Expertise

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Clients from markets and industries across the built world rely on our interdisciplinary team of engineers, architects, and materials scientists to develop an all-around understanding of their needs, provide expert consultation on available options, and develop solutions that deliver lasting value.
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Our extensive in-house laboratory and testing capabilities are second to none. With laboratories in our Austin and Cleveland offices as well as a 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art testing and applied research facility at our Northbrook, Illinois, headquarters, we have the advanced testing and forensic capabilities to solve virtually any problem related to structures, construction materials, or manufactured components.

People

We strive to make a positive difference in the world by consistently setting the standard in every key aspect of our business, starting with the extraordinary people we employ. Connect directly with an expert on our team.

Sustainable Solutions
WJE is committed to sustainability in construction, applying a long-term lens to materials selection, performance testing, systems integration, repair design, and conservation.

Projects
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    WJE PROJECTS
    Our team has investigated, tested, and innovated on more than 175,000 projects involving almost every type of construction material, structural system, and manufactured component. We take a hands-on, empirical, and investigative approach to every assignment. Although materials, technologies, and structures change, our basic philosophy doesn’t. Founder Jack Janney’s advice to “ask the structure” continues to guide our project work today.
Knowledge
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    We’re passionate about our work and believe it is our responsibility to share our experiences and lessons learned for the enrichment of our clients and the advancement of our industry. We hope you learn something new that helps you better understand and address a challenge you face in your own work.
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    Our professionals are leaders in key industry organizations and technical committees and regularly contribute to the ongoing dialogue of the built world at conferences and other educational forums. Check back soon to see where our experts will be speaking next.
  - Websites
    Learn the “what” and “why” and “when” of facade and seismic ordinances in various cities throughout the United States, as well as our recent efforts with sustainable (low carbon) concrete.
    
    SustainableConcrete.com
    
    FacadeOrdinance.com
    
    SeismicOrdinances.com
Careers
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    A career at WJE means working alongside industry gurus to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems of the built world. Whether you'd bring years of experience to our team or you're just out of school, a career at WJE may be the right choice for you.
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Offices
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    With hundreds of professionals in North America and Europe, WJE can respond quickly to assignments around the world. No matter where you are, we can help.
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EXPERTISE // PEOPLE

Stephen W. Foster

Associate Principal and Unit Manager

Experience

Since joining WJE in 2010, Stephen Foster has been involved in the evaluation, design, and rehabilitation of numerous engineering projects, including concrete, steel, wood, and masonry structures. He has performed assessments related to corrosion distress, design and construction deficiencies, foundation-related movement, and leakage distress. Mr. Foster is experienced with preparing construction documents and has performed construction administration work on several repair projects, including experience with numerous field testing and ASTM procedures. He also has experience and specialized training for assessment, specification, and quality assurance inspection of coating and cathodic protection systems.

Prior to joining WJE, Mr. Foster worked as a graduate research assistant investigating the optimization of bridge deck reinforcement for a research project sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation. While at the University of Texas, he worked as a field engineer with a general contractor and as a structural designer with an architectural engineering firm.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Condition Assessment

Queen Isabella Causeway - South Padre Island, TX: Condition assessment and nondestructive evaluation of corrosion-induced distress, and inspection of metalizing coatings
Seabrook Station - Seabrook, NH: Condition assessment of cracking in equipment vault
Turning Basin Terminal - Port of Houston, TX: Condition assessment and nondestructive evaluation of concrete docks

Repair and Rehabilitation

Palo Verde Water Reclamation Facility - Tonopah, AZ: Design of repair and rebuild documents for comprehensive concrete repair and maintenance plan
Waco Independent School District Administration Building - Waco, TX: Structural steel and coating repairs for exterior fire escape stair tower and catwalks
Second Street Parking Garage - Austin, TX: Traffic coating repairs

Construction Observation Services

U.S. 181 - Aransas Pass, TX: Quality control inspections and testing of cathodic protection installation
Army Medical Hospital - Killeen, TX: Construction observations of concrete column repairs
Navajo Generating Station - Page, AZ: Inspection of scaffold installations

Corrosion Protection

Parking Garage - Houston, TX: Design and construction observation of thermal spray metalizing of chloride-induced corrosion
Barbours Cut Terminal - La Porte, TX: Design and construction observation of cathodic protection jackets and thermal spray metalizing for piers
Port of Entry Domestic Water Tank - Tornillo, Texas - Corrosion assessment and repair recommendations of glass fused-to-steel domestic water tank

Failures and Disasters

Organic Dairy Barn - Paul, ID: Investigation of steel roof truss failure
Fertilizer Plant Explosion - West, TX: Assessment of various structures subject to blast wave
Precast Plant - San Marcos, TX: Investigation of prestressing assembly failure

Historic Preservation

Lee County Courthouse (ca. 1899) - Giddings, TX: Foundation stabilization and structural repairs
Williamson County Courthouse (ca. 1911) - Georgetown, TX: Condition assessment and rehabilitation design of historic masonry
Goliad County Courthouse (ca. 1894) - Goliad, TX: Condition assessment and rehabilitation design of water infiltration and structural distress

Litigation Consulting

Water Treatment Plant - Cedar Park, TX: Condition assessment; repair design of concrete and coating systems to address leakage, corrosion, and various construction defects; construction observation services

Professional Affiliations

American Concrete Institute (ACI)
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)

Registrations

AMPP Certified Coatings Inspector
NACE CP2 - Cathodic Protection Technician
NACE Corrosion Technologist
Professional Engineer in FL and TX
Structural Engineer in AZ

Education

University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Engineering, 2008
Master of Science, Architectural Engineering, 2010

WJE Austin
9511 North Lake Creek Parkway
Austin, TX 78717
Tel: (512) 257-4800
sfoster@wje.com

Practice Areas

Condition Assessment
Repair and Rehabilitation
Construction Observation Services
Corrosion Protection
Failures and Disasters
Historic Preservation
Litigation Consulting

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates is committed to helping our clients solve, repair, and avoid problems in the built world. Supported by unparalleled laboratory and field testing capabilities, our team of engineers, architects, and materials scientists brings an enthusiasm for problem solving and a hands-on technical approach to every challenge.

Ask the Structure and Solutions for the Built World are trademarks of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

© COPYRIGHT WISS, JANNEY, ELSTNER ASSOCIATES, INC., NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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