News & Insights

Saundra Cullen is a Principal based in our Toronto office with over 50 years of experience in the engineering industry. At Salas O’Brien, she combines her deep expertise with a hands-on approach to drive transformative projects.

Specializing in P3 healthcare projects and high-rise residential buildings, Saundra is known for fostering strong, lasting relationships with her team and clients—built on trust, collaboration, and proven results. Learn more about Saundra’s remarkable career in the Q&A below.

How did you get started in the engineering field?

My interest goes back many years to when I was in public school. My father built custom homes, and I was so interested in his work that I would miss school to go with him to the construction sites.

In 1967 I went with my family to Montreal for the Expo ’67 world exposition and was fascinated by the roadway and bridge infrastructure I saw there.

After high school, I went to the University of Waterloo for an honours degree in mathematics and history, planning to teach at the high school level. Towards the end of this degree, I transferred to engineering—a decision I was reluctant to make because very few females were in the field then. In my graduating year, out of 146 students, only two were female. I followed my own dreams and passion, and know I am making a difference.

How has engineering technology transformed over the years?

I’ve seen a complete technological revolution in my 52-year career.

I began my career with hand calculations using a side ruler before moving to simplistic calculators. From there, I learned to use computer programs, initially requiring punched cards to run on massive mainframe computers—machines that filled entire rooms but had less capacity than today’s smartphones. Then came teletype machines in the office to send data to the mainframe, and then in-house personal computers (PCs).

With the rise of CADD and later 3D Revit models, computerized design became central to engineering, rendering traditional drawings nearly obsolete. Today, all our engineers and operators work exclusively on screens, while I remain one of the last to use drawings. Even the way we collaborate has changed, with meetings shifting from in-person to virtual platforms like Zoom and Teams. Things move on and change, and you have to keep up.

Saundra leads world-class projects that exceed client expectations and earn recognition from industry organizations.

What role does sustainability play in your line of work?

Sustainability is inherently present in the solutions we create as structural engineers, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable materials, and durability. In my work, this means using slag or fly ash in place of Portland cement, incorporating recycled or salvaged structural steel, designing for long-term flexibility rather than obsolescence, and minimizing carbon impact by reducing concrete volumes and member sizes.

Which projects hold the most significance for you?

I’ve had the privilege to work on many amazing projects. Two that stand out are the City of Toronto Courthouse and the Four Seasons Hotel and residential tower.

The Toronto Courthouse is high on my list because of its unique challenges. The design required large upper-level courtrooms without vertical structural elements, supported by a wide structural grid and heavy bands spanning in both directions. The depressed, thinner slabs in the courtrooms added complexity but proved advantageous for the progressive collapse analysis, ensuring the building’s stability even if a main structural column were compromised.

The Four Seasons required a balance of structural efficiency and flexibility to meet the demands of its ultra-luxury residential floors. By minimizing shear walls and using perimeter columns, we allowed designers to create custom suite layouts. For the 10-story function block, we used 58-foot-long Vierendeel trusses with vertical web members to achieve column-free spaces while enabling doorways between sections.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I would call it a soft-sell approach. I prefer to suggest rather than direct and lead rather than dominate.

I encourage young engineers to approach problems from multiple angles, reminding them that while many solutions exist, the goal is to find the best one. My door—literal or figurative—has always been open, and I emphasize that no question is ever a bad one. I also attempt to help them understand the political ramifications of client or site-related decisions as well as the more obvious structural considerations.

Saundra meeting with structural engineer Cory Gray.

What advice do you have for emerging female engineers?

While the world has changed from when I was a young engineer, I believe the general advice to “work hard,” “follow your dreams,” “play nice in the sandbox,” and “be attentive to managers’ and client needs” still holds true for everyone.

Very few women were in the field when I started my career. I felt I had to work harder, smarter, and longer hours than my male colleagues to prove I belonged. If my manager dropped an assignment on my desk at 4.00 p.m., it was finished by the next morning, no matter the personal challenges. I find that today, young ladies start their career on more equal footing with their male colleagues.