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This month, Charmaine and Azer continue their discussion of Azer's experiences and SK&A's beginnings – this time focusing on the 70s:

Azer's Reflections of Major 70s Milestones 

• 1970-1975: Business was slow.  Alex (Smislova) was away a lot attending American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) activities.  Azer enrolled in The George Washington University's (GWU) doctoral program in structural engineering. Since Azer also worked full-time as the lead engineer after Alex, he couldn’t take more than two courses a semester. The entire process, dissertation and all, took 4 ½ years before he received his DSc degree—a very personal achievement for Azer. 
• May 1975: Azer became a 49% founding partner, and the firm was renamed Smislova, Kehnemui & Associates and incorporated in Maryland as a PA (professional association).
• 1976: Azer purchased Alex’s shares of the company and became the firm’s principal and sole owner of SK&A (On April 16, 1976, Alex had a heart attack and died suddenly while visiting Switzerland on ACEC business. He was 55 years old)
  • Azer was offered a part-time teaching position at GWU teaching graduate courses in concrete design, which he accepted. He taught at GWU every year until 2001, when he finally stepped down from teaching, although he found that teaching young engineers was a very satisfying experience.
• 1977: Cetin joined in 1977. Cetin and Azer were very close friends since they first met in Istanbul and attended college in 1958. During the 70’s, Cetin was working as a structural engineer in Ankara, Turkey and lived there with his family.  Feeling the need for a trusted and highly competent engineer and a potential future partner, Azer persuaded him to leave his job and join SK&A as lead engineer and associate.

Azer, how old were you when you became head of the firm?

I was 35 years old.

What was it like?

Very challenging, as Alex’s passing was wholly unexpected.

Were you afraid?

Yes, very much so, as the firm’s finances were in very poor shape at the time Alex passed, and I found myself solely responsible for SK&A’s payroll (9 employees) and the company's future.     

Were you excited?

Yes, at the prospect of managing the company my way, convincing existing clients to trust me with their projects, marketing, and seeking new clients.

Did you have a family then? What was it like juggling leading a firm and having a family?

At the time, my wife Gladys (who was working for NIH) and I had a 7-year old daughter (Sharon) and a 9-month old baby girl (Susan). I devoted myself completely to my work and running the firm, working long hours and weekends, and spent little time with my family and our children. Today, I regret that and wish I had set up a better work-family life balance, but I am grateful that it all worked out well.

What was the building industry atmosphere like in the 70s?

The birth of third-party construction quality control: In 1973, a Skyline Plaza high-rise concrete structure in Baileys Crossroads, Virginia collapsed due to early removal of shores. This incident started a wave of construction quality control regulations by the various area municipalities, and in the country in general, or “critical structures inspection and testing”.

In 1979, in collaboration with two outside partners, we founded Eastern Testing & Inspection Corp. (ETI) with its testing laboratory located in in Ijamsville, MD. In later years, after the two other partners were bought out, ETI became an affiliated firm of SK&A.

Women, minorities, diversity?

Not too different from the 60’s. In the firm, Connie Brooks (office manager/receptionist) and Virginia Gist (comptroller) were the only women employees during the 70's.

What was structural engineering like then?  What was the process of design like?

Scientific calculators replaced the slide rule for engineering calculations. The use of computers for structural analysis started during the 70's, first via outside services where the main-frame computer was located, and later having an in-house computer (usually only one computer). Personal computers were not invented until the 80’s.  Fax machines came into vogue, and became a daily tool of communicating between architect, engineer and contractors.

Memorable buildings during that time period?

• 25 S. Charles Street Office Tower (now M&T Bank Headquarters), Baltimore, MD
• Gallaudet College (Various Projects), Washington, DC
• More Shopping Centers and Giant Food Stores.

Memorable clients?

• Donald Coupard Architects (now DNC Architects)
• Cohen & Haft Architects (now Torti Gallas + Partners)
• Whiting & Turner (General Contractor)
• Giant Food
• Richmarr Development
• Artery
• Charles E. Smith 

What technologies were used?  New materials and/or building methods?

• Variety of additives to improve concrete workability; curing.
• High-strength concrete.
• Engineered timber construction
• Weathering structural steel
• Advanced crane technology