Two Award Winning Project Presentations from DVASE 2025 Awards Program
St. Joseph's University - Maguire Athletic Center Renovation
Presented by: Mark R. Odorizzi, P.E., Project Manager and Alexander J. Stadel, P.E., Associate Keast & Hood Structural Engineers
The Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) athletic center - anchored by the 1948 Field House and expanded in 1982 and 2007 - underwent a transformative renovation focused on the 1980s addition. The project reimagined key athletic spaces while navigating variable subsurface conditions, limited structural capacity, and the need to maintain full occupancy. Surgical interventions prioritized reuse, minimized demolition, and delivered modern athletic functionality. Highlights include converting the natatorium into an indoor turf facility, reorganizing the practice gym with a new sports medicine space and corridor, creating large CMU wall openings to improve circulation, and constructing a new cantilevered entry vestibule.
Honorable Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex
Presented By: Liam McNamara, P.E., Principal, O'Donnell & Naccarato
The 5-story, 405,000 SF Honorable Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex is a state-of-the-art replacement of the existing Hudson County Administration Building constructed in 1957. The design-build complex features space for 24 courtrooms: 10 Criminal Courtrooms and 12 Family Courtrooms, Judges Chambers, Sheriff Operations and Offices, Courts Administration, the Surrogate, and the Prosecutor’s Office. Amenities include a 75-seat public cafeteria, a self-help law library, a children’s play area, and training spaces for staff. A six-story parking garage with space for 459 vehicles, located on the east end of the courthouse building, provides parking for Judges, County Employees, and Jurors. Structurally, the complex is composed of two interdependent buildings: a three-story base with a basement housing all courtrooms and public spaces, and a two-story structure above, containing private offices for judicial and legal staff. This separation into two distinct structures allowed the design team to avoid the use of the alternate path method�"a cost-intensive strategy traditionally required under progressive collapse provisions for buildings three stories or taller and deemed at-risk for explosive events. Progressive collapse mitigation is a critical design requirement for essential public safety buildings like the Guarini Justice Complex. To meet these standards, the building integrates a pair of 700-foot-long, 35-foot-tall, exposed steel trusses at the roof level. These trusses are engineered not only to resist progressive collapse but also to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of up to 2 inches over seasonal temperature swings of up to 70°F. The design ensures the trusses function effectively under changing load conditions throughout the year. By segmenting the structure and implementing innovative blast-resistant design strategies, the project achieved significant savings in both materials and labor while meeting rigorous safety and performance standards. Other site challenges included the presence of two large tunnels beneath the garage, including one that dated to the 1800s, that had to be carefully spanned across. This has been achieved by needling through caissons in between existing tunnels and at each end, so that the parking garage superstructure can be supported on series of grade beams spanning in between these piles. Vibration monitoring sensors are placed throughout the length of each tunnel during pile drilling operation to avoid any disturbance to tunnels.
About Our Speakers:
Mark Odorizzi, P.E., is a highly motivated and creative engineer who joined the Keast & Hood team in 2019. His diverse project experience includes adaptive reuse, historic restoration and new construction for cultural, athletic, academic and manufacturing projects. Mark is well-versed in structural analysis and the design of steel, concrete, masonry, and wood systems. His notable projects include the Penn Museum Renovations, the Penn Boathouse Renovations, St. Joseph's Athletic Center Renovations, Lower Moreland Township High School, St. Rita's Cascia Center, and numerous pipe rack structures. Recognized for his astute attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities, Mark embraces the opportunity to lead design teams for proposed and existing structures with complex conditions. In addition to his project work, Mark is actively engaged in advancing firm knowledge and culture through mentorship, development of design resources, and coordination of educational presentations. He graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Architectural Engineering and MS and Civil Engineering. He began his role as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Architecture in 2021 and enjoys sharing the classroom with budding architects. Mark stays connected with other engineers in the community through active involvement with SEAoP and YMG in Philadelphia, chairing the Young Members Group in 2024. Mark is a well-rounded engineer that brings the same amount of dedication and energy to every project.
Alexander Stadel, P.E., has nearly 15 years of experience delivering transformative structural engineering projects for cultural and educational institutions. He has collaborated on major projects for notable local institutions including: Penn Museum, Museum of the American Revolution, First Bank of the United States, Girard College, Philadelphia Museum of Art, University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, and St. Joseph's University. Alex is a graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Architectural Engineering and a BS/MS in Civil Engineering. At Keast & Hood, Alex has developed and oversees a formalized training and mentorship program to ensure a comprehensive introduction to the field for junior engineers. Alex was promoted to Associate in 2024 in recognition of his extensive experience managing technically and logistically challenging building projects. Alex shares his passion for structural engineering as an adjunct professor at Drexel University where he has developed requisite accredited courses for the Architecture and Civil Engineering Departments since 2012. In that time, Alex has presented his structural engineering series for well over 800 students. Alex was recently honored with a Provost Award for Teaching Excellence and Drexel's College of Engineering Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for his service to his alma mater.
Liam McNamara, P.E., brings more than 14 years of structural engineering experience, with a strong track record of leading complex projects across multiple market sectors. Liam is known for his thoughtful leadership, technical depth and ability to anticipate challenges-ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, collaboratively, and to the highest professional standards. He holds both a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering (BAE) and a Master of Architectural Engineering (MAE) from Penn State University. Liam remains actively engaged in the professional community and industry advancement through his involvement through ACE Mentor Program of America (Greater New York City Chapter), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP), the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (Greater New York Chapter), the Hospital Society of Greater New York, the New York City Building Codes Committee and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY).
Date:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Where:
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Ten Independence Mall, 100 North 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Featuring a breakfast buffet
Time:
Registration and Breakfast begin at 7:30 am, Remarks and Presentation at 8:00 am (please note the later start time for this month's breakfast seminar)
Cost:
SEAoP members: FREE, Non-members: $60.00*
Please note: You will need a picture ID to enter the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Please enter on the 7th Street Side.
*Invite engineers at your firm to attend! Credit card payments accepted for non-members.
If you have any questions, please email Barbara Sagusti at SEAoPengineers@gmail.com or call 215-300-9225.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LEADING SPONSOR
OFFIT KURMAN, P.A.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS
IDEA STATICA
LANGAN
PULLMAN SST, INC.
Apr 15, 2026 - SEAoP April 15th Breakfast Seminar