the current gallery space, allowing the institution to host more temporary exhibitions and show more of its permanent collections.
This ongoing project has a LEED certification goal. The building will be organized as a series of interlocking pavilions connected by an enclosed second-story skybridge. In addition to the expanded gallery space, it will feature an object study room, classrooms, multipurpose event spaces, a dedicated teaching gallery, and an outdoor event terrace.
TYLin recommended structural steel for the building superstructure because of the material’s relatively high span-to-weight ratio and ease of future modifications. Floor slabs will be concrete on metal deck on structural steel filler beams, girders, and columns.
Palmer Museum of Art. (Images credit: Allied Works)
Princeton Art Museum
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, USA
Expansion efforts for the Princeton Art Museum in Princeton, New Jersey, will roughly double the available space for Princeton University’s vast collections. Ground-level “art walks,” generous terraces, and multiple entrances will enhance connections between building and the overall site.
TYLin is serving as the structural engineer of record for the base building and modifications to remaining site structures and site walls. The proposed superstructure is steel-framed with concrete-onmetal deck. Concrete shear walls and braced frames will provide lateral resistance.
The 3-story building’s most structurally ambitious architectural features are its western pavilion galleries, which cantilever in multiple directions. TYLin is utilizing perimeter trusses and concrete walls below to provide lateral stiffness and gravity support. Large glulam beams, arranged in a grid and joined by custom steel plate connections, will support the roofs of both the eastern and western galleries.
Other noteworthy structural work includes numerous column transfers and supports for a complex facade that will use both precast panels and glazing. Our team is coordinating with the facade manufacturer and consultant on deflection values and will assist the construction team with facade sequencing. Project staff includes Jason Tipold , PE, SE. Project completion is anticipated for fall 2025.
Renderings of Princeton Art Museum. (Renderings courtesy of Adjaye Associates)
Folger Shakespeare Library
WASHINGTON, DC, USA
The main Folger Shakespeare Library Art Deco building was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret and opened in Washington, DC in 1932. The white marble exterior includes street-level bas-reliefs of scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare.
In 2006, our Buildings team provided a conditions assessment followed by structural design for a new mechanical system and skylight installation above an existing office wing. Later work included a full conditions assessment, including a structural document review and inventory and assessment of the existing structural systems. A report was also prepared with analysis and recommendations for repair and maintenance, a feasibility study for adding compact shelving, and detailed investigation of the exterior stone facade.
Since completing the master plan, we are now engaged in tasks for a below-grade expansion and other interior renovations. The design includes a post-tensioned slab system to provide the desired clear spans in the new below-grade gallery space and a deep transfer girder to re-support the existing north wall. Our project team includes Kirk Mettam, PE, and Nathan Hicks , PE, SE, Sector Manager, Buildings.
The Folger Shakespeare Library Exterior Restoration won a 2022 DC Preservation Award.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the TYLin Buildings Market, the Domino Sugar Factory, a true New York City icon, has been successfully restored. TYLin engineers designed a new 15-story steel and concrete structure within the brick masonry shell of an 1880s refinery, creating Class A office space geared toward the creative and tech industries.
Our work was performed in two primary phases. First, the interior structure was demolished while the masonry walls were shored in place and repaired to improve their soundness and stability. We completed a Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) report for the Domino Sugar Factory, as well as associated repair work for the existing brick facade.
The second phase of construction permanently braced these walls against a new interior structure featuring a glass and steel vertical extension. Steel arches support a new 30-foot-tall commercial penthouse.
The new superstructure also has two cast-inplace concrete lateral cores, centered within the new footprint, which ensconce egress stairs and elevator shafts. Clear-spanning girders connect perimeter columns to internal cores to minimize interior columns.
In addition to the former refinery building, TYLin has provided structural engineering services for the five-acre Domino Park, a prominent public feature of this waterfront redevelopment that includes salvaged artifacts from the refinery complex.
The project was featured in the 22nd Annual Open House New York Weekend on October 18-20, 2024. Our project team includes: Nat Oppenheimer, PE, LEED AP, TYLin Buildings Market Lead, Pat Arnett , PE, and Jason Tipold , PE, SE.
