Vote For Your Favorite "Creative Use of Our Product" Photo For A Chance To Win!
In my previous life as a building designer, I occasionally saw some creative installations of Simpson Strong-Tie products. These usually came in the form of an RFI where the contractor was asking for forgiveness for a misinstallation. However, this week’s post pays tribute to the creativity and ingenuity of our customers. The following photos are some of my favorite interesting applications and creative uses of our products. Some are purely utilitarian, which describes most of the aftermarket automotive uses. Others have a unique beauty while solving a problem or filling a need. Some are truly works of art and the rest are just plain silly. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Tell us which picture is your favorite by posting a comment, or tell us about an interesting application or creative use for Simpson Strong-Tie products you’ve seen. We’ll be awarding five commenters with a Simpson Strong-Tie Prize Pack via random drawing (one entry per person, please). Details and rules here.
1.Michelangelo’s “David” if Simpson Strong-Tie existed in the 1500’s. The piece was envisioned by artist Bob Klammer, and Barc Simpson liked it so much he had it commissioned. Photo credit: Joe Way, Simpson Strong-Tie 2. Top Flange Hanger Spoiler Bracket – “Well, the catalog said it resists wind uplift loads. . .”. Photo credit: David B. Pendley, Building official –> 3. Remember to Drop, Cover, and Hold On! Photo credit: Alan Hanson, Simpson Strong-Tie 4. Three PHD5 connectors anchor a sign at The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, CA. Photo credit: Stan Sias, Simpson Strong-Tie 5. Mike Argyle’s high-flying winner of the Simpson Strong-Tie 2006 Engineered Art Contest. Photo credits: Joe Way, Simpson Strong-Tie 6. SDWS Structural Wood Screw – Use #64: Bird house perch. Photo credit: Emory Montague, Simpson Strong-Tie 7. Truss coffee table designed by Mike Thompson as a student studying Civil Engineering. Photo credit: Mike Thompson 8. HD Trailer Hitch Adapter – When you put a lift kit on your truck, but not your boat trailer. Photo credit: Anonymous, Simpson Strong-Tie 9. Post Cap/Base Teeter-Totter – BMX bike handlebars salvaged (er. . .sold) separately. Photo credit: Alan Hanson, Simpson Strong-Tie 10. Here’s to a “bullish” 2013 for engineers and the construction market! Photo credit: Joe Way, Simpson Strong-Tie
– Paul
Vote for your favorite. Visit the blog and leave a comment!
A couple of years back we hosted a “Take your daughter or son to work day,” which was a great opportunity for our children to find out what their parents did. We had different activities for the kids to learn about careers and the importance of education in opening up career opportunities. People often ask me what I do for Simpson Strong-Tie and I sometimes laugh about how my son Ryan responded to a questionnaire he filled out that day:
Q. What is your mom/dad's job?
A. Goes and gets coffee and sits at his desk
Q. What does your mom/dad actually do at work?
A. Walks in the test lab and checks things
When I am not checking things in the lab or sitting at my desk drinking coffee, I manage Engineering Research and Development for Simpson Strong-Tie, focusing on new product development for connectors and lateral systems.
I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and I am a licensed Civil and Structural Engineer in California. Prior to joining Simpson Strong-Tie, I worked for 10 years as a consulting structural engineer designing commercial, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use and retail projects. I was fortunate in those years to work at a great engineering firm that did a lot of everything. This allowed me to gain experience designing with wood, structural steel, concrete, concrete block and cold-formed steel as well as working on many seismic retrofits of historic unreinforced masonry buildings.
View all posts by Paul McEntee
34 thoughts on “Vote For Your Favorite "Creative Use of Our Product" Photo For A Chance To Win!”
My favorite is the birdhouse perch. Simple, but clever.
I vote for #2 – Top Flange Spoiler Bracket.
My vote is for the “Engineered Office Desk” #3
I vote for #7 (coffee table).
#2 – priceless
#2 – first class red-neck spoiler.
