Professional Engineer

Melanie Kasper brings valuable experience serving as construction inspector, project manager and designer for various municipal and state entities such as the Center City District, South Jersey Transportation Authority, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and City of Philadelphia.  Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University and her Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University.  Prior to S. Harris & Co., she focused her professional career on public works projects such as the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Lighting Improvements Project and Downtown Philadelphia Office District Lighting Improvements Project.  Melanie's combination of technical and managerial skills brings fluidity to the projects in which she is involved. 

Professional Experience

S. Harris & Co., 2005 to present.

Urban Engineers, Inc., Engineer in Training, 2001 to 2005.

Bucknell University, Research Assistant, 2000.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Construction Inspector, 1999.

Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Drexel University, 2004.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bucknell University, 2001.

Professional Registrations

Professional Engineer (Civil): Pennsylvania, 2007 (PE074271)

Professional Engineer (Civil): Virginia, 2007 (043759)

Professional Engineer (Civil): Delaware, 2007 (15345)

Professional Engineer (Civil): Illinois, 2007 (062.060195)

Presentations & Publications

"Adaptations of Traditional Bermudian Construction Using Modern Materials",

Association for Preservation Technology International, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 2007.

"Structural Conservation Using Articulated Reinforcement at the Lewis Store",

American Institute of Conservation, Richmond, Virginia, April 2007.

Professional Associations

American Society of Civil Engineers, Member of Philadelphia's Younger Forum.

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC), Member.

Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), Member.

Selected Projects at S. Harris & Company

Asbury Park Fifth Avenue Pavilion, Madison Marquette Realty Services, structural survey and analysis of concrete ramp, design and construction documents, Asbury Park, NJ.

Asbury Park Casino, Madison Marquette Realty Services, structural survey and analysis of steel framing, design and construction documents, Asbury Park, NJ.

Asbury Park Convention Hall, Madison Marquette Realty Services, structural survey and analysis of existing girders and lintels, facade inspection, construction documents, construction administration services, Asbury Park, NJ.

Delaware Inn, City of Trenton, structural assessment, survey and analysis of existing building, Trenton, NJ.

Berkeley Institute, Ministry of Education, conditions assessment, near and long term intervention, Pembroke, Bermuda.

Dellwood Middle School, Ministry of Education, conditions assessment, near and long term intervention, Hamilton, Bermuda.

Overlook Plaza Stabilization Project at Great Falls Park, survey and analysis of existing steam plant for stabilization, steel framing design, construction documents, specification preparation, Paterson, NJ, completed 2006.

Springfield Grist Mill at Morris Arboretum, survey and analysis for emergency stabilization of existing mill, produced written report, condition assessment, drawings, construction documents, and specifications for the structural reinforcements, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, completed 2006.

Sheep Barn at Fox Chase Farm, survey and analysis of existing barn, provided construction documents and recommendations for masonry stabilization, Philadelphia, PA, completed 2006.

2111 Sergeant Street, designed timber framing plan for redevelopment of existing building, Philadelphia, PA.

Johnson-Matthey, Inc., design of new reinforced concrete vault for Pharmaceutical Materials Division, prepared construction documents and specifications, Paulsboro, NJ.

The David Sheppard House, Rutgers University, survey and analysis of existing interior structural conditions, designed the structural reinforcements for existing buildings, structural design of new framing, designed new roof per FM Global Standards, specification preparation, Bridgeton, NJ.

Pine Building, Pennsylvania Hospital. survey and analysis of the structure and existing conditions of America's first hospital, Philadelphia, PA.

2037 Green Street, residential building, design of structural stability of exterior facade, Philadelphia, PA, completed 2006.

Loudoun Mansion, City of Philadelphia, construction administration services, Philadelphia, PA, completed 2006.

Burgess Center, structural design for conversion of load bearing brick wall into a window store front, Philadelphia, PA, completed 2005.

Lewis Store, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc., design of articulated in-plane steel structural reinforcement and construction administration services, Fredericksburg, VA, completed 2006.

Selected Projects at Urban Engineers, Inc.

Engineer In Training

(2001-2005)

Atlantic City International Airport, Taxiway P Construction, construction inspector, earthwork, drainage systems, soil erosion controls, paving new taxiways, electrical construction, daily construction reports, documentation and verification of pay quantities, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, 2004-2005.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Lighting Improvements Project, resident manager, streetscapes project involving pedestrian, roadway and sculpture lighting, landscaping, oversight of construction, project documentation, payment applications and change orders, as-built drawings, Philadelphia, PA, 2003-2004.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Lighting Improvements Project, designer, site layout, permit application, AutoCAD drawings, writing assistant for technical specifications, Philadelphia, PA, 2003.

Downtown Office District Lighting Improvements Project, construction inspector, prepared pay estimates, daily construction reports, coordination with City of Philadelphia and other agencies, Philadelphia, PA, 2002.

Bridge and Culvert Projects, bridge designer, assistant in type, size and location reports for bridge and culvert design projects, evaluated quantities and cost estimates for bridge alternatives, including projects spanning SR-6202, SR-2049 and SR-180, PA, 2001-2002.

Selected Other Projects

Bucknell University, research assistant, investigated the performance of open web steel joists that are not braced out-of-plane and subject to mid-span loading.  The research considered lateral torsional buckling on the steel joists, and was funded by the Steel Joist Institute, Lewisburg, PA 2000.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, construction inspector, highway paving project on SR-0132, Bensalem, PA 1999.

Member of United States Masters Swimming.

Division I Collegiate Swimming, tri-captain of women's team, four-year varsity letter winner.

Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.