SKYLINE VIEW. (IMAGE CREDIT: MAX TOUHEY)
Niagara Falls State Park Visitor’s Center
NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, USA
TYLin and GWWO Architects were contracted by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP) to design and build a new Visitor Center at Niagara Falls State Park. The new 28,000-square-foot facility will enhance the visitor experience, both on the site and within the structure. This will be accomplished by weaving interpretation along every step of the visitor journey, improving wayfinding and dispersing visitors to relieve congestion.
TYLin leads the project and is also providing site, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering, and code compliance services. Additional services provided by the team include architecture and landscape architecture, survey and mapping, geological engineering, environmental engineering, cost estimating, exhibit design, and acoustic design.
The new building will occupy a portion of the footprint of the existing Visitor Center’s lower level and incorporate ticketing, interpretive exhibits, dining, a gift shop, and a separate
restroom building. The existing 9,000-square foot Administration Building is being renovated to include multipurpose rooms, administrative offices, and back-of-house loading. TYLin previously designed the replacement of the copper roofing system for this historic building.
The new Visitor Center will complement the Administration Building and create a campus that respects the recent site entrance upgrades to the park while incorporating new orientation improvements.
New Visitor Center at Niagara Falls State Park. (Photo credit: Tom Holdsworth)
Blanton Museum of Art Renovation
AUSTIN,
TEXAS, USA
A reimagination of the exterior grounds of the Blanton Art Museum in Austin, Texas, is bringing together a world-class art museum, the University of Texas at Austin Campus, and the Capital Complex Mall. The project includes footpaths that traverse heritage trees, foundations for sculptural shade structures, and outdoor café and stage spaces.
New precast concrete retaining walls along MLK Boulevard invite the public onto the Blanton grounds. Two bold steel vault structures are inserted into the building entrances to welcome visitors and provide elevated views of the plaza.
AEC, A TYLin Company, is providing structural engineering services for the project. Our team also designed the foundation for the aesthetic petal overhang. Karina Tribble, PE, LEED AP, is leading our Austin-based project team.
Sculptural shade structure.
Plaza views.
ISLA Intersections
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
The recently completed Isla Intersections is a new development in Los Angeles, California, that provides 53 apartments for individuals who have experienced homelessness. Ten of the units are earmarked for homeless military veterans.
The permanent supportive housing complex is composed of modular recycled steel shipping containers stacked into towers of varying heights and connected by a central walkway. Modular container construction significantly reduced construction time.
Two of the stacks are elevated above an open space for ground level parking, and the remaining stacks continue straight down to the building’s foundation. The project uses structural steel for the connecting walkway and podium over the parking area.
TYLin’s Buildings team provided structural engineering for the project. Isla Intersections has been honored with both Residential Architect Design and Sustainability Awards, recognizing excellence in coordinating land use and transportation to improve mobility, livability, prosperity, and sustainability.
Isla Intersections. (Images credit: Eric Staudenmaier)
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge West Spans Inspection
SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, USA
TYLin engineers recently teamed up with project partner Modjeski & Masters to inspect the West Spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The inspection was the first of its type since the bridge opened in 1936.
The ongoing inspection effort requires unwrapping the exterior cover to observe the main cable’s strands and extract samples for laboratory testing for structural health. The inspection also involves temporarily removing for testing and replacing selected suspenders and cable band bolts, as well as performing flow tests on the main cable to obtain data for potential future cable dehumidification designs.
TYLin Principal Bridge Engineer Norman Quach, S.E., Principal Project Manager Carol Choi, P.E., CQM/OE, PMP, and Senior Project Manager Allen Rejaie, PE, led a recent site visit for members of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) to provide details about the important project.
The TYLin team presented an overview of the project scope, as well as a close-up view of the work being performed to preserve and extend the service life of the bridge. The West Spans of the San FranciscoOakland Bay Bridge serve more than 102 million vehicles annually, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
“TYLin’s long relationship with the Bay Area Toll Authority can be tracked back from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge New East Span project,” said James Duxbury, P.E., TYLin Transportation and Bridge Sector Manager for Northern California. “This bridge inspection project represents an important milestone as we continue to serve our Transportation clients in the Bay Area.”
Site visit where TYLin engineers are inspecting the main cable of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge West Spans.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge West Span.
Water Infrastructure Transforming Communities
City of Richmond’s Island Oasis
In an era where communication and technology reign supreme, utilities are no longer content with operating in the shadows. Historically, if a utility’s actions remained largely unknown, it was often considered a sign of successful delivery. However, times have changed, and utilities are now taking center stage in community transformation. Here are two noteworthy examples.
