WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff opens new structural practice in South Florida

Miami — WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff announced the expansion of its buildings practice to South Florida. Esteban Anzola, a vice president with the group, will lead the new structural engineering practice, which will be co-located with the current Miami office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and professional services organization. Anzola is relocating from the firm’s New York office, where he has worked for eight years.

With the addition of structural engineering, the Miami office offers comprehensive integrated building engineering services addressing structures/mechanical/electrical/plumbing design as well as an array of specialist building consulting services. Anzola’s leadership of the local structural team expands the reach of the firm’s global center of excellence for high-rise/super tall structures.

In the Miami area, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff recently completed the University of Miami Frost Music Studios. The firm has performed structural design on 10 Museum Park and the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts. The expanded structural operation has already received a number of new commissions for which the engineering is presently underway.

“Esteban will be responsible for expanding technical resources in South Florida to include structural design for high-rise towers. He will tap into the expertise of our national structures group, which is, responsible for designing numerous supertall buildings domestically and globally,” commented Jeffrey Smilow, national leader of the buildings structures practice. “His technical skills and project experience make him ideally suited to oversee the delivery of structural services for our local clients. I will be working closely with Esteban — as will our high rise structural experts, Dr. Ahmad Rahimian and Silvian Marcus — to bring the WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff knowledge, background and proactive approach to the South Florida building structures market.”

Anzola has extensive experience in the analysis and design of a diverse range of complex projects, including commercial, institutional and residential facilities, as well as office towers, hotels and apartment buildings, in high wind and seismic regions. He has completed numerous projects through all engineering phases from feasibility studies and initial conceptual design to detailed engineering and assistance to the field team during construction. He also plays a key role within WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and in the national engineering community relative to implementing and developing performance-based design and analysis of building structures. He offers particular experience in high-seismic regions, including Mexico City, where he has been a key team member in several high-rises both recently completed and currently under construction.

Anzola received a master of science degree in structural engineering from Purdue University and a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. He is a member of the American Concrete Institute, serving on several of the organization’s technical committees.

“We are very excited about the technical and leadership skills Esteban brings to South Florida and thrilled to be able to provide clients structures capability in Miami, through which we can locally deliver our world-class high-rise structural expertise and experience,” said David Cooper, president of the U.S. buildings sector at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and the region’s chief commercial officer.

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s U.S. buildings sector comprises more than 1,150 staff located in 18 regional offices. The firm’s structural engineering group is responsible for renowned high-rises, cultural centers, sports facilities and more throughout the world, including the Shard in London, Torre Mayor in Mexico City, the Zayed National Museum in Dubai, and Citi Field in New York City.