
The glass and brick facade of Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall
The Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall – known on campus as Ginsburg Hall – opened to great acclaim on September 17, 2024. For years, the university has been developing its mission to infuse computing across the university, with an emphasis on advancing ethical and social dimensions – as Dean Yannis Yortsos proclaimed at the opening ceremony, “all disciplines are technology-enabled disciplines.”
The 116,000 square-foot, seven-story structure serves as the point of intersection for all computation-centered activities at USC. Inside, you’ll find a two-story lab dedicated to the research and testing of flying autonomous aerial vehicles; advanced, open-plan robotics labs; student collaboration labs and creativity zones; and a 300-seat auditorium and amphitheater.
It goes without saying that the design and construction of the building was a major undertaking, with plenty of challenges along the way. USC alumni from across the generations gathered together to provide their support as donors and advisors, and two alumni in particular played an integral role in the smooth running of the project. Structural engineer Matt Timmers BS ’04, ’MS ’06 (John A. Martin & Associates, Inc.) and project executive José Alday BS ’99 (Turner Construction Company), are both graduates of the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE).
CEE is just a stone’s throw from Ginsburg Hall, and the intersection of computation and civil and environmental engineering is an important part of the department’s strategic vision. As emphasized by Burçin Becerik-Gerber, chair of CEE, computation is at the center of CEE activities – dispelling myths that this area of engineering is solely about bricks and mortar.
Alday, who headed the construction team, remembers how he first became interested in the business side of construction.

José Alday BS ’99 with Professor Henry Koffman at the opening ceremony for Ginsburg Hall
“In my junior year at CEE, I started taking construction classes with Professor Henry Koffman, as well as estimating classes which gave me a wider exposure to the way the industry functions in relation to the economy. I took on logistics and leadership roles in team projects and entered competitions – that dynamic really suited me, and I also took part in campus groups such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.”
On graduating from CEE, Alday took on prestigious internships at Swinerton and Wahlberg Construction, Inc., eventually rising to the role of project executive at Turner Construction Company where he embarked on the construction management of Ginsburg Hall.
“One of the most challenging issues was the fact that we experienced record rains during the first two years of the project,” said Alday. “The first rains came when we had scheduled to erect the structural steel – it would have been unsafe to continue in the rain, so that involved a lot of planning to keep the project on track. For instance, the strategic decision to stage the steel on site (despite limited space), rather than sending it back to the fabricator in Phoenix.”
The rains returned in the second year of the project, when the team was completing the roofing system. “There are so many components that have to come together to ensure a fully watertight system, as well as implementing temporary measures to protect the building from the rain during construction,” said Alday. His commitment to meticulous coordination helped to maintain the flow of the project, and safety was among his highest priorities. “Just as important as keeping on schedule is creating an optimal working environment where people feel safe coming to work,” he said. “USC has great safety teams that we were able to collaborate with.”

Matt Timmers BS ’04, ’MS ’06
Fellow alumnus Matt Timmers worked closely with Alday on the project. As principal of John A. Martin & Associates, Inc., Timmers led the structural engineering; he was also part of the team that previously engineered the building for USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience.
“I graduated from the Building Science program at USC, then took the Structural Engineering master’s program,” Timmers explained. “The structural and material design skills I learned at USC have provided me with a firm foundation for my career, equipping me with an understanding and respect for the architectural design process. As structural engineers, we have to be able to take on the mindset of an architect so we can implement that vision as intended, translating that creativity to our engineering.”
Timmers led the team of engineers and drafters that prepared the construction documents for Ginsburg Hall, preparing the structural analysis for approval by the city.
“The project involved direct application of the advanced steel design knowledge that I first learned in the master’s program,” said Timmers. “There were plenty of challenges, and that gave us the opportunity to flex our structural creativity. It’s a compact building with lots of design character, prompting us to develop some unique structural framing solutions with multiple levels supported on cantilever transfer girders.”
For both Timmers and Alday, ensuring that Ginsburg Hall met the green building criteria to achieve LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) was an important consideration. As a result, the building will serve as a “living lab” – allowing researchers to study how the building operates in real-life conditions and explore and implement eco-friendly practices.
“I’m very proud to continue to serve the university that I love, preparing structural designs for buildings on campus that will last beyond my lifetime,” said Timmers.
“The classes, competitions, and student clubs I was part of at USC prepared me for the rest of my career,” said Alday. “It was great to be back, applying the same mindset of overcoming hurdles and navigating multiple moving parts. Returning to campus reminded me that everything is a learning process – that’s how we take on challenges of ever-greater scale.”
Published on January 21st, 2025
Last updated on January 21st, 2025