Hakan Onel, PE, SE, joined SK&A in 2001, bringing with him a strong structural engineering background, international design and construction experience, and a strong motivation for professional growth and developing client relationships that has shaped his 25-year career with the firm.
A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Hakan earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bosphorus University and his Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Stanford University. Before joining SK&A, he practiced structural engineering in Istanbul, where he provided structural evaluations and retrofitting services for commercial and private facilities damaged by the Izmit earthquake. Hakan also has five years of construction-related experience in Turkey and Russia. He served several roles for different contractors including Construction Manager, where he was responsible for project phases from analysis and design through subcontracting as well as scheduling and preparing bids. He also coordinated logistics and technical support and prepared contract bidding for new international projects. Hakan also served as Chief Civil Engineer for Russian construction projects.
Since joining SK&A as a project engineer, Hakan has become an important part of the firm’s leadership and growth. Today, he serves as a Sr. Principal and member of the firm’s Executive Committee, contributing to overall firm management, business development, and providing leadership and oversight for Design Group project teams.
Over the past 25 years, Hakan has led and contributed to an extraordinary range of complex projects, including high-rise residential and office buildings, corporate headquarters, mission-critical facilities, large-scale atrium and canopy structures, complex mixed-use developments, multi-phased projects, adaptive reuse work, and major repositioning efforts. His notable projects include The Wharf Phases I and II, The Stacks at Buzzard Point, Midtown Center, and the 300 New Jersey Avenue Office Building and Atrium Structure.
Hakan’s technical expertise has been especially valuable on projects with unique structural challenges requiring atypical analytical techniques. Whether it is complex spatial structures that are architecturally expressed, buildings that bridge over WMATA structures, or structures with unique domes, Hakan was always able to provide practical solutions through a calm and thoughtful approach.
His recent work also reflects his continued focus on adaptive reuse, repositioning, and helping clients find value in existing buildings. Hakan recently joined a ULI Washington panel on The Accolade, the transformation of 1425 New York Avenue, NW from a former Department of Justice office building into a 243-unit residential community. He also co-authored SK&A’s Engineering Insights article on reusing existing basement walls in adaptive reuse projects, highlighting how early structural evaluation can support cost savings, reduced risk, and lower environmental impact.
Outside the office, Hakan enjoys staying active through soccer, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, skiing, and hiking. He is a dedicated husband and father of three young men. Once you get to know Hakan professionally, the technical mastery and brilliance is quickly evident. However, that skill set was not the primary catalyst to his successful career.
“Hakan is a unique individual who combines practicality, consistent reliability, and charisma. In addition to this, he has many times in his personal and professional life exhibited a great deal of grit to persevere through difficult circumstances. His ability to listen, remain calm, and think in stressful situations or contentious conversations has served him and the firm greatly in the last 25 years and is among my favorite of his qualities. Over the years, all these traits have led Hakan to build strong, trusted relationships with his colleagues, clients, and other collaborators in the industry.” ~ Walid E. Choueiri, PE, SE, Sr. Principal
Please join us in congratulating Hakan on 25 years with SK&A. His technical leadership, depth of experience, commitment to quality, and steady contributions to our projects, clients, and team have made a lasting impact on the firm and we wish him many more bright and successful years ahead.
