Episode 104 - What’s Really Holding Up Your Building?

In Episode 104, we dig into the world beneath our buildings, foundation systems. From shallow footings to deep foundations, we explore how engineers match soil behavior, structural demands, and constructability to choose the right system for the job. We break down the fundamentals of spread footings, mats, piles, drilled shafts, and ground‑improvement‑based systems. You’ll hear how load paths shift depending on soil conditions, why “simple” footings aren’t always simple, and what engineers should watch for when coordinating with geotechnical reports, contractors, and owners. Tune in to hear how foundation systems balance performance, risk, and practicality — and why the most important part of a building is often the part no one ever sees. Structural Trivia: Sign up for our structural trivia! A quick email mid-week will keep you sharp (FYI-Survey Monkey is often re-directed to the spam folder). Reach out to us: TheEngineeringPodcast.com Instagram Linkedin Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance; affordable, engineer-friendly liability coverage starting at just $29/month, designed to give structural engineers the protection they need with zero hassle. Go to NextInsurance.com/sepodcast and get a free quote today!

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Episode 104 - What’s Really Holding Up Your Building? is an episode from The Structural Engineering Podcast.

This episode is 01:20:05 long.

This episode was published on Jan 21, 2026.

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