The Independent - Austin Texas
Project Profile
Kristopher Swanson, P.E., S.E. - DCI Engineers
Roger Heeringa, P.E., S.E., LEED AP - DCI Engineers
Learn all about The Independent, a 60-story high-rise currently under construction in downtown Austin that will be the tallest pure residential building west of the Mississippi. At 684 feet tall, The Independent will become the tallest building in Austin. With a design that is inspired by Austin’s bold spirit, it will be the latest luxury condominium tower to hit the popular Seaholm District of Austin. Structural engineering joint venture LAM+DCI provided innovative structural solutions to accommodate the tower’s unique form while creating an elegant, cost effective, and simple design. LAM+DCI was challenged with creating a point tower that needed to be efficient within a small footprint, all while accommodating resident comfort during high wind events.
Presenters Kris Swanson and Roger Heeringa will discuss the unique aspects and challenges to the design of this soon-to-be iconic tower in Austin.
Kris Swanson, PE, SE, is Principal in Charge of DCI Engineers’ Austin office, a team he helped launch in 2008. Kris has over 18 years’ experience working across a broad spectrum of projects across the country and abroad. He has worked on a variety of projects including high-rise, mixed-use, civic and hospitality. Kris has successfully designed award-winning projects in Austin such as The Thinkery (Austin’s Children’s Museum) and the Girls’ School and contributes the in-house technical high-rise and concrete committees. Kris is a Past President of SEAoT – Austin Chapter and an active member of the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA).
Roger Heeringa, PE, SE, LEED AP, is DCI President/COO and works in the Seattle, Washington office. He has been with the firm for more than 27 years. In addition to management of the firm, Roger is involved in high profile projects, client management and development, and is involved in the in-house high-rise technical committee. He has published a number of industry articles, most recently “1500 Mission: Tall Building Concrete Shear Wall Design Using High Strength Grade 80 Longitudinal Reinforcing in San Francisco”; and “Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Los Angeles Tall Building Structural Design Council.” Roger is also an active member and delegate of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and occasionally speaks at regional events.
