Commercial real estate: A guide to the structures

Reddy Kancharla explains that many engineers, architects, and construction companies constantly observe the building of commercial structures because a lot can be learned from it. In fact, most of the largest, most advanced buildings ever created in the modern world are commercial structures.
Reddy Kancharla shares a short guide to commercial real estate structures below.

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Hotels: While hotels and resorts serve as the gold standard of the hospitality industry, there are also hostels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts. Some of the grandest hotels in the world have impressive architecture and mind-blowing engineering, like the Burj Khalifa.

Offices: Many of the skyscrapers in the world are comprised of offices. The megastructures that go way past 70 floors accommodate firms, agencies, companies, and other businesses. There are also mid-rise buildings for offices.

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Retail: The most prominent examples of retail structures are malls, and some of them are downright impressive, Reddy Kancharla explains. Other structures include groceries, outlet stores, and marketplaces. Retail buildings take up a third of total commercial estate structures.

Factories: Finally, Reddy Kancharla mentions industrial facilities or large factories. In many ways, industrial plants are the most complicated structures to construct, given the countless specifications needed to put up a plant. However, storage facilities such as warehouses, are simpler in design.

Reddy Kancharla has more than 25 years of experience in civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC, and more than a decade in senior management for civil engineering firms. Subscribe to this Twitter page for more updates.

Common causes of structural failure and how they can be prevented

As a civil engineer, one of Reddy Kancharla’s biggest fears is structural failure. In fact, he believes it to be one of the biggest fears of many engineers all over the world.

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On that note, Reddy Kancharla explores a few structural failures, their causes, and how they can be prevented.

When buildings collapse, there are normally a number of culprits, which include a lack of stability, faulty construction of beams and walls, as well as inadequate rods used for columns. To prevent this catastrophic structural mishap, engineers and construction teams should stick to the standard construction requirements. They may also connect any other parts to the main structure.

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As for footbridges, they can be compromised when the welding itself is found to be defective. These structures, made of trusses, cross girders, and RCC slabs, may buckle under extreme load. Reddy Kancharla notes that for a footbridge to be safe and reliable, structural steel fabrication is necessary.

However, Reddy Kancharla also says that one of the most tragic structural failures happens with residential buildings. Oftentimes, when a residential building collapses, it’s due to their being built on weak foundations. One of the best ways to prevent this is to have it checked and re-checked by geotechnical engineers to ensure that the ground is safe, and that contractors and engineers spend a lot of time planning the foundation.

Reddy Kancharla has more than 25 years of experience in projects involving civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC, including 10 years of senior management experience. For similar reads, visit this page.

Wooden structures that have amazed the world

The world is filled with architectural marvels. Some are known for their longevity, some for being built ahead of their time, and others because of their unique characteristics. Today, purely wooden structures are rare because of advancements in construction materials. However, some architects have utilized nothing else but wood as primary construction material yet have wowed the world. Here are some of the most amazing wooden structures in the world today, courtesy of Reddy Kancharla.

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Superior Dome, Michigan

Most people would think that a stadium should be built on concrete and steel. But the Superior Dome of the Northern Michigan University proves them wrong. This 14-story dome covers 5.1 acres and is composed of fir decking that stretches over 108 miles. It just narrowly beats Tacoma Dome as the world’s largest wooden dome.

U Bein Bridge, Myanmar

Wood had been the common material used for building bridges until architects learned to utilize stone and concrete. However, some wooden bridges are still being used now. The world’s longest wooden bridge, the U Bein Bridge, was built in 1850. While it’s only 15 feet tall, it helps people cross the mud flats at Taungthaman Lake. Its length measures to about 3,960 feet.

Murray Grove, London

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Built in 2009, Murray Grove is currently the tallest timber structure in the world, with a height of 9 stories. According to Reddy Kancharla, everything about the grove is made of wood, including the lift, floor slabs, load-bearing walls, and floor slabs. Its builders boast that the structure has had no issue 10 years since its unveiling.

Reddy Kancharlahas more than 25 years of experience in projects involving civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC. This includes ten years of senior management experience. For more reads on engineering, visit thiswebsite.

Leadership in the field: Building a strong construction team

For the most part, construction work is both mentally and physically demanding. Construction teams will have little command over their work schedule while having to deal with health hazards, which can only be found in their profession. Foremen and other construction team leaders must care for workers under their watch, and at the same time, ensure that work is delivered excellently.

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Reddy Kancharla believes that stress management should be one of the focuses of a construction leader. Risky mishaps might happen when employees are unable to handle stress at work. Encourage mindfulness and focus instead of asking them to multi-task. Focusing on a single task and doing it effectively and efficiently is far better than doing different tasks all at once.

Collaboration and teamwork are two incredibly important qualities to develop in a team. Before hiring a construction worker, a leader must consider their interpersonal skills. Technical skills won’t promote harmony among others in the team. Red flags to watch out for include arrogance, stubbornness, and disinterest in another’s wellbeing. Continuous training and development should be offered to construction workers. This will bring their work to higher levels and build their confidence in their team.