The City of Richmond, Virginia, recently made a significant acquisition: a 14.5-acre privately owned island nestled in the James River. This unique property lies entirely within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Regulatory Floodway Zone AE and sits snugly between the City’s flood walls. But this island is not destined to remain hidden. Instead, it is about to become a vibrant public park – Mayo Island Park.
Collaborating with TYLin and Marvel, the City’s Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Park, Recreation & Community Facilities are leading the way to create a riverfront oasis that seamlessly connects to existing park trails and enhances overall connectivity within the city. The island’s metamorphosis will involve demolishing existing buildings, hardscape, and infrastructure. In their place, a natural park setting will emerge, complete with river access. Fishing, boating, and other recreational activities will attract residents and visitors.
Aerial View of Mayo Island in Richmond, Virginia. (Image credit: Civil Surveyors Inc)
BSA’s Queen City Clean Waters Initiative
Meanwhile in New York, the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) is making waves with its Queen City Clean Waters (QCCW) Initiative. This forward-thinking program tackles these critical goals:
Modernizing Water Infrastructure: BSA recognizes that aging systems need an upgrade. By investing in modernization, they aim to improve efficiency and reliability, ensuring a smoother flow for residents
Increasing Climate Resilience: Extreme weather events and climate change impacts are on the rise. BSA is proactively preparing for these challenges, safeguarding the community’s water resources.
Enhancing Public Health: Safe water supply and sanitation are non-negotiable. BSA’s commitment to public health ensures that every resident benefits from clean, reliable water services.
Fostering Community Partnerships: The initiative formed a QCCW Stakeholder Advisory Committee and is developing a Community Benefits Program. The objective is to create meaningful workforce opportunities that drive lasting economic impact for future generations in Buffalo.
Recently, BSA hosted the QCCW Initiative Launch Media Event at Buffalo’s Freedom Park on Unity Island. Employees, elected leaders, and community stakeholders gathered to learn more about the initiative’s far-reaching benefits. With TYLin as the Program Manager, Buffalo’s water infrastructure is poised for transformation.
"These utilities exemplify how proactive engagement and innovative projects can positively impact communities. We are dedicated to helping our clients to reimagine water infrastructure, which ultimately contributes to a better quality of life for residents."
TYLin’s Walt A. Walker, PE, ENV SP, Aria Harris, Tariq Soomro, M.S., P.Eng., Brittany Fletcher, and Chris Sieracki, along with our teaming partners from Hallmark Planning & Development, e3communications, and Arcadis, attended the BSA launch event.
(Image credit: Byron Brown II, Buffalo Sewer Authority)
BSA QCCW banner developed by TYLin.
Walt Walker, PE, ENV SP, TYLin Equity Practice Lead
Brightline West to Provide High-Speed Connection Between LA and Las Vegas
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Brightline West will connect Las Vegas, Nevada, and Southern California with the first high-speed passenger rail system in the nation. This 218-mile, all-electric high-speed rail service will include a flagship station in Las Vegas, with additional stations in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga.
At speeds up to 200 miles per hour, trains will take passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in just two hours and 10 minutes, twice as fast as the normal drive time. The rolling stock will be all-electric, zero emission trains with state-of-theart amenities. The Rancho Cucamonga Station will connect with Southern California’s regional Metrolink service, allowing connectivity into downtown Los Angeles and other areas.
The project will support thousands of goodpaying union construction jobs and permanent jobs in operations and maintenance. To support labor needs, Brightline West plans to partner with educational institutions on pre-apprenticeship programs and other workforce pipelines.
Construction is expected to take about four years, with service beginning in 2028.
TYLin is partnered with HNTB to deliver this project from 30% to completion. The Brightline West design team comprises TYLin personnel located mostly in Southern California, but extending as far as Minnesota.
Our Rail + Transit team is leading the effort with help from the Roads + Highways (R+H) Market and Water Resources, a subsidiary of R+H. The project was won by Ray Fares , PE, out of Los Angeles, and is being managed by Greg Campbell, PE, in our San Diego, California, office.
Route Map. (Image credit: Brightline West)
Las Vegas Station. (Image credit: Brightline West)
Train Exterior. (Image credit: Brightline West)
Party Car Bar. (Image credit: Brightline West)
Viaduct Construction and Rehabilitation of Line K
MEXICO
Working for the client RECAL, TYLin’s offices in Spain and Mexico have been contracted for the rehabilitation, replacement, modernization, and reconstruction of 526 structures and 473 kilometers of railway track on Railway Lines K and KA Ixtepec, OAX.-CD. Hidalgo, Chiapas, in Mexico. The fasttrack project began in February 2023. Since then, construction of the composite steel and concrete bridges has been progressing rapidly. The project also includes a series of repairs and reinforcements to some older steel truss bridges.
There are primarily three types of simply supported bridges:
Small composite bridges made of two steel boxgirder beams connected to the slab, without intermediate bracing, used in the smallest spans of 12 and 15 meters.
Typical twin steel girder sections connected to the upper slab for spans between 21 and 42 meters and steel beams heights between 1.50 and 3.30 meters.
“U”-type decks designed for spans between 21 and 42 meters in locations with strict inferior clearances, with the concrete slab located at the bottom of the section between the two steel lateral girders, allowing railway passage between two longitudinal beams.
Due to the need to build hundreds of bridges in a short period of time, our strategic system for carrying out the project has made it possible to optimize all construction phases. This includes prefabricating much of the structure, including steel beams and precast concrete slabs that allow the construction of multiple bridges simultaneously and in record time.
Steel structure of the smaller simply supported bridges with two box girders.
Completed steel structure for simply supported U-type bridge.
A typical simply supported twin composite girder bridge.
A bridge consisting of three simply supported composite spans.
Huixtla Urban Composite Viaduct on Line K
MEXICO
RECAL has the contract of the rehabilitation, replacement, modernization, and reconstruction of rail Lines K and KA Ixtepec, OAX.-CD. Hidalgo, Chiapas, in Mexico under the management and supervision of the Secretary of the Navy SEMAR. TYLin has been entrusted with the task of delivering the detailed design for project’s entire 473-kilometer railway line and the replacement of the bridges.
The Huixtla Urban Composite Viaduct, with a total length of 3,100 meters, is the longest structure of Line K and comprises 84 simply supported spans, with a typical span of 42 meters long, 5.82 meters wide, and 3.30 meters high. It has been designed as a series of simply supported spans to allow construction of the viaduct at multiple points simultaneously.
The maximum use of prefabrication will allow the viaduct to be built in just under a year. These elements include the steel beams and precast deck slabs, as well as the steel columns. The composite steel and concrete deck consists of two steel girders connected to the upper slab, and the slab executed over precast concrete slabs.
As seen in this project video, the new viaduct is providing a railway overpass through the city, with an open-area underpass that keeps the city from being divided into two sections. There is also an attached pedestrian walkway on the section crossing the Huixtla River.
Construction of the steel deck.
View of a steel pier.
Tlazala and Cahuacán III Composite Viaducts on Atizapan-Atlacomulco Highway
MEXICO
After several years of having the project paused, construction of the Tlazala and Cahuacán III straightplan composite (steel and concrete) viaducts on the Atizapan-Atlacomulco Highway in Mexico, is now progressing well. Construction of the piers and abutments is being carried out, and preparations are being made for the execution of the composite deck.
The Tlazala viaduct has a total length of 385 meters, with a span distribution of 50+4x70+55 meters. The Cahuacán III viaduct has a total length of 460 meters with a span distribution of 55+5x70+55. The height of the piers for both viaducts varies between 22 and 85 meters.
The decks for both viaducts consist of a twin composite girder formed by two 3-meter-deep steel girders that are separated by a distance of 7.20 meters and connected with the upper concrete slab with constant thickness of 27.50 centimeters. The upper width of the deck is 22.06 meters.
In hogging areas over the piers, where the deck curves upwards in the middle, a lower concrete slab of variable thickness (between 25 and 40 centimeters) is arranged, establishing a double composite action. Transversally, every five meters, there are transverse lattices and ribs and lateral struts supporting the wide lateral cantilevers of the upper slab. In the lower part of the deck, there is a “K”-type horizontal bracing for closing the cross section against torsion. Both decks rest on neoprene seismic isolators strapped to the abutments and intermediate piers.
