Hurricane Ian struck Fort Myers Beach, Florida, in 2022, and the devastation reached well beyond the coast. Roof damage and flooding from the surge were two of the most common problems for people who battled the storm. Many were left burdened with time-consuming and costly repairs. 

Designing better bridges is something Anwer Al-Kaimakchi thinks about a lot these days. The recent FAMU-FSU College of Engineering graduate has received countless awards for his work, incorporating stainless steel strand technology into bridge design. 

“I cannot wait for the day when I can work on the design of a new bridge where stainless steel strands are required; I know this day will happen—hopefully soon,” Al-Kaimakchi said.