Robert is a multi-state licensed civil/structural engineer (CA, NY, FL, NC, SC, TN, VA, others) with over 22 years of experience in the design, engineering, testing, and manufacturing of structures employing highly engineered fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) composites and cross laminated timber (CLT). Dr. Steffen has engineered commercial and residential buildings, and bridges including both structural and architectural applications.
His engineering work includes the nation’s largest and first FRP exterior cladding system to reach above 60 feet in height at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, as well as the Rollins Road Bridge, Rollinsford, NH, the nation’s first bridge to contain high performance concrete (HPC) with state-of-the-art carbon fiber reinforced polymeric (CFRP) grids. His project portfolio includes artwork ‘Cupids Span’ and the ‘Lawrence Argent Blue Bear.’ Dr. Steffen’s background includes management positions within FRP manufacturing, light gauge steel manufacturing, concrete with pultruded FRP materials manufacturing, and the satellite communication company General Dynamics.
Dr. Steffen is a technical chairman and co-author of the American Composites Manufacturing Association (ACMA) Guidelines and Recommended Practices for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Architectural Products Standard. He is proficient in design software including RISA, RAM, AutoCad, REVIT, and Nastran. He is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and holds his BS, MS, and PhD from Georgia Tech.