By Leslie Benson, Marketing Communications Group > In February 2013, Ben Borcherding, the new Bridge Group leader in the Transportation Division, joined American Structurepoint. Raised in Evansville, Indiana, Borcherding says he has always preferred mathematics and engineering over other school subjects of study. “I’ve always had an interest in putting things together, and I grew up inspired by iconic long-span bridge engineering projects like the Golden Gate Bridge,” Borcherding says. “The engineering field also appealed to me because it contributes to society’s progress.”

Borcherding graduated with a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Purdue University in 2002 and has lived in Indianapolis for 11 years.

“American Structurepoint has such a fantastic reputation with its clients and employees, in Indiana and beyond,” Borcherding says. “When I was thinking about working here, I conferred with others in the engineering community, and they only had good things to say about the company. I want to help continue to make American Structurepoint successful!”

Borcherding has worked on over 100 bridge designs thus far in his career and has experience in new bridge, bridge replacement, and bridge rehabilitation projects for local, state, and federal agencies. He also has extensive knowledge in the design and detailing of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, post-tensioned concrete, and structural steel elements of bridge structures, and he brings experience in bridge inspection and evaluation of existing structures.

“I like design/builds, and I have experience in post-tensioning design of bridge elements, which I believe is one reason American Structurepoint was interested in me,” Borcherding says. “I’m also a big believer in keeping up with industry trends and innovations and attending important annual conferences.”

Borcherding has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineering Institute since 2002. He’s a registered professional engineer in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky and has certification as a post-tensioning institute certified structural grouting technician. He also has experience presenting at the Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference, INDOT Structural Conference, and at American Society of Highway Engineers events. Most notably, Borcherding served on the committee that helped rewrite the INDOT Design Manual, specifically the “Structure, Size, and Type Chapter.”

Some of the notable past projects he worked on are the Port Columbus Crossover Taxiway Project in Columbus, Ohio, which featured three cast-in-place post-tensioned concrete structures, including a post-tensioned cast-in-place box girder bridge that won the Association of Bridge Construction and Design’s Outstanding New Bridge Award. He was also extensively involved in sections two and three of the I-69 corridor work, for which he served as the bridge design coordinator for this new 53-mile segment of interstate facility in southern Indiana, which includes 84 new bridge structures from Oakland City to Crane, Indiana.

Borcherding also served as lead bridge design engineer responsible for the design and contract document preparation for multiple new bridge and bridge rehabilitation structures as part of a 13.1-mile US 31 improvement project through Hamilton County, Indiana, which is currently under construction.

“However, I am most proud of having earned the respect of my peers and having opportunities to mentor younger engineers,” he says. “One thing I have learned is that it is important to be right there in the trenches with the staff and help mentor them. I am doing that now with the staff of the American Structurepoint Bridge Group. The Bridge Group is having a lot of success. I want to continue to grow our profitability and help expand our projects, especially for post-tensioning and design/build projects. As for the current projects the Bridge Group is working on, I am very excited about Ohio River Bridges.”

When it comes to his personal life, Borcherding, his wife, and two sons are big animal lovers and support the Humane Society. “We have an 11-year-old lab named Rocky, and we do the Mutt Strut in Indianapolis together every year as a family,” he says. “We also love traveling, playing sports, and watching movies.”

Borcherding’s friendly and outgoing personality shines through, even during a spontaneous newsletter interview during his second week of work at American Structurepoint. It’s no wonder he says clients respond to his honesty and hardworking nature. It will be exciting to see Borcherding lead the Bridge Group as he helps grow its volume of work, as well as its project reach.