u/Odd_Fan2684

Fresh civil engineering undergrad working at a small facade consulting firm. Still kinda unsure whether it is the right path for me as I’m straddling between structural and a building science career. Do lots of THERM modeling, Curtain wall shop drawing review, energy code compliance stuff, some wind load calcs.

Structural is a more “traditional” path that might require masters but seems more technical in nature. On the other hand I do like how building science is a mix between architecture and engineering. It is probably difficult to do both building science and structural and probably wouldn’t be beneficial for my career.

I feel as a civil engineer undergrad it’s a little bit of a misfit, as lots of building science is based on mechanical thermal principles. It seems structural getting a PE is required, but I feel it isn’t as necessary in a building science career?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Have seen lots of renewable energy jobs pop up lately, and they seem to hire civil engineers as well as I originally thought energy related stuff was more mechanical or electrical geared. How is the work compared to traditional fields, like building structural engineering? Pay seems higher as well. Pros/cons of working in renewable energy?

What made you choose one over the other? Pros/cons of both? I see firms like SGH, WJE, RDH building science have both. It seems structural engineering tends to require masters whereas facade stuff isn’t taught in schools and learned on the job.