Contact North Star Design & Build
Media coverage featuring Scott Chen, alongside his own writing on engineering, construction and the built environment.
Reporting & interviews
Reporting and interviews published by media organisations, featuring Scott Chen’s engineering expertise.
Media feature
The New York Times
432 Park Avenue · New York
Scott Chen was interviewed and quoted in The New York Times’ reporting on the structural issues at 432 Park Avenue.
Read in The New York TimesExpert commentary
ABC News
McCrae landslide · Victoria
ABC News quoted Scott Chen on landslide risk on the Mornington Peninsula, including drainage, slope stabilisation and monitoring.
“Mornington Peninsula has a well-documented history of landslides.”
Scott Chen · Civil Engineer
Radio interviews
Conversations with Scott Chen on building safety, structural failures and construction.English summaries · Original interviews in Mandarin
Scott discusses factors behind the rapid spread of the Hong Kong fire and the Australian approach to building safety.
An interview on potential causes of building collapse in the Türkiye earthquake and seismic provisions in Australian building standards.
Scott joins a talkback discussion on the skills and practical preparation needed to take on an owner-builder project.
Scott explains the preliminary engineering findings on cracking at Sydney’s Opal Tower and their implications for building quality.
A discussion of delays, extended waiting periods and the additional costs that can arise in house-and-land packages.
Scott outlines contract issues to consider before paying a deposit or committing to a house-and-land package.
Written by Scott Chen
Scott’s own analysis, professional commentary and observations from practice. Full text, figures and videos are available here.
In this article, I will conduct an in-depth analysis of why Lismore, NSW, is so prone to flooding. This will include geographical, hydrological, and climatic factors contributing to its history of severe floods. Additionally,…
Read article
Scott’s original commentary on deregulation, accountability and consumer protection in Australia’s construction industry.
Read post
Mornington Peninsula is a picturesque region renowned for its stunning coastal views and lush greenery. However, its history of landslides poses a persistent challenge, particularly in areas where slopes are steep and soil…
Read article
The International Building Code (IBC) and the California Building Code (CBC) are both integral parts of the U.S. building regulatory framework. While the IBC serves as a general guideline for building safety across the nation,…
Read article
Load Rating is the process of evaluating the current load-carrying capacity of a structure based on its actual condition. In structural design, engineers determine the design capacity (or ultimate capacity) of a structure…
Read article
With advances in building technology, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has transitioned from being a specialized tool for large-scale infrastructure, such as bridges and skyscrapers, to a more accessible solution for diverse…
Read article
During concrete pouring, the deformation of the formwork system significantly impacts construction safety and structural quality. To meet the practical demands of engineering projects, formwork materials must strike a balance…
Read article
Forensic engineering is a specialized discipline focused on investigating the causes of structural and system failures. At its core, it involves reverse engineering to uncover the root cause of an incident. The findings are…
Read article
Construction project acceptance is a critical step in ensuring that buildings meet safety, performance, and functional standards.
Read article
Basement waterproofing is a critical aspect of building durability and occupant safety. However, Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC) provides minimal guidance for underground structures, leaving key design and…
Read article