K. Yervant Terzian, P.E., one of the founders of Urban Engineers, passed away on May 10
at the age of 79.  Edward M. D'Alba, P.E., president of Urban Engineers, Inc. made the following announcement to his staff:

It is with true sadness that Joe and I inform you that K. Yervant Terzian has passed away.His presence here at Urban is felt every day in his photo, together with the other founders of our company, that we proudly display in the Founders Conference Room.

Those of you who had the pleasure of working with “Terz” know that there was no one in our business who cared more about the quality of the work we did for our clients and that he had a tremendous desire to successfully compete against many of the biggest firms in our business. Yervant had a “keen” eye for emerging business opportunities and motivated many of us, with gentle persuasion to put in the hours necessary to track down jobs and teaming partners.

His desk had no drawers, and is still in use today in our 13th floor conference room. That shortcoming created a unique pile of “stuff” mounded on top of his work surface that held the written history of Urban, contract docs and calculations for many of our biggest assignments, along with the emerging opportunities we were expected to pursue, all layered one on top of the other in a classic display of entropy at work. At its apex, it approach a height of just a bit shy of two feet! But it was all there, and always immediately accessible to Terz (Jim Charles can testify to that).

Our Transit, Bridge, and Structural departments were Yervant’s pride and joy. Whatever we designed, he made sure it was done correctly. Ride the commuter rails beneath the streets of Philadelphia in route to Market East Station and you know you are safe within the confines of the structure about you that supports roadways, buildings and even the old reading Train Shed above. Travel the corridors of Philadelphia International Airport, from Terminal A through E and you will see the columns, girders and beams designed by Yervant and his team, that continue to be showcased by architects who never thought it appropriate to sheath them in drywall and/or paint. When the CM for the Terminal Phase IIA expansion challenged Yervant’s design, he settled the debate by ordering a load test. Having successfully loaded the structural element in question to design load plus 50%, he personally directed the crane operators to appreciably exceed the already fully loaded structure, for all that had questioned his calculations, to demonstrate that the product of his design was all that he said it was.

Terz’s dream was to build something over the railroad tracks at 30th Street Station. Going back to the early 1970s, in anticipation of the Bicentennial coming to Philadelphia, he said it could be done, and should be done! Well, as many of you know, that dream took nearly four decades to accomplish and although Terz had long since retired it was his company that was given the task by Amtrak to determine how it could be done and today the Cira Center stands as testimony to Terz’s vision.

Because there is so much to say, I could go on and talk about the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Design Competition he won for a three-span continuous orthotropic plate, or his design of the largest ever, at the time, precast girders for the Post Office Annex at 30th Street or the first-ever Roll-in Bridge in the Philadelphia area to support Amtrak’s mainline for the construction of Aramingo Avenue below. But while his engineering accomplishments were monumental, it will be his wit, guidance, and special laugh that continues to this day to draw smiles and good feelings in all of us that had the pleasure to be a part of Yervant’s life.

All that Terz did, he did for his wife Helen and family, the Armenian Church, the engineering profession, and for his company teaching so many of us so much. Those life lessons are a part of who and what we are today. For those that have the time, stop by my office to read a short note written by Yervant to Joe and I several years ago. It closed with,

“Urban Engineers, Inc has been interwoven with my life. I am grateful to have served with dedicated associates and employees.” “May you know much professional success and enjoy, with your families, the very best of health and life.”

Sincerely,
Yervant

Yervant continues to make possible the things we are so grateful for, “professional success,” “family,” and “the very best of health and life.”

Thank you Yervant
Ed and Joe