Meet BKL’s Newest P.Eng.: Serkan Ülgen

31 Oct Meet BKL’s Newest P.Eng.: Serkan Ülgen

Congratulations to Serkan Ülgen, who earned his professional engineer license in July. Way to go, Serkan!

Serkan has been working with us as an acoustical consultant since 2020, lending his expertise to a variety of architectural and environmental acoustics projects. During his time here, Serkan has also become one of our go-to consultants for specialized vibration monitoring and assessments.

In honour of his P.Eng. accomplishment and fourth anniversary at BKL, we sat down with Serkan to learn more about his journey.

What is your role with BKL?

I am an Acoustical Consultant. I mainly work on environmental acoustics projects, but I also consult on building acoustics as well.

What inspired you to become an acoustical engineer?

I enjoy music and exchanging different playlists/artists with people, so I decided to join the music club in college. Joining the club increased my passion for music even more. I was studying engineering at the time and wanted to merge my two interests. That led me to specialize in building science and acoustics. It was a win-win for me!

What are some of the skills you use every day as an acoustician?

Being a consultant requires good communication skills. I listen to clients’ concerns and offer solutions that meet their needs. Other important skills include organization and teamwork. It sounds cliché, but through good communication, organization, and teamwork, we can meet client needs and deliver high-end work.

How has your role changed as the industry has grown and evolved?

The biggest change is the equipment we use. It’s getting better every day. It takes a weight off my shoulders, as it’s easier to control and manage, and fewer mistakes are made. This is important, especially when performing mission-critical site visits or monitoring unusual spots that nobody has set foot in yet or probably never will, which is strange to think about.

How do you keep up to date with advancements in acoustical engineering?

BKL makes it pretty accessible to keep up with advancements in acoustics with training seminars, lunch & learns, and a helpful in-house library — which happens to be beside my desk. I also enjoy reading publications that are relevant to our field and firm.

How do you ensure your acoustics work meets industry standards and regulations?

As a licensed engineer at a regulated consulting firm, I must adhere to guidelines, standards, and industry best practices. However, here at BKL, we exceed these basic requirements due to our strong quality control processes, vast experience in the field, and the diverse technical background of our staff. I am lucky that I work at a company that invests in employees and supports our efforts to learn and advance. That helps make my job straightforward and clear.

What does the future of acoustics look like?

AI is coming on strong but it’s not a replacement for engineering judgment just yet. I believe that AI will help acoustical consultants save time and be more efficient in the future.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

There are two things I enjoy most about my job. The first is the people I work with; they support me and make collaboration easy. The acoustical engineering industry is very niche, with a small number of people working in it. It’s nice to sit in the same office as other experts in the field. I can access different perspectives and learn from the skills and experience of each consultant.

Second is the diversity of the projects. One day, I could be underground taking measurements; the next, I could be at the top of a mountain or on the sea. I am a lover of nature so it ticks all the boxes for me — especially working in beautiful BC, as they say. I have been lucky to work at some breathtaking locations.

Do you have any advice for young professionals interested in pursuing a career in acoustics?

I recommend beginning with a solid understanding of the essentials of sound and vibration. BKL offers co-op opportunities twice a year. It’s a good way to learn hands-on, guided by professionals in the field. I also suggest staying up to date with the latest publications and projects.

More about Serkan

Serkan is more than just a newly minted P.Eng. and vibration guru; he’s also a member of the Turkish Canadian Society, a registered nonprofit that promotes Turkish art and culture here in Canada. Serkan is a regular volunteer and often runs the sound board for the society’s live music events.

The society’s magazine, TOPLUM, recently published an interview with Serkan in which he discusses his interest in sound and acoustics and his contributions to the society. Check out the full interview on page 48 here.

If you have any acoustics-related questions you would like to ask, please feel free to reach out to sound@bkl.ca