Hadi Aghahassani joined Entuitive this past January as a Senior Bridge Engineer based out of our Vancouver office. We recently sat down with him to learn about his career in bridge engineering as well as what he’s looking forward to achieving at Entuitive.  

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today, Hadi. Can you please tell us about yourself and your career in bridge engineering? 

Of course, thank you for having me. I obtained my Master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Calgary in 2013. I’ve always been passionate about bridges, and I was hoping to get my career started in bridge engineering post-graduation. Unfortunately, when I was looking for jobs at the time, the job market was quite slow. 

Instead of sitting around waiting for a bridge engineer position to open up, I worked in building science for two years. I gained a lot of valuable experience in consulting engineering and working together as a team, which prepared me well for when a bridge opportunity finally came up. I was so happy. I’ve been working as an intermediate bridge engineer for the past six years. Now, I’m excited to be at Entuitive, helping to grow our bridge and transportation team, especially on the west coast. 

That’s great to hear you’ve always been fascinated by bridges. Where did your interest stem from?  

I’ve always loved bridges. When I was in elementary school, I remember always asking my parents to help me take photos with any cool bridges we would pass by. I’ve been collecting these bridge photos ever since. In junior high, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in bridges, but I also had a strong interest in genetics. I took the time to gain more knowledge in both areas, and my passion for bridges ultimately won out. 

What’s your favourite type of bridge to work on?  

I really like pedestrian bridges. It’s one of the many reasons why I joined Entuitive since I wanted to work at a firm that has great experience with pedestrian bridges. When constructing these bridges, we’re trying to create something lively and beautiful to make the experience more pleasant for the end users. I really like to build something that connects people and communities. 

Indeed, pedestrian bridges are unique. Are you working on any at the moment?  

Yes, I am. I’m currently working on 100 Street Pedestrian Bridge in Edmonton. We’ve finished the concept design, and now we’re starting to work on the preliminary engineering phase. It’s been an interesting project with some unique design and constructability challenges due to the geometry and location of the bridge.  

It’s been a great learning experience so far, and the bridge is going to look gorgeous when it’s built. 

You previously shared how pedestrian bridges were one of the many reasons why you joined Entuitive. Can you expand more on what attracted you to the company? 

For sure. Entuitive was one of the first firms that I got to know in Canada. When I started studying in Calgary in 2011, I learned about the company from my classmates. Two of them started working at Entuitive while they were pursuing their M.Eng, and they were really enjoying their experience. 

Entuitive was also working on the Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge project near my home, so I was always aware of the great projects the company was working on. However, at the time, Entuitive hadn’t started working on any projects involving bridges yet. So, I kept following Entuitive throughout the years and I was happy to see the amazing bridge projects the company is now involved in.  

I reached out to members of the transportation team, including Jonathan Werner, Stephen Brown, and David Hubbell. I appreciated how they all took the time to meet with me and tell me about their projects, even though I hadn’t formally applied to Entuitive yet. I was thinking that these people must really love their jobs and what they’re doing. Everyone was so welcoming, and I was even invited to the Christmas party before officially starting my role  

The great projects were a main attraction, but it was mainly the close relationship between colleagues that I was looking for. I could see how at Entuitive everyone was supporting and working together towards a set goal.  

What are some of your career goals at Entuitive? 

Ultimately, I’m looking forward to growing our bridge and transportation team and services on the west coast. In British Columbia and Alberta, we have already started strategizing and building strong relationships with local clients. We have great potential, and I’m excited for our team to continue winning unique projects.
 

Thank you so much for sitting down with us today, Hadi. We learned a lot! If you would like to discuss bridge engineering with Hadi, you can reach out to him here.