Today I am presenting another written interview with Zubin Patrawala who is a Civil Engineering Consultant.
Check out the interview:
1. What got you interested in civil engineering? Share your story.
I started out as an architectural engineering candidate. I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. I wanted something on a larger scale, something that had a larger impact. Generally, Civil Engineers don’t have the same impacts that they did 60 years ago, with massive terraforming, and dams, but that’s a good thing. With massive scale comes massive impacts, and now we’re understanding that just a 7-11 parking lot can have a large impact. We’re now offsetting those impacts with best management practices.
The other reason I wanted in to Civil was because of the breadth of subjects you cover in one day. You get to wear so many hats, it keeps it fresh and exciting.
2. What is the most challenging project you have ever taken on with your company? What was it like?
I think the project I’m working on now, is a challenging one. We’re basically moving the side of a mountain to put in a church. It’s so intricate in the way its designed. The way the parking lot wraps around the buildings, while keeping with the rising grade of the hill, the courtyard in the center with it’s multitude of levels and areas to discover, natural terrain, BMP’s, beautiful architecture, canyon views. The design team we’re on it with is excellent. We’ve all thought about it from every angle. I’m really excited to see it built.
3. How do most new projects come about? Are they referrals or do you spend a lot of time seeking out new work?
The majority of our work is referrals. We’re a small company, and we can’t go chasing every project. We spend some time marketing, but not enough. We’ve been growing steadily, and there isn’t much more I can ask for.
4. What do you like most about your job?
The variety of the work. I’m an accountant one day, a truck driver another, a designer on the third, a web designer on the fourth.
5. What are your future plans for 2015 and beyond?
Keep at it. I’d like to grow the company to about 15 tight knit individuals with drive, and the goals that we’ve set in the company. I don’t want a mega firm. I want the balance for me and my employees. We’ll work hard while we’re there, and we’ll play hard when it’s time to drop the pencil…or the mouse.
