As both a structural engineer and an architect, Preetam Biswas excels at designing innovative yet simple and constructible systems for tall buildings, long-span structures, and small-scale specialty structures. He was drawn to design by the natural world, inspired by the beauty and structural efficiency of a spider’s web and a desire to replicate that efficiency in the built environment—whether it’s a small canopy or a large industrial complex. Approaching his projects from this standpoint, he designs towers, airports, stadiums, and more to celebrate the structure within the architecture.
I was raised with the belief that nothing should go to waste. Resources are finite, and structures should be as efficient as possible. Using fewer materials keeps the planet healthier and leaves more materials available for future generations of buildings.
Preetam has authored and edited numerous technical publications including the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Design and Performance of Tall Buildings for Wind. He is a member of various committees with the ASCE and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) and serves as an academic advisor at Syracuse University and New York University.
Preetam has played a key role in advancing equity at SOM. As a member of the firm’s Talent, Equity, Diversity and Development committee, he is invested in creating a welcoming culture and cultivating the next generation of SOM leadership. In 2021, he helped kickstart the Equity Action Committee as its founding co-chair—leading the effort to strategize SOM’s commitments within the DEI Action Plan and produce the firm’s first annual DEI report.
