#Eweek2022 Spotlight | Cole Moller

Who (or what) inspired you to become an engineer?

In high school, a math teacher suggested architecture as a field of study she thought would be a good fit for me. I knew nothing about architecture at the time, so I spent time looking into the profession and realized I was more interested in the practical structures and systems of a building, which led me to structural engineering. With every class I took in college, I ended up liking it more and more, and the rest is history.

Who is an engineer you look up to and/or admire?

We have such a solid group of talented structural engineers at Cushing Terrell, I would say they are the people I look up to most. I enjoy working and collaborating with them, as well as learning from them with every project we undertake. Each person brings a different perspective that helps us think holistically about how each building will function and how it will best fit in with its surroundings.

What is your area of expertise and why did you choose it?

During my time with Cushing Terrell, I have been fortunate to be exposed to many different things. I would say I am an expert in learning new things! One of the reasons I like structural engineering so much is the versatility of the profession and all of the various materials and designs that come with the role of determining structural integrity, as well as form and function.

What is one of your favorite projects and why?

The expansion of Glacier Park International Airport is the biggest project I have worked on in my career, and the first project for which I served as the Engineer of Record. This one sits at the top due to its scale ( $70+ million for phase 1 and $30+ million for phase 2) and the challenging aspects of expanding the airport by three times with additional gates and improvements to TSA screening checkpoints and baggage management spaces. There is so much that goes into an airport project, from safety and security considerations to the staff and passenger experiences. Airports together all the elements of facility design and it is critical that all those elements seamlessly intersect to support the efficient movement of people and aircraft.

What has been an innovative, out-of-the-box project you’ve worked on recently?

For me, this has been serving as a member of our firm’s Green Advocacy Council (GAC) and finding ways to implement our sustainable design goals into daily activities and projects within the structural group. It is challenging, out-of-the-box thinking, but something we are committed to fully grasp in order to move our company and our projects toward meeting those sustainability goals. I am also part of a GAC subgroup focused on reducing the embodied carbon (EC) associated with our work, which includes partial building deconstruction analysis, building portfolio EC impact analysis, peer-to-peer education, and materials research and comparison, most recently looking into concrete options that have less embodied carbon.

Tell us something about the field of engineering that is surprising or not common knowledge.

I think a common misconception about engineering is that we sit and scribble away on math formulas and theorems all day. Although there is a fair bit of math involved, I would say our job involves problem solving, collaboration, and the ability to step back and picture the finished product well before working on it. How different aspects of a building come together is the name of the game, and figuring out how to accomplish the architectural intent with actual materials on a site is the real job description.

Tell us something about the field of engineering that is surprising or not common knowledge.

I think a common misconception about engineering is that we sit and scribble away on math formulas and theorems all day. Although there is a fair bit of math involved, I would say our job involves problem solving, collaboration, and the ability to step back and picture the finished product well before working on it. How different aspects of a building come together is the name of the game, and figuring out how to accomplish the architectural intent with actual materials on a site is the real job description.

What piece of advice would you give a young person interested in becoming an engineer?

I would recommend getting out and experiencing what engineering is all about in the real world. I always enjoyed engineering classes, but classes will only take you so far. Apply for internships as they will be incredibly valuable in helping you understand and solidify what the work entails — I had several and each gave me important learning opportunities. (Note: If you are looking for a summer internship, check us out.)

The job is where you learn how to put the pieces together, and seeing that up close and personal is a great way to determine if engineering is the right fit for you. I would also recommend trying out as many different engineering disciplines as possible. There are so many things you can do as an engineer, many of which are totally different from the next. The versatility is endless, and even if engineering does not end up being your final choice, those different experiences are worth everything.

Are you involved in activities that help engage students/young people in engineering?

I have been involved in STEM activities at the schools around Billings and Lockwood, and I hope to participate more in the future. Sometimes the balance of work, work activities, and home life makes it harder, but they are important (and fun) to do. I am also in charge of the scholarship committee for the Billings Engineers Club. We have the awesome job of distributing scholarships to high school seniors who are interested in pursuing engineering degrees.

My goal since college has been to volunteer with Engineers without Borders, so that is also on the list!