Villanova Structural Engineering Alumni Make Their Mark at Industry Event

Andrew Blasetti ’04, ’06 MSCE; Professor David Dinehart, PhD; and Jason Reither ’04, ’05 MSCE

As Villanova University Civil Engineering undergraduates, and then again as graduate students, Andrew Blasetti ’04, ’06 MSCE and Jason Reither ’04, ’05 MSCE spent years studying and working together (including the design of a school for Amigos de Jesus, their senior capstone project). After graduation, their similar interests led both to positions with Thornton Tomasetti, a structural engineering consulting firm. Reither began in the Philadelphia office, while Blasetti had his start in the company’s Newark, NJ location. A few years ago, fate conspired to bring them together again when Blasetti joined Reither in Philadelphia.

Recently, both men enjoyed the spotlight at the Delaware Valley Association of Structural Engineers’ 2017 Dinner & Awards event. Their former Villanova advisor, Civil Engineering Professor David Dinehart, PhD, had the pleasure of introducing Blasetti as the event’s keynote speaker. “It was a big night for Villanova Structural Engineering,” says Dr. Dinehart. “Andrew presented Thornton Tomasetti’s design and construction of the Comcast Technology Center, and Jason received the top award for large buildings >$100 million for the CHOP Pediatric Research Center, on which he served as lead engineer.”

In 2014, Blasetti and his team were featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer for their work on the new Comcast building. In 2015, the Villanova University Engineering Alumni Society awarded him the John J. Gallen Award for excellence in the engineering profession. And in 2016, Blasetti was named “Top 20 Under 40” by ENR–Mid-Atlantic.