Soon to be in bookstores and classrooms across the United States, College of Architecture Associate Dean and Professor of Architecture Sharon Kuska co-authors “Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders,” continuing its legacy as the gold standard in structural design textbooks. This 13th edition provides students with a concise introduction to structural systems commonly used in typical building designs. Written specifically for undergraduate students, the book covers essential concepts and calculations for the preliminary sizing of key building components, with an emphasis on quantitative analysis and structural member design.
First published in 1938 by Harry Parker, the textbook evolved into the Parker/Ambrose series through subsequent editions co-authored by James E. Ambrose. The latest edition, published by John Wiley & Sons, was co-authored by Kuska, Patrick Tripeny and the late James Ambrose.
Kuska described her involvement as unexpected. “It was a somewhat blind call on their part,” she said. “Since James Ambrose is now deceased and Patrick Tripeny is retired and declined to participate in another edition, the publishers needed another author. Apparently, I turned up in their research. It was a true compliment to my professional contributions and academic reputation.”
An obvious choice by many of her peers, Kuska is a renowned scholar, academic trailblazer and the first tenure-track female faculty member in the Architecture Program, where she has taught structures for nearly four decades.
This comprehensive 445-page textbook, comprising 20 chapters and an appendix, reflects Kuska’s extensive efforts to modernize and expand the material. “I attempted to update everything in the book,” Kuska said. “I reviewed it chapter by chapter, making changes and updates, while also adding new content.”
Notable updates include new sections on mass timber and sustainability developed by Kuska, as well as refinements to topics such as steel base plates and reinforced concrete beam design. These updates incorporate advancements in engineering and architectural methodologies and align with the latest building codes and standards.
Many of the updates, clarifications and corrections stemmed from Kuska’s lecture notes from the three structure courses she teaches: Fundamentals of Structures, Structural Mechanics and Structural Optimization. While Kuska teaches all three courses, the book will primarily be used in the latter two.
In addition to revising the text, Kuska updated supplementary materials, including an instructor's manual and a student guide. She also added a personal touch to the book, contributing a photograph from her collection for the cover.
The textbook has been a cornerstone in academic institutions, including the University of Nebraska, where it will be available for classes starting in the fall semester.
For Kuska, the opportunity to shape a resource that has influenced generations of architects and builders is both overwhelming and deeply meaningful. She hopes this latest edition will continue to serve as a valuable tool for students and practitioners alike.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Kuska, and are even more fortunate to have her teaching in the classroom and serving in leadership roles at the University of Nebraska” said Dean Van Den Wymelenberg.
Kuska expressed gratitude and pride in her role in the textbook’s legacy. “It’s amazing to think that the book I used in college is now the book I co-authored as a professor,” she said. “This fall, when I walk into class and place the book on the lecture podium, it will bear my name. It’s incredibly humbling.”
