Student Biography

Erika Bonfanti is in her fifth year of Architectural Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, concentrating her studies on structural systems.  Upon graduation in May 2010, she will earn a Bachelor and Master of Architectural Engineering, and will begin her career at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Austin, TX. This year, Erika is participating in a pilot BIM Thesis project.  By working as a part of this project, she has furthered her knowledge of modeling and design using such software as Revit Structure, RAM Structural System, SAP and ETABS.

Erika has also furthered her structural knowledge through summer internships.  During the summer of 2008, Erika worked for Atlantic Engineering Services, an influential structural firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Here she gained a broad range of experience in structural concepts by laying out framing systems, analyzing structures using RAM, STAAD, and Enercalc, and developing Excel spreadsheet programs.  In 2009, Erika worked in Washington, D.C. as a structural intern for AECOM Design, a world-renowned architecture and engineering firm.  She developed drawings in Revit Structure and AutoCAD, worked with RAM Concept and Advanse, and gained experience with government projects.

In addition to her academic qualifications, Erika has obtained valuable leadership experience.  She worked as a manager at Tastee Freez for two years; her responsibilities included developing schedules, managing twelve employees, and creating standards of operation for all franchises.  She also volunteered for a residential design project, assisting an engineer in Fort Worth, Texas in the design of a sustainable home for his family.  Throughout her time at Penn State, Erika has earned numerous awards because of her scholastic achievement, including scholarships from The National Association of Women in Construction and Penn State's College of Engineering.