Engineering the Eighth Wonder of the World

About this event

Join industry leaders Thomas G. Barrow Jr., PE (I. A. Naman + Associates, Inc.), Chip Hurley, PE (HF Structural Engineers), and Bill Merrill for a first-hand look into the challenges and solutions to engineering the Eighth Wonder of the World. The discussion will cover the design of the lamella roof structure and the challenges of designing and constructing the longest column-free span to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, hurricane-force winds, and even sonic booms. Discussions related to the challenges with the comfort systems will include cooling 65,000 fans, preventing indoor weather events such as fog and rain, maintaining adequate growing conditions for natural grass and mitigating the effects of tobacco smoke.

Moderated by David Bucek, FAIA.

This program is in conjunction with Big Dome, Bigger Dreams , on view at the Architecture Center Houston through January 22, 2026

Exhibition Sponsors

Big Dome and Bigger Dreams is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Fabrication and installation provided by Innovative Environments

WSP

Hoar Construction

I. A. Naman + Associates, Inc.

DLR Group

About the speakers

Thomas G Barrow Jr., PE

President of I. A. Naman+Associates, Inc., a native Houstonian, former card-carrying member of the Astros Buddies, Texas A&M University mechanical engineering graduate, 1985. Mechanical engineer and Project Manager on many prominent Houston-area buildings, including over 10 Compaq Computer Corporation buildings, 1500 Louisiana, 3737 Buffalo Speedway, Anadarko Woodloch Tower, the Lee P. Brown Administration Building, CityWestPlace buildings 1 and 4, and many other projects outside of the Houston area.

I. A. Naman+Associates, Inc. was founded in 1947 by Houston native and 1938 Rice University graduate I. A. Naman. In ~1960, it was engaged to design the air-conditioning and air distribution systems for the Astrodome. Many of the concepts for air distribution and automatic temperature control that IAN+A originated with the Astrodome, were used in subsequent domed stadiums. IAN+A went on to design the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for many high-rise office buildings and others throughout Houston, Texas, and the United States, including Chase Tower, Wells Fargo Plaza, Williams Tower, and Astroworld.

From Jennifer Ward