Cuoco leads an all-star cast at Thornton-Tomasetti.

Daniel A. Cuoco, P.E., has been president of The Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc. since April 2002. Previously, he was president of the company's LZA Technology division.

Over the last half of the 20th century, The Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc. has become a leader in extraordinary advances in the building industry.

Founded in New York City in 1956 as Lev Zetlin Associates, a preeminent and innovative building structural engineering firm, Thornton-Tomasetti is a 400 person, international engineering and design firm comprising three divisions: Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, the structural design division; LZA Technolog, the multidisciplinary building investigations and restoration design division; and LZA Associates, the multidisciplinary design division.

Having three divisions specializing in three different and distinct areas of engineering and design sets the firm apart from others in the industry.

"Most firms specialize in one area," said Cuoco. "We are somewhat unique in that we are very good in several areas."

Many firms agree and look to Thornton-Tomasetti for their expertise.

"Not only is Thornton-Tomasetti blessed with an immense range of talented professionals, but when we face challenging engineering or design issues in a litigation, they are a go-to firm for us," said Michael S. Zetlin, Esq. of Zetlin & De Chiara, LLP. "On the stand or behind the scenes, their keen insight is extremely valuable."

The firm's diversity is showcased in the projects it has completed and the almost countless awards it has won.

Its reputation for design creativity and excellence has garnered such high-profile projects as the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan, the tallest buildings in the world; the headquarters of UBS Warburg (formerly Swiss Bank) in Stamford, Connecticut; and Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

"They're the absolute leaders in their field, structural engineering, particularly in high rise design," said Jamie von Klemperer, of the architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox.

Kohn Pedersen Fox also works globally and appreciates Thornton-Tomasetti's ability to work internationally.

The firm has offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as ten offices throughout the United States, with its corporate headquarters in New York City.

"The challenges of building in another country are great, especially in Asia," von Klemperer said.

"We have to have someone we know we can count on. Thornton-Tomasetti hires experts, experts in that city."

Thornton-Tomasetti has collaborated with more than 100 firms to complete a historically significant project in New York City--the World Trade Center Disaster Response effort.

"I would say the most challenging project was the work down at the World Trade Center," Cuoco said. "One day at the site I was asked how that project compared with some of the other significant design projects I've worked on, and I said 'This is the most important job I've ever worked on, and it's probably the most important job I'll ever work on.'"

Working under the direction of the New York City Department of Design and Construction, Thornton-Tomasetti was the point firm for the more than 120 construction and 35 structural engineering firms that were assigned to the World Trade Center Structural Engineering Disaster Response Team in the search, rescue/recovery, stabilization, demolition, and clean-up efforts.

The engineers worked around the clock to get the job done.

"All the firms sent their best people," Cuoco said. "I think of it now. It's all a blur. I look back on some of the things we did thinking it took three or four weeks and it was actually only four days. It was like warp speed."

Completion of projects like the WTC are possible in part because of Thornton-Tomasetti's philosophy of letting every staff member become a star.

Cuoco has hired engineers that had never made a presentation to clients when they were working for other firms. At Thornton-Tomasetti everyone has a chance to shine, he said.

"If I hire people, I hire people smarter than me," Cuoco said. "It makes my job easier. It's a win, win situation."

Cuoco, who joined the firm in 1971, became interested in building engineering at a very young age.

"My father was a foreman for a concrete company in New York," Cuoco said. "He would come home with drawings every night. I would look at the drawings."

It was a natural fit for Cuoco to pursue a career in structural engineering, as he was drawn to math and science at a very young age.

Cuoco holds a bachelor of civil engineering degree from the City College of New York, a master of science degree in civil engineering from New York University, and a master of business administration degree in management from Adelphi University.

In 1981, he was cited as one of Engineering News-Record's "Those Who Made Marks" and has authored numerous technical papers, as well as lectured extensively at universities and engineering conferences in the United States and abroad. He is also a registered professional engineer in eight states.

Cuoco has extensive experience in the design of major projects, such as long-span structures, high-rise buildings, hotels, industrial buildings, airport structures, schools, parking structures, hospitals, and special structures.

He has also been personally involved with the investigation of numerous building failures, ranging from field reconnaissance to collapse analysis to expert testimony services.