My personal favorite is “not pictured” and is an MSTA folded seven or eight times to fit the profile of the header and used as a substitute for the legitimately tested for the use LSC. But if I have to vote, I like #3.
Awesome. Thank you!
#3
#1 David is my favorite.
I am a fan of the David statue.
The bull looks good, but my favorite is the desk, because it looks really cool and it’s useful.
I like the desk because as a structural engineer I can see myself using a desk like that.
#3, the desk suite, is DA BOMB!
#8
#7 Trailer-Hitch Adapter. You just know some contractor was like,”What the fishin’ trip’s tomorrow? But I haven’t figured out how to hitch the boat to the new 4×4!…Well I got one-a these…ya’ think it’ll work jim-bob?”
#1 David still tops the list.
My vote is for #3. I like things that do more that just look pretty, plus, I like furniture.
My vote is for #9, simple and effective.
I can’t even begin to describe how envious I am of number 3. I want that desk so bad. At least I need the plans so I can build it myself. That is by far the best, at least to this engineer.
#2 is awesome!
My favorite is #8.
# 3 is by far the best. It includes the best variety of products put into use, is actually useful and functional, and it looks great. If I was crafty enough, I’d build one for myself!
# 1 David, wins hands down.
Most creative = #1
Most redneck = #2
Most useful to an engineer = #3
#3 the desk every engineering office needs!
Number Three!
I can envision a cop looking at #8 thinking “now how the hell am I gonna write this one up?”
By far number 3 is the best. They are all great feats of Engineering and are all worth more than an honorable mention. But those desks are good all across the US. On the west coast for earthquakes, the east coast for hurricanes, and for tornado alley they would sell like crazy.
##5 – Pride in America
#3 – Complete the load path with an HDU holdown and that desk isn’t going anywhere!
I like #1 David for Originality although the #5 Hawk is right on the heals and the #3 Desk for practicality.
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My favorite is the birdhouse perch. Simple, but clever.
I vote for #2 – Top Flange Spoiler Bracket.
My vote is for the “Engineered Office Desk” #3
I vote for #7 (coffee table).
#2 – priceless
#2 – first class red-neck spoiler.
My personal favorite is “not pictured” and is an MSTA folded seven or eight times to fit the profile of the header and used as a substitute for the legitimately tested for the use LSC. But if I have to vote, I like #3.
Awesome. Thank you!
#3
#1 David is my favorite.
I am a fan of the David statue.
The bull looks good, but my favorite is the desk, because it looks really cool and it’s useful.
I like the desk because as a structural engineer I can see myself using a desk like that.
#3, the desk suite, is DA BOMB!
#8
#7 Trailer-Hitch Adapter. You just know some contractor was like,”What the fishin’ trip’s tomorrow? But I haven’t figured out how to hitch the boat to the new 4×4!…Well I got one-a these…ya’ think it’ll work jim-bob?”
#1 David still tops the list.
My vote is for #3. I like things that do more that just look pretty, plus, I like furniture.
My vote is for #9, simple and effective.
I can’t even begin to describe how envious I am of number 3. I want that desk so bad. At least I need the plans so I can build it myself. That is by far the best, at least to this engineer.
#2 is awesome!
My favorite is #8.
# 3 is by far the best. It includes the best variety of products put into use, is actually useful and functional, and it looks great. If I was crafty enough, I’d build one for myself!
# 1 David, wins hands down.
Most creative = #1
Most redneck = #2
Most useful to an engineer = #3
#3 the desk every engineering office needs!
Number Three!
I can envision a cop looking at #8 thinking “now how the hell am I gonna write this one up?”
For practical purposes #3 gets my vote
But for creativity and artistic flair, #5 is spectacular
By far number 3 is the best. They are all great feats of Engineering and are all worth more than an honorable mention. But those desks are good all across the US. On the west coast for earthquakes, the east coast for hurricanes, and for tornado alley they would sell like crazy.
##5 – Pride in America
#3 – Complete the load path with an HDU holdown and that desk isn’t going anywhere!
I like #1 David for Originality although the #5 Hawk is right on the heals and the #3 Desk for practicality.