Thornton Tomasetti’s Aine Brazil Receives 2016 Homer Gage Balcom Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers Metropolitan Section

Words: Bronzella Cleveland
Aine Brazil

Thornton Tomasetti announced that Vice Chairman Aine Brazil, P.E., F.SEI, LEED AP, has been awarded the 2016 Homer Gage Balcom Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Metropolitan Section. Brazil was recognized at the ASCE Metropolitan Section Annual Dinner Dance at Terrace On the Park, Flushing, NY on June 23.

The Homer Gage Balcom Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime of achievement in the structural engineering of buildings, along with a commitment to the advancement of the structural engineering discipline of civil engineering. The award is named after H. G. Balcom (1870-1938), a structural engineer and a pioneer in designing tall structures to account for lateral wind forces.

Throughout her nearly 40-year career, Brazil has been responsible for the design and construction of nearly every building type and is widely recognized for her engineering achievements in the United States and internationally, Thornton Tomasetti says.

Her portfolio features such landmark projects as the 54-story Bloomberg Tower, Greenberg Pavilion at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Via 57 West. She has been actively involved in the development of 30 and 10 Hudson Yardsand in the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport.

Brazil has garnered dozens of professional awards for her leadership and innovative projects. In 2014, she was named International Engineer of the Year by Engineers Ireland, one of the country’s oldest and largest professional organizations. She was honored as Woman of the Year by WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate, and Crain’s New York Business has named her one of “New York’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business.”

Mastering The Art Of Masonry Repair: The Dos and Don’ts
April 2026

Whether we specialize in repairs and restoration work or new construction, repairs are something that we all must do, at least from time to time. With ever-increasing competition from faster and cheaper building systems, the onus is on us as masonry profe

The Evolution of Brick Staining: From Color Complaints to Industry Essential
April 2026

Over thirty years ago, much of the conversation around brick staining centered on color complaints. In the early days, nearly all of our work stemmed from those situations, projects where something had gone wrong, and staining was brought in as a correcti

Is Contact with Wet Mortar or Grout Dangerous?
April 2026

In the world of masonry, few materials are as common as mortar and grout. Whether you are laying brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), or pouring grout into masonry walls, wet cement and mortar are constant companions. However, beneath their utility lies a

Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic