People
Terrence R. McDonnell, S.E., P.E., P.Eng, SECB
Principal Engineer
Focus
- Materials Science + Engineering
Biography
Mr. McDonnell brings over 25 years of structural engineering expertise to CTLGroup as Associate Principal. Recognized for his deep technical knowledge and innovative thinking, Terrence leads multidisciplinary teams through complex structural design, forensic analysis, and rehabilitation of significant buildings across the United States and Canada.
Terrence’s expertise spans a broad range of project types, including historic preservation, adaptive reuse, structural glass and façade systems, long-span and high-rise structures, forensic failure analysis, and specialty consulting for unique structural systems. He is a licensed professional engineer in over 20 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, and is frequently engaged as an expert consultant on litigation and rehabilitation projects.
Education
M.S. in Structural Engineering, University of Michigan, 1998
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, 1995
Affiliations
NCSEA SECB
NCEES
City of Chicago High Rise Committee (CCHRB)
Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI)
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committees
- E30 Forensic Sciences
- E06 Glass in Buildings
- F24 Theme Park Rides
Featured Publications
McDonnell, T.R. Structural Glass and Glazing System Designs. University of Michigan CEE501, Winter semester 2025
• McDonnell, T.R. Structural Glass and Glazing System Designs. Cornell University Tech Talk, November 2023
• McDonnell, T.R. Glass as a Structural Material. Purdue University Graduate Program Lecture Series, March 2023
• McDonnell, T.R. Glass Facades. Illinois Institute of Technology CAE 506, October 2023
• McDonnell, T.R. Introduction to an LRFD Glass Design Methodology that is Harmonized with ASCE7, City of Chicago High Rise Committee, November 2021.
• McDonnell, T.R. Failure Analysis of Glass Made Simple … or is it?, SEAOI Forensics Conference, June 2021
• McDonnell, T.R. Where Envelope Meets Structure. University of Michigan Guest Lecture Series, January 2020
• Bruns C., Twomey, E., Johnson, M, McDonnell, T.R. Steel Stud Bearing Walls: Multi-Unit Residential Construction, Structure Magazine, November 2019
• Bruns C., Aumiller C., McDonnell, T.R. Two-way Shear Strengthening of Cast-in-place Lightweight Concrete Flat Slab, ASCE Forensics Conference, October 2018
• Terry McDonnell, Connor Bruns, Oliver Lahr, Patrice Couret, Ahead of the Curve: Innovative Cold Bent & Laminated Glass Entry Wall. Challenging Glass 6, TU Delft, The Netherlands, May 2018
• Guzhao Li, Paul B. Summers, Terry R. McDonnell, and Ronald O. Hamburger Blast Resistant Design of a Three-Story Glass Curtain Wall System at a Federal Research Facility. AEI Congress, Oklahoma City, OK, April 2017.
• McDonnell T.R. & Kassabian P. Engineering Transparency. SGH Lecture Series, Chicago, IL, January 2015.
• Elizabeth Stek, Dave DeLong, Terry McDonnell, Jose Rodriguez Life Cycle Assessment Using ATHENA Impact Estimator for Buildings: A Case Study.SEI Structures Congress, Las Vegas, May 2011.
McDonnell, T., Thompson, D. Structural Glass Observation Boxes (Willis Tower Ledge).Challenging Glass 2, TU Delft, The Netherlands, May 2010.
McDonnell, T.R one of many Contributing Authors Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural Engineer. ASCE-SEI Publication, 2010.
Hollingsbee, T.R., McDonnell, T., Kooymans, J. Designing the Right Double Skin Facade. SEI Structures Congress, Austin, TX, May 2009.
Hasan A., McDonnell, T.R. Inspiring Innovation, One King West. Contributing Author, Structures Magazine, June 2008.
Charnish B., McDonnell, T.R. The Bow: Unique Diagrid Structural System for a Sustainable Tall Building. CTBUH 8th World Congress, Dubai, UAE, March 2008.
John L. Peronto, Thomas D. Poulos, Leonard Martin Joseph, Terry R. McDonnell Analysis and Building System Optimization of The Ivana. Structural Engineering Institute Congress, Long Beach, California, April 2007
McDonnell, T.R. Structural Glass and Glazing System Designs. University of Michigan CEE501, Winter semester 2025
Terry R. McDonnell, Thomas D. Poulos, and Robert M. Stadler Baseball Stadium Renovations at US Cellular Field.Structural Engineering Institute Congress, Long Beach, California, April 2007
McDonnell, T. and Poulos T. Memphis International Airport Seismic Code Comparison and Upgrade Strategy. Structural Engineering Institute Congress, Long Beach, California, April 2007
McDonnell, T.R. and Bast, W., Adaptive Re-use and Seismic Upgrade of an Un-reinforced Masonry Building. Structural Engineering Institute Congress, Long Beach, California, April 2007
Swierz, Ed and McDonnell, Terry, Evaluation and Rehabilitation of a Concrete High Rise Parking Ramp. Structural Engineering Institute Congress, Long Beach, California, April 2007
William Bast and Terry McDonnell A Case Study in Structural Renovation and Masonry Restoration.10th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Banff, Alberta, Canada, June 2005
Bast, W. McDonnell, T., Parker, L. and Shanks, S. Measured Shortening and its Effects in a Chicago High-Rise Building. American Society of Civil Engineers Forensics Conference, San Diego, CA, October 2003.
McDonnell, T.R., Comprehensive Model for Post-Earthquake Safety Evaluation for Buildings. University of Michigan Masters’ Thesis, July 1998
McDonnell, T.R. Corrosion Resistant Reinforcement for Reinforced Concrete Structures. American Society of Civil Engineers, Ann Arbor Branch Report, February 1998
