About AWB Engineering

The person behind AWB Engineering is Professional Engineer, Wade Damey. Wade is not only a seasoned professional within structural engineering but also has an extensive background working with the city of Seattle and owning his own construction firm. He primarily stays busy working within the Seattle area but is known to travel as far as Snohomish. Wade has been a structural engineer for over 20 years so you can be assured that he knows what is involved to bring your projects to life.

Q&A with Wade

How did you gain your proficiency with working with the City of Seattle building department?
For a while I was on contract with the city of Seattle. That’s where I really learned the building codes because I was reviewing building after building, which was a bit frustrating because I wasn’t doing any design work. Back then, it was all in-person, like you had to walk into the city offices. Now, of course, everything’s online, which makes things easier.

So your experience started with building reviews. That sounds intense! Did you have any key mentors or people that helped along the way?
Yeah, my best friend was a structural engineer who worked in the city. She was a huge resource, helping me with projects and reviews. During that time I ended up starting my own construction company, which really solidified my experience.

How long did you run your own construction company for?
About 10 years. I had a partner for a while, but then I started flipping homes and worked with another friend. It went well, but the construction side was exhausting, especially up until around 2019. Then, I decided to slow down a bit and focus on fewer projects.

Sounds like you've seen a lot. So, with all this experience, how far do your projects typically reach? Are you mostly working in Seattle?
Mostly King County. I’ve done work as far north as Snohomish, but a lot of my focus has been in Seattle. The architects and contractors I work with are based there, so that's where most of the projects are. Though I’ve had projects in smaller cities too, it's the Seattle ones that are more consistent.

How do you stay up to date with all the changes in building codes and industry trends? I imagine it’s important to stay on top of that.
Yeah, definitely. There are structural engineering societies like SEAW that I subscribe to. They send out newsletters and host meetings, which help me stay current, especially with code changes. Every four years or so, there are updates, particularly for seismic and lateral loads. YouTube has been surprisingly helpful too! There are younger professionals out there explaining things really well.

What about clients? How do you bring in new business while balancing your workload?
Most of my work comes through architects. I’ve built good relationships with them over the years, and once they’re comfortable with you, they don’t shop around for different engineers.

What kind of projects have you worked on recently? Anything involving flood plains or geotechnical issues?
Actually, yes. Around 20% of my projects are on steep slopes or in areas with poor soil. I work with geotechnical engineers a lot, especially on high-end custom homes. They come in and analyze liquefaction risks, and I design solutions like driving pipe piles deep into the ground for stability.

That’s really interesting. So, how do you see the future of structural engineering evolving, especially in terms of challenges like increasing wind loads or seismic activity?
Wind and seismic regulations are definitely getting more stringent. Seattle’s wind loads have doubled in some areas. And the stricter regulations just mean more complex designs and higher costs for clients. That’s where the city really has a hold on the industry—they can sit on permits for months, which throws off entire building seasons.