As he comes up on five decades in the business, Peirce
has seen enough to know what can and can’t be done. He
believes there should be more emphasis on field experience for
professional engineers.
“When an engineer applies to take the Professional Engineer
test, a detailed resume is required to be submitted and approved,”
he said. “I don’t think state engineering boards value construction
experience as much as they should. I think every engineer
should have to work in the field before licensure. It’s easy to know
things you should do, but it’s just as important to know things you
shouldn’t do. Field experience is most important!”
All in the family
When Jennifer Peirce Brandt was growing up, she told her parents
she would never be an engineer.
“But when it came time for college, she said, ‘I think I’m going
to be an engineer,’” laughed Peirce. “She’s a detail-type person, like
I am. So, she took engineering, and here she is today.”
When his daughter took maternity leave, the timing was
right for Peirce’s son, John, to join the firm, following in-the-field
employment stints with two well-known engineering firms. Today,
the business employs two of the Peirce’s four children.
All three Peirce engineers are graduates of Drexel University.
And while she’s not an engineer herself, Beth Peirce is “the voice of
reason” in the office.
“She played a very important role in my development, because
she chose to be a stay-at-home mother, and I can’t emphasize how
much I appreciate that,” said Peirce. “She allows me to do what I do,
work late hours, and she is always there. A lot of engineers, they don’t
have that. It’s tough to balance all that. My wife makes my life easy.”
PileDriver asked Peirce to describe what it’s like working with
his family.
“It’s good working with them. The only bad part is they see
me all week and then maybe they’ve had enough of me!” laughed
Peirce. “But it’s good, you’re working with people you trust and who
have the same goals.”
He appreciates the chance to pass along his knowledge to the
next generation of Peirces, and said he’s trying “to make sure my
kids earn everything they’re getting.”
CONSTRUCTION CAREER
“ People are basing a lot
of decisions on price
alone. I’ve lost design
jobs by as little as
$1,000, only to find out
the designs that beat
me weren’t economical.”
– John Peirce
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