AUSTIN, TX Growing up in South India, there were two preferred career paths: healthcare and engineering. A strong dislike for biology made the choice easy for Susendar Muthukumar. "Luckily, my passion for analytical problem solving was a natural fit to the challenges posed by structural engineering," he said.

Officially joining the industry in 2004, Walter P Moore's (WPM) reputation for high-profile projects brought him to the firm and to Texas in 2006. "I love Austin," he says of his second home. "They have live music, hiking trails, outdoor activities, and of course good barbecue."

One of his most memorable projects has been King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. "It was early on in my career and my first international project," said Susendar. "Not to mention the intricate design features and intriguing aspects that were involved." WPM's team of more than 50 structural engineers in seven cities worked to design structures for the various academic facilities. The 60-foot, elliptic hyperboloid shaped entry rotunda constructed using glass and diagrid steel pipes stands out as one of his favorite designs due to the successful use of structural steel in a concrete-friendly market. 

Other impressive projects on his resume include: Blue Bombers New Stadium Roof, Winnipeg, Canada; Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas; Mickey Leland Federal Building Renovations, Houston, Texas; and the award-winning Air Traffic Control Tower at San Francisco Airport. Having demonstrated several key WPM values, Susendar was recently promoted to Principal. The Senior Engineer encourages others entering the industry to have an inquisitive mind and ask lots of questions. "It's important to get an understanding of how the structure behaves and realize that it's more than just numbers," he stresses. "We are key players in bringing the owner's and architect's vision to life."