The Post-Tensioning Changemaker

Structural engineer, Carine Magalhaes Leys, has championed post-tensioning design for over two decades, bringing this specialized expertise to projects and people around the world.

United States | Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Reading Time : 3:23 minutes

Carine is passionate about advocating for the transformative power of post-tensioning, a method of reinforcing concrete by applying tension to steel tendons after the concrete has cured. Having successfully delivered numerous projects around the world, she is helping to proliferate the best practices of this technique to reduce costs, minimize material use and increase the sustainability of buildings.

Describe your background and current role.

I’m originally from Brazil, where I took post-tensioning classes at my university. While interning for my professor, I connected with an internationally known post-tensioning engineer and went to work with him in the U.S. For 20 years, the goal of that work was to teach others — architects and engineers — about post tensioning, guiding designers around the world through their first projects and beyond, in diverse places like the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America. That type of training is how I met David Odeh, now WSP’s national director of Building Structures. From there, I joined WSP and lead our technical group focused on design and analysis of post-tensioned concrete buildings.

As part of my day to day at WSP, I get to introduce new engineers to the post-tensioning system and support their growth through their projects. Our team continues to help the industry grow by providing external post-tensioning design support to clients in the U.S. and internationally.

What inspires or motivates you in your career?

The benefits of post-tensioning are numerous, saving clients time and costs and offering greener solutions, including the opportunity to reduce a building's embodied carbon by 15-25%. I’m inspired by the opportunity to create an environment where everyone has access to the best practices and the latest engineering solutions. I’ve been able to make a difference in places like Boston and Providence, where post-tensioning wasn’t widely used, by helping to introduce and promote the proper use of this solution. My goal is also to create an experience for our clients that not only meets their needs but encourages them to return for future projects.

Carine Magalhaes Leys

Vice President, Building Structures

United States

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What is the biggest challenge in your field that you’re working to help resolve?

I’m trying to help designers think differently. With post-tensioning as a solution, the owner and architect will have more flexibility — post-tensioning allows for longer spans and thinner slabs, enabling more open, flexible spaces with fewer supports. Contractors get faster construction times. There are indirect benefits, too: lower heights mean less materials for the façade, elevator and stairs — all of which have environmental impacts — and allows higher performance.

Despite the benefits, more education is needed worldwide. To help designers think differently, I’ve become very involved with the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) in the U.S., as both a voting and committee member. Additionally, I regularly present on this topic at industry associations and universities, and as a member of the PTI Educational Committee, I am committed to advancing engineering knowledge globally.

Those connections and working with engineers in 30 different countries so far brings new challenges, processes and perspectives to engineering problems, which I also appreciate.

Carine visiting a post-tensioning cable plant in Rio de Janeiro during a two-day course that she taught on post-tensioning design.

With over 20 years of experience using post-tensioning concrete and witnessing its successful implementation in many countries, I recognize the benefits of this system and continue to explore the possibilities it offers for enhancing concrete's performance.

Carine leading a discussion of post-tensioning best practices at University of Fortaleza, in collaboration with the Structural Association of Brazil.

What are some impactful projects you have been a part of?

A recent example is the Enterprise Research Campus at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Post-tensioning was used to reduce the building's weight and better accommodate the foundation's design requirements. It was also essential to resolve the long spans required by the architecture and limit the deflections to the necessary levels for façade installation. This approach helped meet the design and structural goals effectively.

Now, with goals achieved, this interdisciplinary hub can bring together entrepreneurs and researchers to solve global challenges in health, climate and equity.

How does WSP approach building design differently?

I am very proud of how we treat our clients at WSP. We work closely with them to understand what they need and prioritize responsiveness. Even though we’re a big firm, every client has a contact person and a personalized relationship. We’re a diverse company with broad experience and knowledge that can bring more than one solution or option to each project. Our experience and resources are deep. In the structural engineering team, we can use any material. We’re experts in everything.