News & Articles

Building Better Models by Building Better Relationships

The prevalence of technology in the design business today means that team members are literally sharing gigabytes of information at fiber optic speeds.  For the most part, this is great.  We can work faster and almost anywhere in the world with near instantaneous access to the latest update of the last square foot.  Lately, though, I have come to think that in our zealous embrace of data and information, we risk losing the understanding required to foster solid relationships among individuals and their firms. I’m revealing a little about my age here, but when I first started in this industry,... Read More

Reese Hackman Names John Dixon and Krysta Munden Principals

Reese Hackman is pleased to announce that John Dixon and Krysta Munden have recently been named Principals in the firm. “The Principal position is vital to the success of our organization. We trust the Principals to provide leadership, mentorship, and input on critical issues that shape the future of Reese Hackman,” said John Reese, Partner at Reese Hackman. John Dixon joined Reese Hackman in 2014 and was promoted to Director of Construction Administration in 2017. As a Construction Administrator, his responsibilities include administering projects in construction from a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design perspective. “When John became Director, he immediately... Read More

Slow Down & Take the Holistic Route

After decades of research, the Nobel Prize-winning economist Daniel Kahneman determined that people make most decisions after thinking fast, a process governed chiefly by instinct or habit or both.  Slow thinking, in contrast, may yield better decisions.  Slow thinking, as Kahneman defines it, requires stepping back, looking at the big picture, and acknowledging biases. Kahneman’s research aligns with my own experience as an architectural engineer.  When we work too quickly, we think fast, and this can work to our detriment.  An example of fast thinking in our business is to look at first costs rather than value.  For the most... Read More

Message from Our Managing Principal: Our Commitment to Educational Excellence

In mid-March, I found myself wondering what many of us wonder in State College at that time of the year – where is spring?  This time I decided not to dwell on the reality of our March weather but decided, instead, to take a walk down Reese Engineering’s memory lane.  And considering this is our 20th year, I thought it was a perfect time to open the “20 year time capsule”.  In reality, there is no time capsule, just the notes that Michael Lee and I jotted down when we first decided to take the plunge and open the doors.  Many... Read More