Spanning Innovation: How Parsons Redefines Bridge Design
Introducing Meet The Mission, a brand-new video and podcast series from Parsons! Join us as we explore technology and innovation happening across Parsons, a digitally enabled solutions provider focused on shaping the future of the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets.
Today's episode of "Meet the Mission" is all about the art and science of bridge design. We're diving into how a combination of engineering precision, massive team coordination, and visionary thinking can transform steel and cables into vital lifelines for communities. Join our host, Candice, as she interviews two of Parsons' most respected leaders in the bridge world: Tom Spoth, our Vice President and Bridge Technical Organization (BTO) Lead, and Seth Condell, our Vice President and Structures Design Director. Tom is a veteran structural engineer who has led the design of some of the most iconic bridges across the U.S., while Seth is a design-build pioneer who has helped deliver critical crossings over the Mississippi, across Georgia, and internationally.
Together, they'll discuss how we tackle complex projects, from the Gordie Howe International Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge rehabilitation, and what it takes to build structures that last for generations. Get ready to geek out on innovation, impact, and the engineering behind bridges that define entire regions.
About our Guests
Tom Spoth is Senior Vice President, Practice Leader at Parsons and has more than 40 years of experience in bridge design, fabrication, inspection, condition evaluation, and rehabilitation, as well as engineering services project management. His accomplishments include award-winning work on the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State, the Autoroute 25 Bridge in Montreal, the Carquinez Strait Bridge in California, the new Goethals Bridges in NY/NJ, and ongoing design for the new Newark Bay Bridges in New Jersey. A registered professional engineer, he is a member of numerous professional societies and has authored many publications and presented at conferences across the globe.
Seth Condell is Vice President and NY/NJ Project Lead at Parsons. Mr. Condell has more than 22 years of experience as a structural engineer and manager specializing in the design, rehabilitation, and inspection of long-span and moveable bridges. Experience includes cable-stayed, suspension, and movable bridges in both design and management roles, in both traditional design-bid-build and alternative project delivery contracting methods. Mr. Condell's projects include the Goethals Bridge Replacement, the Fore River Lift Bridge Replacement, the new Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge, the new Autoroute 25 cable-stayed bridge, reconstruction of the Lions Gate Bridge, and the third Carquinez Strait Bridge.
Episode Breakdown
0:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc] - Episode Introduction
2:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=170s] - Speaker Introduction
4:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=257s] - What makes NYC a prime location for bridge expertise?
6:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=397s] - What is the most breathtaking bridge you've ever crossed (whether you've worked on it or not!)
8:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=510s] - If your engineering career was a bridge, what kind would it be?
11:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=671s] - What drew each of you to bridges in the first place?
15:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=933s] - What is the "it" factor with Parsons? Why should others work here?
19:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=1173s] - What are some of the hallmark projects that define Parsons bridge expertise?
28:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=1730s] - How has your relationship with clients shaped the way to approach new projects?
34:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=2095s] - How do you help break down silos and enable innovation across teams?
40:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=2400s] - What makes Parsons different when it comes to bridge engineering?
44:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=2640s] - Can you explain design build to us? How does it affect the quality of bridge design today?
51:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=3060s] - Can you share a behind the scenes moment with us?
56:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=3415s] - What is one piece of early career advice you would like to share?
1:05:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=3925s] - One final reflection from Tom and Seth
1:07:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=4028s] - BONUS: What are your perspective and thought about fusing AI into bridge design and development?
1:12:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5nZJXGRHc&t=4370s] - Join our team! https://jobs.parsons.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk1GWVBfay1LN2JlS1R2VUUtc0xqdlZWNHJ2QXxBQ3Jtc0tsSXpERGEtOURmMzF4VDFJeUJtN2lpWm4yVUNsSEU1OF9XX0tKemh0RFVmb1JwZVhOS29MTGZHZElCLUgtLVZhVUxjN1JKRld3S3E3dU1NVFM0Zm1paXJ4LTNQWjBQZ2ZIb20wNmY4YmpiVE55cGxpTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjobs.parsons.com%2F&v=mU5nZJXGRHc]