November 11, 2025

Newsletter

In This Issue

Events

December 9 | 12 p.m. | Virtual Member Meeting #3

Structural Evaluation of Non-Structural Elements: Coconut Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Plaster Dome

Distress and deterioration of non-structural building elements are often overlooked because they are not part of the primary structural system. However, structural evaluation of these components is sometimes necessary to determine the root cause of observed distress and to develop appropriate repair or retrofit measures. When several cracks were observed on the interior surface of the West Virginia Capitol plaster dome, an investigation revealed that it was constructed using gypsum plaster reinforced with coconut fibers. With no published literature available, a series of material tests and detailed analyses were performed to evaluate the composite material, assess the structural behavior of the dome, and determine the extent of retrofitting required. Join us for a conversation with Byoung-Jun (BJ) Lee, PhD, PE, SE, of WDP & Associates on this fascinating review. 1 hour PDH will be offered.
Register

February 28, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Gala

SEA-MW's Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards

Join SEA-MW on February 28th for its 20th annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Gala to recognize outstanding achievements of DC region structural engineering firms. This year's gala will be held at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC. Proceeds from the gala support SEA-MW's scholarships as well as other programming throughout the year. 

Volunteer Highlights

December 11 | Volunteer Event

Jackson-Reed High School’s Annual Engineering Expo

Jackson Reed High School (a DC public school with an engineering academy) is seeking  engineering professionals to review and give advice on school projects presented at their engineering expo (like a STEM fair) on December 11th.
Details and Registration

January & February | Volunteer Events

Volunteer at the National Building Museum!

The Community Outreach Committee invites you to share structural engineering principles with children in our community at the National Building Museum. They are looking for 5 volunteers for each event. You are welcome to bring your own kids, as long as they can help too!

STEAM Saturday on January 10th from 1 pm – 3 pm

This free program would be in connection with the WAVE installation and include the spaghetti/marshmallow activity as well as an activity on long-form roofs and bridges.

Craft Workshop on January 24th from 10 am – 2 pm

During this free drop-in program, kids will build their own geodesic domes out of straws from provided kits. Any help would be appreciated! If you love putting together Ikea furniture, then this event is for you.

STEAM Saturday on February 14th from 1 pm – 3 pm

This free program would focus on engineering buildings that can resist “disasters”, such as activities focused on wind and earthquakes.
Sign-up to Volunteer

Summer 2026 | Mentoring & Internships

Host a DC High School Summer Intern!

2026 DC Government Career Ready Internship Program

DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education is seeking employers to host high school interns this summer through the Office of Industry Engagement’s Career Ready Internship (CRI). This is a great opportunity to expose young local talent to industries they are studying and help students build work experience and skills. CRI places high school juniors into summer internships that are specifically aligned to the industry they are studying. All students have completed two or more courses in the industry where they are being placed and are interested in gaining work experience. Interns may work up to 25 hours per week and are paid $17 per hour through funds managed by the DC government. This internship will begin June 22 and end July 31. For more information, please email osse.cte.ie@dc.gov. Employer registration deadline: January 31, 2026.
Employer Registration

Member News

Make Your Opinion Count:

2025 SE3 Survey is Live!

Join the conversation! This is the NCSEA SE3 Committee’s fourth nationwide survey targeted at structural engineers. The responses collected are valuable in understanding trends in our profession. 

SE3’s mission is to attract and retain the best and brightest into our profession, and to ensure ALL structural engineers have a clear pathway to success. The SE3 survey is an ongoing effort to identify trends, understand the underlying factors, and initiate industry-wide conversations. The SEA-MW SE3 Committee will use the survey results to inform future programming and initiatives.

Findings from past iterations of this survey included insight into why engineers leave the profession, the importance of mentorship, and the existence of a nuanced gender pay gap. NCSEA SE3’s past surveys are available here.

Responses are anonymous and confidential, and data collected will not be linked to you or your employer/firm. 
Take the SE3 Survey

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