Pennoni’s Employee Spotlight series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the talented individuals who make our company thrive. Each month, we highlight a team member’s journey, their passion for engineering and innovation, and the unique impact they’re making at Pennoni.
This month, we’re featuring Chakradhar (Chakri) Gondi, PE, forensic structural engineer in our Clearwater, FL office, and highlighting his favorite projects, how he prioritizes safety and how his work is making engineers in the field safer everyday!
Chakri is a licensed professional engineer with 10 years of experience in the inspection, design, analysis and retrofitting of new and existing structures in residential, commercial, telecommunication, solar and industrial fields throughout the United States. He specializes in the investigation and evaluation of existing structures for damages and deficiencies due to factors such as foundation settlement, weather events (wind/storm/flood activity etc), or design flaws. His expertise enables him to identify the root causes of structural problems, analyze their impact on building performance, and recommend remedial measures to mitigate risks and ensure the long-term stability of the structures.
Safety Week is great for celebrating your recent Pennoni SAFE Honoree recognition. What does being a SAFE Honoree mean to you, and how do you prioritize safety in your day-to-day work?
Being recognized as a Pennoni SAFE Honoree during Safety Week is a meaningful reminder of the responsibility I carry every day as a forensic structural engineer. Safety is at the core of everything I do—whether I’m investigating a building collapse or assessing storm-damaged structures, my top priority is identifying potential hazards and protecting the people who use these spaces. I take all necessary safety precautions when I find unsafe conditions—informing the owner, restricting access, and developing repair plans to make structures safe again.
Your work often involves identifying hazardous structural conditions. Can you walk us through a time when your safety-first approach helped prevent potential harm on a project?
One example that stands out is our recent work on a wooden bridge for a park in Florida. During my inspection after Hurricane Ian, I discovered severe structural damage that made the bridge unsafe for public use. I immediately informed the city and recommended that the bridge be closed to prevent potential harm. The city acted quickly based on my findings, and the bridge was shut down before any incident could occur. A similar situation happened for a County Fleet Maintenance Building in Florida, where I identified structural hazards that could have posed serious safety risks to staff. In both cases, our safety-first approach helped making sure the right actions were taken quickly to eliminate danger.
You’ve recently presented on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at the NAFE 2025 Conference. What role does GPR play in forensic structural engineering—and how does it help keep both engineers and the public safe?
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) plays a key role in forensic structural engineering by allowing engineers to see what’s hidden inside concrete or beneath soils without damaging the structure. During concrete investigations, we use GPR to locate steel rebar, post-tensioned cables, voids, and other hidden elements. This helps us assess the internal condition of a structure safely and accurately. By knowing exactly what’s inside, we can avoid cutting into critical structural components, prevent accidents during repairs or demolition, and design safer solutions. GPR can also be used to scan soil surfaces and study the presence of any soil anomalies or voids under the soil surface.
What do you enjoy most about the forensic side of structural engineering, and what types of challenges keep your work interesting?
What I enjoy most about the forensic side of structural engineering is the investigative nature of the work—every project is like solving a puzzle. I get to review old building drawings, investigate field conditions, find the root cause of failures or damage, and figure out how to fix it safely and effectively. No two cases can be the same, which makes the work both rewarding and engaging.
What advice would you give to younger engineers who want to make a difference in structural safety and diagnostics?
My advice to younger engineers interested in structural safety and diagnostics is to always stay curious and never overlook the small details. Make sure your engineering basics are strong—understanding load path in structures is the foundation of everything we do. Try to get as much field experience as possible, to understand how structures behave and fail.