Senior Vice President / Senior Principal

David L. Pierson, SE


It started at Lincoln Elementary in Hyrum, Utah.  Fifth Grade – Miss Taggart – Career Fair.  She passed around the sign-up sheet.  Having never pondered the question of what he would be when he grew up (assuming a career in basketball did not materialize), Dave decided he would choose Architecture.  “It was 1974.  The extent of my pop culture exposure was basically “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch”.  Marcia Brady was cute; Mike Brady was an Architect, and it looked like he had a pretty good life.  So I decided to be an Architect.”

When he was a Senior at Sky View, another epiphany changed his career path.  “As I approached moving onto college, it became clear that I was not left brained.  I had no talent for the artistic or the aesthetic, but rather had an aptitude towards the physical sciences.  The building design process still intrigued me, so I pivoted to Structural Engineering”.  Now, forty plus years later, he has never regretted the decision.

Dave spent a few years in the industry in Utah and California before joining ARW Engineers in 1991.  As a Principal Engineer, he has overseen hundreds of projects over his career.  “I love the diversity of the projects.  I like to visit construction sites.  And I really enjoy meeting with clients and working together to solve problems.”

When asked, Dave will tell you the things he enjoys most in life.  ”I enjoy spending time with and travelling with my wife, and also seeing my kids and grandkids work hard and succeed at their endeavors.”  Dave also enjoys golf, with this quote aptly describing his experience with golf.  “When I was young, I was a poor golfer.  Now, after many years of practice and many rounds of golf, I am no longer young.”

Education

Utah State University - B.S. Civil Engineering, 1988
Utah State University - M.S. Structural Engineering, 1989

Notable Projects

  • Palmdale, California

  • Logan, Utah

  • Grand Mound, Washington

  • Windermere, Florida

  • Salt Lake City, Utah

  • Meridian, Idaho

  • Bainbridge, Washington

Professional Organizations and Interests

  • Utah State University

    Utah State University

    Adjunct Professor

  • Structural Engineers Association of Utah

    SEAU

    Structural Engineers Association of Utah

    Past President

  • The Masonry Society

    TMS 402/602

    2022 Masonry Code Development Committee

    Vice Chairman

  • UBCC

    Utah Uniform Building Codes Commission

    Past Chairman