Episode 110 - Venues Aren’t “Just Code”: Vibration, Rigging & Mall Reuse
From The Structural Engineering Podcast by Zach and Max
May 17, 2026 · 1h 8m · Season 7
About this episode
The episode discusses the complexities of designing performance-driven spaces in entertainment and retail, emphasizing the importance of engineering beyond code compliance.
In this episode, we dig into entertainment and retail design and explore why venues can’t be engineered by code compliance alone. We talk through how structural engineers approach performance-driven spaces like concert venues, theaters, and experiential retail where vibration, rigging, sightlines, and serviceability often control the design more than strength.We break down how engineers think about vibration tolerance and human perception, how rigging grids are designed for unknown future shows, and why exposed structure can either elevate architecture or become a liability. The conversation also covers adaptive reuse of malls and anchor boxes, what engineers look for when evaluating existing buildings, common misconceptions about reuse and overbuilding, how structural testing and “detective work” inform decisions, and why early engineering involvement is critical when design intent is ambitious but budgets and sites are constrained.Guest Profile:Travis Corigliano, PE, SE, is a Principal at Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) in Seattle, where he leads the firm’s Retail & Entertainment market sector. His work focuses on designing spaces where people actively choose to go like…
People in this episode
Hosts: Zach, Max
Guest: Travis Corigliano, PE, SE
Topics covered
- entertainment design
- retail design
- structural engineering
- vibration tolerance
- adaptive reuse
- rigging design
Keywords
- vibration
- rigging
- mall reuse
- structural testing
- design intent
- performance-driven spaces
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Places: Seattle
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