VAA News

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25 Years at VAA – Dave Johnson

December 21, 2021 / Comments Off on 25 Years at VAA – Dave Johnson

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Dave Johnson, an Associate and Senior Structural Engineer with VAA. Dave was with VAA for 25 years and prided himself on providing quality service for his clients. He made every project a priority and began project efforts within hours of the initial request […]

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A collage of VAA community causes, featuring food shelf collection and a dunking booth

Community Matters – This Year and Every Year

September 25, 2021 / Comments Off on Community Matters – This Year and Every Year

Raising money for local charitable organizations has long been important to VAA. Over the years our employees have had many ways to get involved and give back to their community, whether by participating in home building, packaging meals, donating blood, or volunteering time to students. The largest financial impact, however, is always made during VAA’s […]

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Collage of Walk for Animals volunteers with their pets

The VAA Egrets Walk Their Way into the Top Five

June 28, 2021 / Comments Off on The VAA Egrets Walk Their Way into the Top Five

This spring VAA took to the streets with our furry friends to raise money for the Animal Human Society’s Walk for Animals 50th anniversary charity event. Although it was the second year in a row the AHS fundraiser was held virtually, it didn’t give anyone “paws.” The VAA Egrets team was one of the top five Corporate Team […]

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Tina Frye Enters VAA as First CFO/Director of Operations

June 1, 2021 / Comments Off on Tina Frye Enters VAA as First CFO/Director of Operations

Tina joins VAA as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Director of Operations, a newly created corporate finance and operations position for the privately held multidiscipline engineering and design firm. The combination of introducing a 10-year, 2030 Vision and modifying the company’s governance were catalysts to adding the newly formed CFO/Director of Operations position. “With Tina on board, this […]

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Exterior view of a small outdoor elevator traversing a steep hill with Elevator World logo nearby

Going Up! Project of the Year for 2021: Commercial Inclined Lift

April 30, 2021 / Comments Off on Going Up! Project of the Year for 2021: Commercial Inclined Lift

It has been said the best view comes after the hardest climb. But why not enjoy the views on the way up? On the highest hill in Mazatlán, Mexico, sits an observatory that could previously only be accessed via a difficult climb up steep and rugged terrain. Hill Hiker designed an inclined elevator system that […]

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Anniversary Accolades for Bernie Jansen on 35 Years

December 30, 2020 / Comments Off on Anniversary Accolades for Bernie Jansen on 35 Years

Former Partner and Senior Project Manager Bernie Jansen is celebrating 35 years at VAA. Respected and admired by clients and coworkers alike, to say Bernie has played an integral role in the growth of VAA is an understatement. Bernie always possessed a natural curiosity about how things were built. Having discovered drafting in high school, […]

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High overhead view of a parking lot under construction

Coast-to-Coast Defense: High Wind & High Seismic Structural Design

September 23, 2020 / Comments Off on Coast-to-Coast Defense: High Wind & High Seismic Structural Design

For a nation subject to annual hurricanes and earthquakes, the question should be asked, how do buildings stand up under the strain of a natural disaster? While two very different approaches are taken to building designs to allow for either extreme wind speeds or high seismic (earthquake) events, the common thread is lateral forces. Acting […]

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Layout of various community endeavors with VAA including Second Harvest Heartland, Interfaith Outreach, and We Heart Lake Street

A Virtual Commitment to Community

September 17, 2020 / Comments Off on A Virtual Commitment to Community

As with many 2020 events, VAA’s Community Caring Campaign (CCC) joined the virtual world to raise dollars for local organizations. Selected by VAA’s Designing a Difference Team (formerly Wellness & Outreach Committee), the CCC’s on-line events and employee efforts raised over $40,000 dollars for three selected charities. Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) A long-term […]

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True Friends logo with collage of people gathering and volunteering

A Blueprint for Giving Back

July 23, 2020 / Comments Off on A Blueprint for Giving Back

VAA’s business is built on creating lasting relationships with clients, coworkers, and local community organizations. Cultivating partnerships that last decades and doing work that supports our partners’ overall purpose is at the core of what we do. One uniquely rewarding partnership is the one we share with True Friends, a local nonprofit providing life-changing experiences […]

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High overhead exterior view of a grain storage facility

Protect Your Investments: Concrete Silo Safety and Operations

June 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Protect Your Investments: Concrete Silo Safety and Operations

Safety and performance of concrete silos, particularly older silos, are often a concern to owners and operators of heavy industrial processing facilities. Blowout of silo walls and / or partial collapse of concrete silos are not uncommon. This article summarizes factors that contribute to concrete silo failure and defines methods to avoid instances that may […]

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