Joe Burns

Joe Burns is a Design Specialist, Structures based in Studio Gang’s Chicago office. A longtime collaborator with the Studio, Joe brings more than 45 years of experience in structural design and analysis, as well as expertise in the investigation and renovation of existing buildings. Working closely with design teams, he helps integrate architectural intent with structural systems at every phase of a project—from early conceptual studies through construction administration. In this role, Joe serves as a Studio-wide resource on structural strategy, helping teams explore innovative solutions that advance both design ambition and technical performance.

Over the course of his career, Joe has applied his expertise across a wide range of building types, including commercial, residential, cultural, healthcare, education, aviation, and sports facilities. Prior to joining Studio Gang, he spent three decades at Thornton Tomasetti, where he served as Managing Principal and worked with the Studio on various projects, including NewYork-Presbyterian The Beacon, the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center at Hudson Valley Shakespeare, and the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership.

Joe is active in the broader architecture and engineering community, serving as a trustee of the Chicago Architecture Center and member of the Council on Vertical Urbanism. He has also taught and lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, the University of Maryland, the University of Washington, and Auburn University.

Joe holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Architecture Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame.