Andrew Hartmann ’99 graduated Lehigh with bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and architecture. For the past 18 years, he has been a structural engineer primarily focusing on the preservation of long-span bridges including the Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Commodore Barry bridges in the Philadelphia area. Currently, Hartmann is an associate in the Philadelphia office of Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.

In July and August, Hartmann spent two weeks in Panama with his company to assist in building a foot bridge over the Lurá River for the community. The cable-suspended bridge spans approximately 167 feet and took four months to build.

Since graduation, Hartmann has been involved in various roles with the Lehigh Club of Philadelphia, including serving as president from 2011 to 2017, and is finishing his second term on the Lehigh University Alumni Association Board of Directors. He has hosted first-year student sendoffs and Lehigh-Lafayette telecasts and has organized successful community service club events in his region.

Why did you decide to go to Panama to build the bridge?

I’m passionate about volunteering and also love international travel. This year, my company sponsored a suspended pedestrian bridge build in Boca de Lurá, Panama, in partnership with Bridges to Prosperity, and I was honored to be selected to participate along with nine of my coworkers.

What did you learn from your trip?

The trip was a great lesson in teamwork, staying positive even during tough working conditions, and focusing on the end goal. I learned a lot watching people’s management skills to see what types of leadership worked and didn’t work.

What is the importance of travel and helping out?

With the completion of the bridge, 1,200 people now have safe access to school, work, and healthcare year round, even when the Lurá River floods during the rainy season. I’m proud to have worked side-by-side with the community to help them improve their lives and reduce their rural isolation. It makes you realize how much we take for granted in our daily lives like safe travel, clean drinking water, electricity, and cell phone service.

How did your time at Lehigh help you decide your career path?

My professors in the civil engineering department helped me prepare for a career in structural engineering. Lehigh is respected for its research in fatigue and fracture mechanics for structural steel, and several of my professors conducted research at ATLSS on Mountaintop Campus.

What buildings are you inspired by (bonus points for Lehigh ones)?

As a prospective Lehigh student, I was enamored with all the Gothic architecture during my campus tour. Linderman Library had to be my favorite building during my years on campus, from the restored stained glass dome to the study nooks of the rotunda.

What is next for you?

After summer adventures in Ireland and Panama, my partner and I just adopted a beagle-mix named Aggie, so we’ll probably be doing something more low key next year. Right now, we’re thinking of a road trip to New England or Eastern Canada.

Interview by Austin Katz ’19