For Martin Simarase Chiworeke, a career in structural engineering was born
onsite at a thermal power station in Zimbabwe. He was in the process of
obtaining his bachelor鈥檚 in civil and water engineering, but witnessing
massive structures take shape in real time reshaped his career goals.
鈥淏eing part of such a large-scale infrastructure project sparked my passion
for understanding how structures operate under demanding conditions,鈥 he
said. 鈥淪tructural engineering became my focus because it sits at the core of
every building鈥檚 performance, safety, and longevity.鈥
Looking to build on his experience, Martin enrolled in Drexel鈥檚 Graduate
Co-Op program to pursue a master鈥檚 in structural engineering. His work at
The Ballinger Company directly applies concepts like design theory and
mechanics of materials. He's facing many of the once-hypothetical problems
in real life, gaining a deeper understanding of skills that just can鈥檛 be
fully absorbed through coursework alone.
At Ballinger, Martin supports structural analysis and CAD modeling for
architectural and institutional projects. He models structures, calculates
how forces like weight and wind are handled, and works with senior engineers
to turn architects鈥 ideas into structures that are safe, practical, and
well-designed. He鈥檚 been involved with the structural detailing and modeling
of an institutional building project, working to update and improve the
model.
鈥淲hat made the experience especially meaningful was how quickly I was able
to adapt to Ballinger鈥檚 workflow, modeling standards, and quality control
process,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淲ithin a short time, I was independently responding
to engineer markups, refining connection details, and contributing to clean,
coordinated drawings. That growth, combined with the opportunity to
collaborate directly with experienced professionals on a real institutional
project, is something I am truly proud of.鈥
While Martin鈥檚 earlier experiences in civil engineering laid the groundwork
for his career, it was his graduate co-op that solidified his intended
professional direction and showed him where he thrives.