Since both viaducts are located in very deep valleys with complicated access, deck construction will be conducted using a downward launching process from Abutment 2 towards Abutment 1. At the front of the deck, there will be a front steel lattice nose to lighten the weight of the front cantilever during the launching phases.
Aerial view of the steel structure in the launching yard.
Aleatica has entrusted TYLin to carry out the detailed design of the viaducts and provide technical assistance during construction. ICA is the main construction contractor for the section where these viaducts are located, and RECAL is the manufacturer of the steel structure.
Steel structure in the launching yard.
Execution of the steel deck in the steel workshop.
Aerial view of pier construction.
Greeley and Hansen is Now TYLin
As announced at WEFTEC 2024, Greeley and Hansen, A TYLin Company, has become TYLin. This strategy combines the strengths and expertise of both companies to create a leading engineering firm specializing in water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure. The combined team is now even better equipped to serve the evolving needs of clients in the water and wastewater infrastructure sector.
“We are pleased to officially operate as TYLin and leverage the global reach and expertise to expand our offerings and better serve our clients,” said Michael Hope, Senior Vice President and Water Sector Leader for the Americas. “This aligns perfectly with our strategic goals and provides us with the resources and capabilities to tackle the most complex infrastructure challenges.”
Learn more about our Water Market .
Great Water Alliance Program in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Canoas Wastewater Treatment Plant Secondary Treatment Design in Bogotá, Colombia
DC Clean Rivers Project in Washington, DC.
Calafell Wastewater Treatment Plant in Calafell, Spain.
York-Peel Feedermain Emergency Repairs in York, Ontario, Canada. Puding Tributary Water Environment Improvement Project in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
Sam Schwartz is Now TYLin
In late October, we announced that Sam Schwartz, A TYLin Company, is now TYLin. Along with TYLin's extant Land Development and Mobility Systems offerings, this team now forms the core of our City Solutions practice, an end-to-end suite of advisory services for creating and adapting urban environments for the future – ultimately making our metropolitan areas more accessible, smarter, safer, more resilient, more equitable, and more attractive to people and businesses.
“I am thrilled that this talented group of planners, engineers, designers, and technical experts are now fully partnered with TYLin,” said Michael A. Shamma , PE, New York Metro Executive and City Solutions Practice Leader at TYLin Americas. “We look forward to continuing to make our cities, suburbs, and towns safer, greener, and more livable.”
Learn more about our City Solutions practice.
Fifth Avenue Corridor Public Realm Plan in New York, New York. Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois.
New York City DOT In-House Review and Support for Central Business District Tolling Program in New York, New York.
Connect 2035: Spokane Transit Authority Strategic Plan in Spokane, Washington.
Los Angeles Unified School District Electrification Study in Los Angeles, California.
New York State DOT Transportation Management Centers in the State of New York.
Our first significant news item for 2025 was the announcement that TYLin Silman Structural Solutions is now operating as TYLin, and fully embracing the breadth, depth, and reach of our Buildings Market.
TYLin Silman Structural Solutions is Now TYLin
TYLin's buildings expertise is rooted in the legacies of four firms, which have united to form a dynamic and innovative team of structural engineers who are now affiliated with a wide range of engineering expertise, code experts, and architects around the globe. Inspired by these strong foundations, our Buildings team embraces the transformative power of architecture to connect people, places, and ideas. Their global buildings portfolio spans a wide range of projects including new construction, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, renovations, façades, code consulting, and lightweight structures.
“Our long history of collaboration with passionate designers, thoughtful owners, and incredible builders in all manner of building structures will contribute significantly to the communities we work in throughout North America,” says Nat Oppenheimer, Senior Vice President and Buildings Market Leader for the Americas for TYLin.
Learn about our Buildings Market .
NYPL Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York, New York.
Brooklyn Navy Yard, Nanotronics Smart Factory in Brooklyn, New York.
TYLin Hosts 2024 Annual Meeting of CRF
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Established in 1961, the China Road Federation (CRF) is dedicated to assisting the government in promoting initiatives related to road construction, transportation, academic research, and techniques development, as well as international cooperation with road-related organizations. Over the years, TYLin’s Taiwan office has actively contributed to the development and promotion of road-related technologies while maintaining strong interactions across various sectors.
