Theiss Lecture
Michael J. Theiss Memorial Fund is used to support events at the School to encourage and promote the study of structures in architecture, while facilitating interaction between students and practicing architects and structural engineers.
Michelle Ryland
2025
Michelle is a dual licensed structural engineer and architect with Klein and Hoffman in Chicago specializing in the adaptive reuse, restoration, and repair of vintage buildings across Chicagoland. She holds a BS in Architectural Studies and a M. Arch (Structures Option) from the University of Illinois and holds leadership positions in SEAOI and NCSEA.
Matt Streid
2024
Matt Streid is a structural engineer at Magnusson Klemencic Associates. He is a principal at the firm and a leader in the firm’s Office and Life Science Specialist Groups. Matt is a graduate of the Illinois School of Architecture, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and his master’s degree in 2007 with a concentration in structures. His design experience ranges from low-rise, multi-building office campuses to complex high-rise office and mixed-use projects throughout the United States. Matt has worked on projects with many notable alumni firms of the program, including Studio Gang, Pelli Clarke & Partners, Pickard Chilton, and Miller Hull. In addition to being the project manager on the recently opened Salesforce Tower Chicago, he has applied his expertise to the designs of many signature structures, such as Seattle’s Amazon Block 20, Boston’s Back Bay Station, and numerous heavy timber office buildings.
Frances Yang
2023
After starting with Arup 19 years ago, Frances created and has led the Sustainable Materials Practice in the Americas region for the past 12 years. Drawing from her expertise in structural engineering, construction materials and advanced used of life-cycle assessment (LCA) tools, Frances has helped numerous projects embrace more circular design and drive down embodied carbon within our built environment. Frances is a constant mobilizer and collaborator, having served on the Carbon Leadership Forum Board, vice-chaired the USGBC Materials and Resources Advisory Group, co-founding the All for Reuse initiative, and currently vice-chair of SE 2050. She has also contributed to the chapter on mass timber construction within the New Carbon Architecture book, the Bay Area Low Carbon Concrete Code, and the ASCE technical guidance document “Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment: Reference Building Structure and Strategies,” which is referenced by LEEDv4, ILFI’s Zero Carbon Certification, and other respected standards. Through her career, Frances has shown how structural engineers can influence projects and policies towards a climate-positive future.
Christine Feisinger
2022
Christine Freisinger is an Associate Principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in the Chicago office where she has worked as a structural engineer since 2004, primarily focusing on the investigation, evaluation, and repair of existing structures, such as the Gateway Arch, Aloha Stadium, and the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. She is currently a board member of Illinois Structural Engineering Board, a board member of Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, and a member of the American Institute of Steel Construction Task Committee 7 –Evaluation and Repair.
Carol Drucker
2021
Carol J. Drucker, SE, PE, P.Eng, is a Principal of the firm Drucker Zajdel Structural Engineers in Chicago, IL. She has worked extensively on the structural design of many projects throughout the country and is recognized as an industry leader. She received her Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and her Masters Degree in Structural Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She has authored articles on connection design and currently serves on AISC’s TC-6, TC-2, and Specification Committee.
William Bast
2020
With over 34 years of structural engineering experience, Mr. Bast heads Thornton Tomasetti’s Renewal practice in Chicago, Illinois. His projects include building renovations and restorations, building façade evaluations and repair programs, due diligence and building assessments, failure investigations, litigation support and peer reviews. As a Principal, Mr. Bast works closely with owners, building managers, attorneys, architects and contractors, as well as internal project managers and engineers, to ensure the timeliness and quality of the projects he oversees. He joined Thornton Tomasetti in 1998
Michael J. Theiss Memorial Lectures
04/08/19 – Tabitha Tavolaro – “Structural Representation in Total Architecture”
09/18/17 – Paul A. Fast – “Metaphorical Design + Structure”
09/16/16 – Mutsuro Sasaki – “Morphogensis of Flux Structure – My Recent Works after Senda Mediatheque”
04/04/16 – Stephen DeSimone – “Concrete: Texture and Form”
04/13/15 – David Mar – “Space Between the Rocks: Structural Design for Form and Movement”
10/06/14 – Aine Brazil – “Contextural Design of Tall Buildings – A Structural Perspective”
04/29/13 – Jon Magnusson – “Structure Becoming Architecture: Case Studies of Aesthetics, Form, and Efficiency”
04/30/12 – Craig Schwitter – “On Force, Shape, and Performance: Challenges for Tomorrow’s Structural Engineer”
04/11/11 – David E. Eckmann – “Engineering Great Architecture”
04/19/10 – James J. Pawlikowski – “Burj Khalifa – the Design and Construction of the World’s Tallest Building”
04/13/09 – Matthew Breidenthal – “Integrated Design – the Art Institute of Chicago Modern Wing and Other Projects”
02/18/08 – Joseph Burns – “Block 37 and Design Integration”
04/02/07 – John Kissinger – “Milwaukee Art Museum Addition”
04/10/06 – Vince DeSimone – “Casinos: Bold New Challenges”
04/11/05 – Leslie E. Robertson – “Structural Engineering – A Challenge”
02/16/04 – Joseph Burns – “Soldier Field and Design Integration”
04/21/03 – William F. Baker – “Reflections on the Relationship between Architecture and Structure”