Dennis Poon

What: Thornton Tomasetti’s Dennis C.K. Poon, P.E., managing principal, has been named one of the 25 Top Newsmakers of 2010 by the editors of Engineering News-Record magazine for his influence on China’s building codes regarding supertall structures. The award recognizes almost 15 years of persuasively arguing for design criteria in China that have led to more-efficient high-rise structures, part of the American structural engineer’s ongoing effort to align a conservative code with international standards.

When/Where: Monday, January 17, 2011 – For details visit the ENR website.

Who: Throughout his 30+ years experience Dennis Poon has been responsible for the design and construction of super high-rise structures, mixed-use buildings, hotels, airports, arenas and residential buildings worldwide. High on the list of his accomplishments is leading the structural design team for the world’s second tallest building, Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Other notable projects include the mega-scale MGM CityCenter hotel, casino and convention center complex in Las Vegas, Nevada; the World Financial Center in New York City; the Plaza 66 Twin Towers in Shanghai; O’Hare International Airport and the Chicago Board of Trade Tower in Chicago; and Qatar Education City Convention Center in Doha.

Mr. Poon is in charge of the structural design for several iconic, supertall towers currently under construction. These include Shanghai Tower (632 m) in the People’s Republic of China, 151 Incheon Tower (601 m) in South Korea and Ping An International Financial Center Tower (660 m) in Shenzhen, PRC.

In addition to his responsibilities as managing principal and member of the firm’s board of directors, Mr. Poon is charge of the firm’s Pacific Rim region. He has lectured at universities worldwide including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University. He has received numerous prestigious awards including the ACEC National Grand Award for the design of Taipei 101. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Columbia University.

Why: Since 1964, the editors of Engineering News-Record have reviewed the stories that have appeared in the magazine during the year and selected individuals for special recognition. The newsmakers are chosen for their innovations and achievements, for giving back to the industry and the public, and for going beyond the duties of their day-to-day jobs. All the winners will be honored at a gala in New York City on April 7, when ENR will announce the winner of its highest honor, the Award of Excellence. The winner will be the subject of the cover story in the April 11 issue of the magazine.

About Thornton Tomasetti (www.ThorntonTomasetti.com)
Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering services to clients worldwide on buildings of all sizes and complexity. From the tallest buildings and the longest spans, to innovative building systems and materials, the firm is committed to creating the best solutions through its technical ingenuity, pursuit of excellence, and responsiveness to client needs. Our work is in three practice areas: Building Structures, Building Skin and Building Performance. Founded in 1956 as Lev Zetlin & Associates, today Thornton Tomasetti is a 550-person organization of engineers and architects collaborating from offices across the United States and in Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, and the Middle East.

Contact
Great Ink Communications – 212.741.2977
Roxanne Donovan/Eric Gerard/Marieka Baily

Thornton Tomasetti – 917.661.7800
James M. Kent, JKent@ThorntonTomasetti.com