SEAW upcoming events

SEAW Seattle & ASCE Joint Dinner Meeting - Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection (April 30, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection: Rail, Retrofit, and Innovation

Sound Transit’s Crosslake Connection represents one of the most technically ambitious rail transit projects ever delivered in North America. Forming the central segment of the Link Light Rail 2 Line, the project converted the I‑90 corridor—including the iconic Homer M. Hadley Floating Bridge—from reversible highway lanes to exclusive light rail service. As Sound Transit’s prime engineering consultant, WSP led the final design of this unprecedented crossing, delivering the world’s first light rail system to operate on a floating bridge. Crossing the floating bridge required the development of a patented “Track Bridge” system at the expansion joints to accommodate the floating bridge’s continuous movements and non‑invasive track attachment solutions to protect the bridge pontoons.

Beyond the floating bridge, the Crosslake Connection project encompassed extensive seismic and gravity retrofits of existing highway structures repurposed for rail, along with the design and delivery of Judkins Park and Mercer Island Stations, each with unique structural and architectural challenges. The project demanded close coordination with Sound Transit and WSDOT to integrate new rail infrastructure into existing highway right-of-way. This presentation will explore the engineering innovations and collaborative problem‑solving that transformed an existing highway corridor into a resilient, high‑capacity rail connection.

Speakers

Matthew Barber, PE

Matthew Barber is a bridge engineer working in the greater Seattle area. He started his career 22 years ago in the New York office of Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP) before coming to the Northwest in 2011 to support a WSDOT design build project. On the Seattle to South Bellevue segment of East Link (currently referred to as the Crosslake Connection), he started as the Miscellaneous Structures Lead during the Final Design, before serving as the Design Lead During Construction for the duration of the construction. When not thinking about transportation infrastructure, Matthew enjoys gardening, cycling, kayaking, cooking pasta with wife, and volunteering at the snack bar of his children’s swim meets.

Jake Douglass, PE

Jake Douglass is a bridge engineer in WSP’s Seattle office. Prior to joining WSP, he lived and worked on the East Coast, designing and inspecting bridges and waterfront structures. Jake joined the design team for the Seattle to South Bellevue segment of East Link in 2016 during the latter stages of final design and later became the Deputy Design Lead During Construction. Outside of work, Jake enjoys hiking, watching soccer, and touring the city’s playgrounds with his two young children.

Dinner Meeting Cost:

Students: $40

SEAW Member: $65

ASCE Member: $65

Non-Member: $75

Registration closes at 12pmPT on April 27, 2026.

SEAW Seattle - SE Awards People's Choice Voting (May 01, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Calling all SEAW Seattle Chapter members! This is your chance to vote for your favorite finalists for the 2026 SEAW Seattle Structural Engineering Awards!

SEAW YMG Happy Hour Series - LMN the Shop (May 14, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Join us for the kickoff of the 2026 SEAW YMG Happy Hour Series at LMN’s The Shop! This Happy Hour is in collaboration with the AIA YAF and will feature a presentation by LMN on The Shop followed by networking between architect and engineers.

CANCELED: May meeting of Disaster Prep / Response Committee (DPRC) (May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The May meeting of the DPRC is CANCELED. To be added to the DPRC email group, email John Riley

SEAW Seattle - Ash Grove Cement Tour (May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Come join Seattle Chapter SEAW for a site tour of the Ash Grove Cement Plant. After the tour, there will be an optional Happy Hour at Ghostfish Brewing Company.

SEAW YMG & ASCE YMF - T-Mobile Park Tour (May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join the SEAW YMG and ASCE YMF for a guided educational tour of T-Mobile Park! Come to this walking tour to learn about the home of the Seattle Mariners and walk through normally restricted areas such as the Owners’ Suite, Rooftop Boardwalk, and Mariners Hall of Fame. The tour will partly be guided by an engineer from MKA, the structural engineer on the project, who will share technical insights on one of Seattle’s premier stadiums. After the tour, join us for a social hour near the stadium.

SEAW State Board Meeting (May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Please email info@seaw.org if you would like more details about the meeting.

Disaster Prep / Response Committee (DPRC) meeting (June 16, 2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Agenda and link to our online meeting will be emailed. To be added to the DPRC email group, email John Riley