Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) has named David E. Eckmann, SE, PE, FAIA its new president. In addition his role as president, Eckmann also serves as the managing principal of MKA’s Chicago office and as a member of MKA’s board of directors.
Eckmann’s qualifications as a licensed architect and structural engineer have positioned his career to bridge the gap between design and function, creating“first-ever” projects that combine architecture and structure.
Since joining MKA in 2005, Eckmann has served a leadership role in more than 100 of the firm’s projects, including Chicago landmarks Aqua Tower, River Point Tower, the Wabash Building at Roosevelt University, The University of Chicago’s Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, and O’Hare International Terminal 5. Eckmann also led structural design for the American headquarters of CoStar and Dominion Energy in Richmond, Virginia; the Mutual of Omaha and Applied Underwriters headquarters in Omaha, Neb.; Northwestern Mutual Life in Milwaukee; and other notable projects.
“I am honored and excited to serve as MKA’s next President,” Eckmann said in a press release released by MKA. “I look forward to expanded responsibilities in continuing MKA’s commitment to providing consistent, reliable, and creative designs for our clients.”
Eckmann is a longtime collaborator with AISC, having served as vice chair for the planning committee for NASCC: The Steel Conference and chair of the architectural planning committee for NASCC: The Steel Conference. Additionally, he is the primary author of AISC’s book Designing with Structural Steel: A Guide for Architects and has volunteered as a judge for AISC’s IDEAS² Awards program.
Outside of AISC, Eckmann is a member of the University of Illinois School of Architecture’s Tang Committee and former member of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s Structural Engineering Conference Committee. He is a current member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and previously served as Chair of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings (CCHRB) and on SEAOI’s board of directors.
Read more about Eckmann and his new role in MKA’s press release. Want to find out more about Eckmann’s industry involvement, favorite projects, and how he integrated architecture and engineering in his career? Check out the March 2022 episode of Modern Steel Construction’s Field Notes podcast.