We recently hosted the 2024 Annual Meeting of the CRF, with TYLin Taiwan Chairman Ray Wang serving as the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee. The theme of this year’s meeting was "Artificial Intelligence 2.0: Advancing Traffic Safety."
The meeting also brought together speakers from the industry and government, academic, and research sectors for expert panel discussions. The goal was to explore how AI can enhance Taiwan's advanced road transportation systems and help create a safe, friendly, intelligent, and interactive road environment. With over 200 attendees, including distinguished guests, professionals, and engineers, the event was a resounding success.
TYLin Taiwan’s Ray Wang spoke as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee.
TYLin staff and our CRF colleagues posed for a group shot.
Supporting Our Communities
Hundreds of staff volunteers recently partnered across North America, the UK, Australia, Serbia, and Panama to provide meaningful community support through TYLin’s Building Bridges in Our Communities BBC Week and our sister brand Introba’s Introba Gives Week .
Lightweight Structures Group Wins Industry Achievement Awards
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA
The TYLin Lightweight Structures Group recently won two awards from the Advanced Textile Association’s (ATA) Industry Achievement Awards (IAA). IAA Awards of Excellence were presented to the new Redmond Technology Station (RTS) Pedestrian Bridge in Redmond, Washington, which opened in May 2024, and the Loren Hotel Auto Court project in Austin, Texas.
The new RTS Pedestrian Bridge crosses over State Route (SR) 520 and connects the new Redmond Technology light-rail station, parking garage, and bus station with the east and west halves of Microsoft’s 500-acre campus and a multiuse trail. The undulating membrane roof is made of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated glass fabric. The design features high points and downspouts that serve as water collection points to keep bridge users dry. LED lighting was incorporated into the fabric.
For the Loren Hotel Auto Court project, we developed the design concept for a suspended tensile canopy to cover the drop-off parking area of the Loren Hotel at Lady Bird Lake, working in partnership with Rhode Partners Architects. The design satisfied the client’s request for a calm, shaded entry area that would allow guests to feel a sense of arrival.
The asymmetric, free-form canopy was designed to be suspended from the upper levels of the surrounding hotel structure using a series of long cables inspired by spider webs in nature. A series of circular polycarbonate openings highlight where the cable connections occur and give another level of transparency to the parking below. Custom details were developed using stainless steel fittings that tie into the hotel building.
Suspended tensile canopy for Loren Hotel Auto Court. (Photo by Patrick Wong)
PFTE-coated glass fabric canopy for RTS Bridge Station.
TYLin Wins GrowSmart Maine Award for Presque Isle Main Street Study
PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE, USA
TYLin’s Main Street Study for the City of Presque Isle and the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has been honored with the GrowSmart Maine Award for an “Exemplary Smart Growth Plan.” This award recognizes our commitment to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable downtown that serves as the heart of the community.
Our collaboration with Rasor Landscape Architecture resulted in a visionary plan prioritizing accessibility and connectivity. The redesign enhances pedestrian and bicycle routes, linking key destinations such as the University of Maine at Presque Isle and poorly connected western neighborhoods to the city center and retail areas. By embracing smart growth principles, our design fosters a walkable downtown that aligns with the community’s goals and values.
The benefits of this project extend far beyond infrastructure improvements. By creating a more accessible and attractive downtown, we encourage private investment in mixed-use redevelopment. Implementing this plan will boost the local economy and allow residents of all ages and abilities to live, work, and access essential services within the downtown area.
Congratulations to our dedicated TYLin Project Managers, Thomas Errico, PE, and Christopher Helstrom, PE, and Project Engineer Thomas Antz, PE. We also thank our project partners, including Kevin Freeman, Chair of the Presque Isle City Council, Tyler Brown, City Manager, Jarod Farn-Guillette, MaineDOT, Mitchell Rasor, Rasor Landscape Architecture, and Tim St. Peter, City of Presque Isle.
Left to right: Kevin Freeman, Chair of Presque Isle City Council; Tyler Brown, City Manager; Jarod Farn-Guillette, MaineDOT; Mitchell Rasor, Rasor Landscape Architecture; Thomas Errico, PE, TYLin; Christopher Helstrom, PE, TYLin; and Tim St. Peter, City of Presque Isle.
Presque Isle’s Main Street was the focus of our award-winning study.
