By Rick Gardner
Bryce McQueen is a registered architect and president of Merik Inc. He is a past president of the IIBEC Georgia Chapter and currently serves on the IIBEC Annual Convention Committee and Credentials Task Force. He lives in Milton, Georgia, with his wife, Katie, and their three sons, Wyatt, Harrison, and Luke, ages 11, 10, and 5, respectively.
How and when did you get involved with IIBEC?
I joined IIBEC in 2016 while working at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. (WJE), alongside several other consultant members, including Chris Giffin, F-IIBEC, RRC, AIA, and Jim Brown, who encouraged me to get involved at the chapter level. I attended my first convention in Orlando, Florida, and was immediately struck by the scale, having only participated in smaller chapter events with maybe 30 people. It was eye-opening to suddenly be in a room with more than 1,200 professionals all doing what I do.
One of the highlights of that convention was hearing Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield speak. His stories from the International Space Station were incredible, and he ended his talk by playing his guitar and singing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” He stayed afterward to sign books and take photos with attendees.
Between the educational sessions, the golf tournament, the massive trade show, and the various social and network events, the whole experience made me want to come back. I was hooked.
What does a typical day on the job look like for you?
No two days are ever the same. I’ve probably never had the same work week in the past 15 years. My work as a building enclosure consultant generally includes writing specifications, performing building enclosure testing, making site visits, attending client meetings, mentoring staff, traveling to look at new projects, and attending professional events.
I’m a registered architect who figured out pretty early I was better at solving building enclosure problems in existing buildings than designing new buildings from scratch. They say the devil is in the details, and the details are really what I was better at.
Problem solving is the one thing I do every single day.
What have been your most memorable projects?
The roof replacement at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, stands out. It was a textbook example of the value a building enclosure professional brings to the table—from investigation and testing through design, owner consultation, construction administration, and quality assurance.
Another set of memorable projects were many of those I worked on while at WJE. I often traveled for work and enjoyed days working together to solve problems and evenings spent with colleagues sharing stories, laughs, and good food at new interesting places. As a fan of Cajun cuisine, I took every opportunity to work in projects in Louisiana.
Some particularly unforgettable (and not entirely for the faint of heart) project experiences have included facade consulting on high-rise projects involving access by aerial lift, swing stage, and even cranes. Looking back, some of those challenges were intense.
Have you had any mentors in the industry? What did they teach you?
Absolutely. There are probably too many to count, but Chris Giffin; Chris Dawkins, PE; and Pat Downey, F-IIBEC, CCCA, especially have each shaped my career in different ways.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
Find a great mentor and absorb everything they can teach you. In the words of Ted Lasso, be curious.
Identify a topic that interests you and dive in. Be patient with the learning process. Knowledge doesn’t happen overnight; it gets ingrained slowly and with repetition.
Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Some of the best lessons come from witnessing or even making mistakes up close and personal. And don’t shy away from a little heat or sweat because the fun problems to solve aren’t always convenient and comfortable.
What has been the most valuable benefit of your IIBEC membership?
Without a doubt it’s the education and the networking. I find that being able to collaborate with professionals across the industry is invaluable.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love golf, cooking, and coaching my sons’ sports teams—especially football.
I’m also a big college football fan. I went to Georgia Tech, but my wife’s family are Alabama fans, so I root for them too.
When it comes to food, grilling and smoking meats are my passion. I love trying new foods and restaurants. One special family experience was at the Cattleack Barbeque in Dallas, Texas. It was so good, I joked I could live there but would need to buy bigger pants every week.
You’re happiest when…
I’m on the golf course or watching my kids play sports.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you be doing?
As a kid, I wanted to be a pilot. My dad was an aerospace engineer in the Air Force, so that had a big influence.
I like to dream that I could have been a professional golfer on the PGA Tour traveling and playing golf all over the world, though realistically, I’m barely suited to be playing golf in my own backyard.
NFL or MLB?
MLB. But really, college football.
I’m a huge Atlanta Braves fan. I grew up in the Florida Panhandle watching them and was a big John Smoltz fan. These days, I watch most of their games on TV. A few weeks ago, I took my kids to their first Braves game, and it was a special memory for all of us.
