Hi friends,

I just came back from vacation in California. My girlfriend and I visited her parents in Silicon Valley and then traveled around a bit.

It was a great trip and my first time in the US. We visited San Fransicso (the Golden Gate bridge was a must-see), LA, Carmel by the Sea, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Malibu and many places in the bay area.

As a structural engineer, I can’t switch off of course: I looked at plenty of construction sites and structures.

Here is what stood out to me and what's different to Europe.

The US is a country of extremes: That’s the first impression I get as a European. Wildly successful tech companies, a thriving start-up scene, high salaries and a deep-rooted optimism sit right next to much more homelessness, many addicts, deep inequality, and, in my view, weak infrastructure.

Disclaimer: I don't want to offend anyone with my list. It's just my transparent opinion on the things I saw.

#1: Light timber framing

Most residential buildings are built with light timber stud framing and very slender ribs, even across several storeys (in Europe these studs wouldn't satisfy fire safety).

Acoustic performance doesn’t seem to be a priority. In the new-build apartment where my girlfriend’s parents live, everything vibrates when a train passes, and you hear every footstep from the neighbors. The rent is 2-3 times what you’d pay in Munich. Wow!!

I don’t know what fire resistance durations these buildings are designed for. Between Santa Barbara and LA, we drove past many houses that burned down completely in a wildfire some time ago. And then there’s the big question: do these lightweight structures really hold up under high seismic loads?

If you are a structural engineer in the US, shoot me a message.

#2: Industrial buildings: mostly steel

Almost every industrial building I saw was a steel structure.

In Europe, a mix of steel and precast concrete is used for these types of structures. Sometimes steel, sometimes precast concrete.

A few industrial structures in Europe are also built with wood.

#3: Infrastructure: a mixed picture

The roads are bumpy and I have never seen that many potholes. I also saw disused bridges which were simply left standing.

What surprised me even more was the poor internet connectivity. Even in Silicon Valley, we occasionally had no reception at all.

In Germany we have been complaining for years how bad the connectivity is, but it's a lot better than in all places I went in the US.

Same goes for european infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools, etc.: Everyone complains how bad the infrastructure is in Europe (especially in Germany), but when I compare it to what I saw in California, it’s clear Europe is starting from a much higher baseline than we tend to admit.

#4: Apple Stores

The glass load-bearing elements in the Apple Stores are a real eye-catcher and a great example of what structural glass can do.

#5: The gap between rich and poor

Tech employees pay several thousand dollars/euros a month in rent for a 2-3 room apartment, while people on low incomes can't afford rent in these areas and have to live in caravans next to the highway or in trailer parks (slightly exaggerated - but I've seen these things on my trip).

What can we Europeans learn from Americans? Their optimism, their appetite for trying new things, and their pace.

But Europe can also be proud of a few things where we are ahead of the US. We can offer a culture of durable, well-engineered buildings and infrastructure. Many things work pretty well and even better in Europe. We can be better at also recognizing that.

I’m curious about your experience: have you worked on US projects, or seen the differences between European and American construction practice up close? Let me know by answering to this e-mail.

Also, if you have been to Europe and the US, let me know about your thoughts by answering to this e-mail.

Final Words

This was my experience from my trip to the US.

Enjoy the rest of the week and your weekend.

I’ll see you next Wednesday for the next newsletter.

Let’s design better structures together,

Laurin.

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

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