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According to Reddy Kancharla, one key to building a strong and effective team is by having systems and procedures set in position even before hiring new members, ensuring a steady improvement in their work. Veteran workers must also be provided with training to make them feel up-to-date with the newest and best practices in the industry.

A civil engineer with more than 25 years of experience in civil construction and geotechnical consultation, Reddy Kancharla has worked in various companies, having served different positions. For similar reads, visit this blog.

The construction industry’s guide to managing megaprojects

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A megaproject requires careful planning, preparation, and execution. Unlike other infrastructures, projects of this scale involve stakeholders from public and private sectors seeking to make a huge impact on society. Civil engineer Reddy Kancharla believes that the key to a project's success lies in exceptional management. Unfortunately, most megaprojects experience setbacks because of poor coordination between the construction teams and other stakeholders. Here are some suggestions that might contribute to better management of these important projects:

Carefully consider the project scope

Since working on a megaproject requires working with government authorities and private firms, it is best to agree on take time in planning and strategizing to prevent conflicts and to manage expectations. Having worked in various civil construction projects, Reddy Kancharla understands the importance of raising awareness regarding the standards and requirements each sector involved is working with. For a project that might take not less than three years, there will be changes in cost and schedules. Megaprojects are marketed as infrastructures that aim to improve the lives of people. It is only fitting to spend time to ensure that all the costs and effort will be worth it.

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Agree on a reasonable timeline

Construction firms should take the lead when it comes to scheduling. Though there are many stakeholders involved, civil engineers, project managers, and other construction professionals know the processes involved in building a structure. Some megaprojects may take decades to complete because of its complexity and other unforeseen events. Having a contingency plan will allow construction firms to continue delivering high-quality services despite delays and changes. Before starting the project, all parties involved must agree on the project's scope and duration.

Reddy Kancharla has extensive knowledge of engineering theories and principles, practical solutions to engineering problems related to civil engineering and construction industry, and developing quality systems in the construction industry per various codes and standards. He has more than 25 years of experience in civil construction and geotechnical consultation. Follow this page for updates.

How does a suspension bridge work?

For centuries, people have constructed bridges to cross bodies of water or deep chasms. Over the years, better and more sophisticated types of bridges have been built. According to engineering expert Reddy Kancharla, the suspension bridge is an engineering feat, the pinnacle of modern-day bridge-building.

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The first modern suspension bridge was erected in 1801 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. The Jacob’s Creek Bridge was designed by James Finley. It used all the components that are utilized by modern suspension bridges. But the design has been used centuries before. In early Spanish expeditions in Peru, it was discovered that the Incan empire used hundreds of suspension bridges that spanned around 150 feet, connecting lands separated by mountain gorges.

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Here is how the bridge works. A suspension bridge has five primary components. These are the suspension cables, the main cable, the deck, towers, and anchorage. The way a suspension bridge works is by attaching large main cables across towers. The main cables are anchored by heavy structures at both ends of the bridge. Along the main cables, thinner suspension cables hang down and are attached to the deck, a flat surface which will be the primary road in which people and cars would use.

The result of this structure allows for equal force pulling inward on the towers and pulling outward as well. The weight of the deck is distributed evenly by the suspension cables, and the main cables pull down on the base of the towers.

Suspension bridges can span as little as 2,000 feet and up to 7,000 feet. According to Reddy Kancharla, suspension bridges are easily the top choice when engineers want to connect two pieces of land over a long distance.


Reddy Kancharla has extensive knowledge of engineering theories, principles, and practical solutions of engineering problems relating to civil engineering and the construction industry, and the development of quality systems in the construction industry per various codes and standards. For more reads on engineering, visit this page.

Construction 101: Tips on setting and hitting deadlines

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With years of construction and engineering experience under his belt, Reddy Kancharla knows the non-negotiable nature of a feasible timeline. Projects have to set and hit deadlines. These are integral to the planning process, and Kancharla has seen a number of projects lose a huge amount of money to delays, simply because deadlines have been breached.
On that note, Reddy Kancharla offers a few insights on setting and hitting deadlines for large-scale projects.

Maximize the talents and skills of the teams.
A construction and engineering project involves considerable manpower, Reddy Kancharla notes. There are the internal and real estate project management teams, lead engineers and architects and their own teams, and a host of other professionals. Every person in every team should be instructed well on their roles and their respective timelines.

Create and implement a strict but fair monitoring system.

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Monitoring progress at every phase of the project is critical to hitting deadlines. Timelines should be doable from the get-go, so monitoring ensures that everyone who has a role to play, plays them to perfection. Consistency is key. List all the goals that have to be met and monitor their completion.


Make adjustments to manpower if necessary. You can also move deadlines, but only as a last resort.
Reddy Kancharla had worked in the construction industry for more than 25 years, having experience in projects involving civil construction, geotechnical consultation, and construction QA/QC. Visit this website for more information about him.