Panama Metro - Tocumen Airport Line 2 Extension Wins 2024 ENR Global Best Project Award of Merit
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
The Panama Metro - Tocumen Airport Line 2 Extension project in Panama City, Panama, has been honored with the Award of Merit (Rail/Transit category) in Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) 2024 Global Best Projects competition. TYLin provided conceptual and detailed design services for this complex project for Consorcio Línea 2 Ramal.
“This project clearly demonstrates TYLin’s expertise in designing large, complex rail and transit projects in dense urban environments and adjacent to sensitive infrastructure,” says Ing. José Ameth Rodríguez, TYLin Project Manager. “We are tremendously pleased to have played a key role on this critical transportation project.”
TYLin attendees at the Concrete Society of Taiwan Awards program included (left to right) Jian-ying Lee (Project Manager, Bitan Weir Project), Chun-Kai Chen (Chief of CM, Bitan Weir Project), Kang-yu Peng (VP of R&D), Kun-tsong Lee (Supervisor for Daya System Interchange Project), and Pi-chien Huang (Supervisor for Taoyuan Airport Project).
Multiple Awards for TYLin Taiwan
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
TYLin’s team in Taiwan continues to invest in innovation, earning multiple technical awards in 2024. These include:
- The National Freeway No. 1 Daya System Interchange Project, which received the Structural Engineering Society’s 2024 Structural Engineering Technology Award
- The Seismic Retrofitting Project for Subsequent Sections of the National Freeway Bridges (Section 2-1) M38B, which was honored with the 2024 Seismic Retrofitting Technology Award.
Both projects were the only ones selected for top honors, demonstrating our excellence in project execution, innovative thinking, and construction management and quality control in concrete construction.
Additionally, TYLin won three awards in the 2024 Concrete Society of Taiwan Engineering Excellence Awards competition:
"Our designs are always innovative, unique, and responsive to project challenges, utilizing special materials and techniques that align with leading standards of durability, energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainable development. That is why our services continue to garner widespread recognition."
Kang-yu Peng , PE, VP of Bridge & Technical, R&D
- The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3 Apron, Taxiway, and Apron Facility Construction Project received the highest distinction.
- The National Freeway No. 1 Daya System Interchange Project and the Bitan Weir Rehabilitation Project were both recognized for their outstanding performance.
Boca Del Cerro Bridge is Finalist in IABSE Project and Technology Awards 2024
BOCA DEL CERRO, TABASCO, MEXICO
The new Boca del Cerro Bridge, designed by IDEAM (now TYLin) for Mota-Engil Mexico, was named a finalist in the prestigious International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Project and Technology Awards 2024 competition, category: Small Road and Rail Bridges (Area ≤ 5,000 m2). Miguel Ortega, Managing Director of Spain and Sector Leader of Bridges and Buildings for TYLin/Latin America, and Kevin Rincon, TYLin Structural Engineer, accepted the Finalist Certificate at the IABSE awards gala.
Located in southern Mexico near Tenosique, Tabasco, the Boca Del Cerro Bridge has a central main span of 160 meters and two lateral spans of 30 meters each. This makes it the longest span and most emblematic structure of Section 1 of the new Tren Maya (Mayan Train), one of Mexico's most most ambitious railroad projects.
The new viaduct is in a protected natural environment at the end of the Usumacinta River canyon and in an area strongly marked by the presence of the original circa 1950 bridge, a regional icon. The structure consists of a variable depth composite (steel and concrete) truss, with a configuration inspired by that of the original bridge and a dark green finish to ensure that it blends in with its environs.
TYLin’s Miguel Ortega and Kevin Rincon accepted the Finalist Certificate.
New Boca del Cerro Bridge.
AASHTO Council on Rail Transportation Legislative Meeting January 27-30, 2025 | Washington DC, USA
ACC/AAAE Airport Planning, Design and Construction Symposium March 12-14, 2025 | San Antonio, Texas, USA
2025 DBIA Design-Build for Transportation/Aviation March 17-19, 2025 | National Harbor, Maryland, USA
2025 Smart Cities Connect Spring Conference & Expo April 14-16, 2025 | San Antonio, Texas, USA
Future Mobility Asia Conference May 7-9 | Bangkok, Thailand
Front Cover: Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn, New York. (Image credit: Max Touhey)
Back Cover: Planet Word in Washington, DC. (Image credit: Joseph Romeo Photography)
