ASCE Houston Newsletter- August 2026

Welcome

Welcome to the ASCE Houston Branch Newsletter of upcoming events, articles, jobs and more from our membership.  

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President's Message

President’s Message – June 2026

Dear ASCE Houston Branch Members,

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer and has found opportunities to stay cool and spend time with family, friends, and colleagues. As we move toward the end of the summer season, I want to thank our members, volunteers, committee leaders, and sponsors for their continued support of the ASCE Houston Branch and our mission to advance the civil engineering profession.

July serves as a bit of a quieter month for many of our Branch activities, providing an opportunity for volunteers and committees to recharge and prepare for an exciting lineup of programs and events in the months ahead. I am continually impressed by the dedication of our members and the work being done throughout the Branch to support professional development, student engagement, community outreach, and technical excellence.

I am especially looking forward to our upcoming August Branch Meeting, which will be our annual Joint Meeting with the Houston Contractors Association. The meeting will be held on Thursday, August 27, at the Junior League of Houston and will feature a keynote presentation by Texas GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham focused on the important topic of resiliency. This joint meeting is always one of our most popular events of the year, bringing together leaders from both the engineering and construction communities. Attendance is expected to be high, so I encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

As we begin planning for the upcoming ASCE term, now is also a great time to get involved with the Branch. If you are interested in serving on a committee, I encourage you to reach out to our current and incoming officers to learn about anticipated vacancies and opportunities where your skills and interests may be a good fit. Additionally, applications for the ASCE Houston Younger Member Committee are currently open and due August 21. My first leadership role in ASCE was serving on the Younger Member Committee, and it provided valuable experience, professional connections, and lasting friendships. It is a wonderful way to get involved and kickstart your leadership journey within ASCE.

Thank you for your continued involvement in ASCE Houston. I always welcome your ideas, feedback, and participation, and I look forward to connecting with many of you at our August meeting.

Sincerely,

Anna Chamberlain, PE, CFM, ENV SP

President

[email protected]

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Calendar of Events

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Articles

ASCE/HCA Joint August Houston Branch In-person Meeting

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 11:00 – 1:00 PM
📍 The Junior League of Houston - 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston, TX 77027
👤 In-Person Event

ASCE/HCA ANNUAL JOINT LUNCHEON

ASCE is happy to hold our annual joint luncheon with the Houston Contractors Association (HCA) again this year. Registration is limited, so please be sure to register early for this very popular event. 

Online registration cut-off is Wednesday, August 19th at Noon. Advance registration is required, walk-in registrations will not be accepted for this event.

AGENDA

• 11:00 AM - Social Hour
• 12:00 PM - Lunch / Keynote Address

NOTES:

1. Lunch will be a chicken dish. If you would like a vegetarian or gluten-free option, please indicate this in the registration comments. We cannot guarantee that these options will be available for walk-ins.

2. VIRTUAL MEETING REGISTRATION: A link will be sent to you the day before the event, with a reminder one hour prior to the start time.

Houston Zoo Technical Tour Recap

We had a great ASCE Houston Branch technical tour at the Houston Zoo’s Jack’s Café, led by Mark Hoffman, P.E., Senior Director of Planning, Design, and Engineering at the Houston Zoo.

The tour highlighted how thoughtful design can support sustainability and conservation, from the use of mass timber construction, including CLT and Glulam, to bird-friendly glass that helps prevent bird collisions.

We also learned about the Zoo’s rainwater collection system, including cisterns that capture rainwater for irrigation, helping reduce water usage and support the Zoo’s broader environmental mission.

Thank you to Mark Hoffman, P.E. for sharing your time and expertise with our group, and to everyone who joined us for this technical session.

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Partner with Us: YM ASCE Sandcastle Competition

The Young Members chapter of ASCE is seeking sponsors for our upcoming Sandcastle Competition! We are looking for partners to help fund event materials, logistics, and catering. In exchange, sponsors receive:

Brand Recognition: High visibility among local civil engineering professionals, firm leaders, and industry peers.
Team Building: Complimentary team tickets for your employees to participate and bond.
Community Reach: A dedicated shoutout and recognition at the upcoming ASCE Houston Meeting.
Event Swag: Free T-shirts and hats for your team to wear during the competition.
Catering: Complimentary breakfast and lunch for all participating sponsor teams.
Tiered Perks: Additional exclusive benefits available at higher sponsorship levels.

Deadline for commitments: August 22nd, 2026

 

Ready to join us? Click here to download the sponsorship deck and register or contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

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🎓 Celebrating the Future of Civil Engineering

The ASCE Houston Branch, our Institutes (Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), Geo-Institute (G-I), and Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI)), along with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), are proud to support the next generation of engineers.

This year, we were honored to award $31,000 in scholarships to outstanding high school and university students pursuing careers in civil engineering and related fields. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, leadership, service, and a commitment to advancing the engineering profession.

These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of our sponsors, the dedication of our ASCE Houston members and Institute groups, and the success of our fundraising efforts, including our volleyball fundraiser and INWED event. Every contribution helps create opportunities for aspiring engineers to achieve their educational and professional goals.

Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who supports our scholarship program. Together, we are investing in the future of civil engineering and empowering the next generation of engineering leaders.

Learn more about this year's scholarship recipients and program highlights:
https://lnkd.in/gbYxsTX

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YM ASCE Escape Room Recap

The ASCE Younger Members recently enjoyed an exciting team-building event at Escape Hunt Houston. Working together to complete a space-themed escape room, our team solved challenging puzzles, communicated effectively, and came close to rescuing the stranded astronauts before time ran out. It was a fun and memorable evening that strengthened our teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

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2026 EWRI Houston Conference: How lessons from the past, drive future decisions.

Where: Hyatt Regency Houston West

             13210 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079

When: Thursday, November 12^th

Early bird registration is open on Star Chapter (American Society of Civil Engineers, Houston Branch - Meeting/Event Information). 

More details to come!

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Treasurer's Report

August 2026 Treasurer's Report

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