As part of the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering’s seminar series, Ron Klemencic will present “What’s New, What’s Next?” on Thursday, October 30. Based on his 40-year career at the leading edge of structural engineering and construction innovation, Klemencic will share highlights of what has been accomplished, what is new, and what he believes is next for the industry.
Klemencic is the chairman and chief executive officer of Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), an international, award-winning structural and civil engineering firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Klemencic is a globally recognized innovator and preeminent structural engineer recognized for his creativity, “big picture” approach, and ability to develop cost-effective designs. He has designed projects in 29 states and 25 countries, with some as large as 11.5 million square feet and 112 stories. These include San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower; Chicago’s St. Regis, 150 North Riverside, and Aqua; and Seattle’s Rainier Square.
Klemencic is also a charter member of the Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) National Advisory Council and guided the foundation’s strategic and functional directions during the initial start-up period. As a director for CPF, Klemencic champions the research and development of new technologies that further the structural engineering profession. He has played a key role in many innovations throughout his career, including performance-based seismic design, the development and successful application of the SpeedCore structural system, and advancements to both performance-based wind and structural fire design.
Klemencic is a past 5-year Chairman of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat—the only international organization that brings together all the disciplines involved in creating the global urban environment—where led the development of standards and criteria for naming the tallest buildings in the world
In 2018, Klemencic received the Engineering News-Record Award of Excellence, one of the highest honors in the AEC industry. He also received the 2017 Landis Epic Lectureship Endowed Lecturer, 2016 CTBUH Fazlur Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal, and 2016 ASCE Ernest E. Howard Award. Klemencic has been elected to both the National Academy of Construction and the National Academy of Engineering.
Klemencic earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and his master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2025, Klemencic received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, Purdue University.