About

Mr. Burns joined Thornton Tomasetti in 1995 and has more than 45 years of experience designing structures as well as investigating and renovating existing buildings. He is a passionate advocate for the deeper integration of architecture and engineering, which he promotes through technical innovation in the design of structural systems, collaboration in practice, and leadership in building science education. His credits span a wide spectrum of building types and include commercial, residential, healthcare, education, cultural, aviation, and sports.

His contributions to the A/E/C industry have been recognized with his advancement to fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). He is a recipient of the American Institute of Steel Construction’s Special Achievement Award and ENR’s Top 25 Newsmakers list for the innovative use of Tekla modeling in the redevelopment of Chicago’s Soldier Field.

He shares his expertise through teaching, publishing, and lectures, including presentations at the Chicago Architecture Center and the AIA National Convention. Mr. Burns has taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, University of Washington, and Northwestern University, among others. He holds a bachelor’s in architecture from the University of Notre Dame and dual master’s degrees in architecture and civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI), The Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Mr. Burns joined Thornton Tomasetti in 1995 and has more than 45 years of experience designing structures as well as investigating and renovating existing buildings. He is a passionate advocate for the deeper integration of architecture and engineering, which he promotes through technical innovation in the design of structural systems, collaboration in practice, and leadership in building science education. His credits span a wide spectrum of building types and include commercial, residential, healthcare, education, cultural, aviation, and sports.

His contributions to the A/E/C industry have been recognized with his advancement to fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). He is a recipient of the American Institute…

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