Mark Bland is a fifth year student of Architectural Engineering at Penn State University. He is currently working on his Senior Thesis and will graduate in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering with a focus in Stuctural Engineering. In August, Mark passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and will be eligible for EIT status upon graduation. He looks forward to working at a structural engineering firm as well as pursuing his PE license.

 

Mark is involved in many student organizations at Penn State.  He is a member of the Penn State chapter of the Student Society of Architectural Engineers and the Structural Engineers Association.   He also enjoys Netflix, cooking, watching sports, playing floor hockey and being outdoors.

 

During the summer of 2014, Mark had the opportunity to intern with Barton Malow Company on the Beaver Stadium scoreboard replacement project.  There, under the direction of the General Superintendent, he facilitated the productivity of contractor trades and monitored quality control and quality assurance.  In the Summer of 2015, Mark worked for Hope Furrer Associates as a structural intern.  During his time there, he assisted in the design and modeling of lateral systems, floor diaphrams, and structural members.  He was exposed to many different aspects of the industry and gained essential knowledge about structural design before starting his final year at Penn State.

 

It was through his work at Hope Furrer Associates that he was exposed to Towson University's West Village Housing project.  With the help of HFA's structural engineers, specifically the efforts of Tom Barabas, Mark was able to secure West Village Housing Phases III & IV for his senior thesis capstone project.