Byrl Williams on Deep Foundations of Civil Engineering

Byrl Williams in lecture to students
April 17, 2024
Janean J Schmidt

Gonzaga University alumnus Byrl Williams, P.E. made his career by digging deep in his field -- literally.

With the company he founded, American Pile Driving, he was a key part to reinforcing the San Francisco area's buildings, bridges, and other structures against earthquake damage.

Williams shared some examples of his retrofitting work as part of a Renouard Lecture on Tuesday, April 17. He specifically pointed to the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 as a driving force in policy and changing standards.

Williams gives lecture

Through the Deep Foundation Institute, an international organization dedicated to research and education in the foundation industry, he established a scholarship fund specifically for Gonzaga Civil Engineering students. He encouraged students to take advantage of the free student membership of the DFI for additional networking and professional opportunities.

Williams with students and faculty
Mr. Williams, his wife Fran, and Professors Joshua Schultz and Mark Muszynski joined several structural and geotechnical engineering students for pizza earlier in the day.

The event was one of the Renouard Lecture series by the School of Engineering and Applied Science, made possible by a gift from Ed and Bunny Renouard.