Joye Chanez website

Joye Chanez

PE

Associate, Irvine

While I was in high school, several of my math and science teachers were female, and while I was in college, several of my engineering professors were female, so I never had doubts that this was something I could do."

Joye works hard to keep clients in the loop during the schematic design phase of a project. She loves brainstorming the best approach to designing a structure and getting a picture of how the project will begin to develop, during this phase. Since joining DCI in 2019, Joye has served as chair and now as co-chair of DCI’s Tenant Improvement committee, where she developed resources to help streamline TI projects in the company. She shares her insights into engineering with local architects, with whom she also likes to discuss how DCI’s workflow and expectations coincide with their design intent.

Joye’s engineering roots are in Seattle, where she got her master’s degree, and worked for a local structural engineering firm for several years before joining DCI. She designed and analyzed projects in many sectors made from all types of material, from wood to concrete to steel. She established valuable professional partnerships in the Puget Sound region. Now southern California’s AEC industries benefit from Joye’s technical expertise and project management leadership.

What is your dream project location?
Now that I am a mom, I would say wherever it is I’m living so that I could take my kids to those buildings or structures (like playgrounds) and say, “Mommy designed that!”

What is your favorite piece of historical architecture?
I visited and toured the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany when I was in high school and thought it was so fascinating and beautiful. It was just like a fairytale. It will always hold a special place in my heart, and I hope one day I can visit there again.

How did you start your structural engineering career?
I knew nothing about engineering growing up. However, I excelled in math and science classes and loved problem-solving, and one of my friend’s mom was a civil engineer and told me I should look into it. I ended up choosing that as my field of study during college and here we are!