Engineers Week 2025 (Part 1): Technologies Designing Our Future

Happy Engineers Week (EWeek 2025), where we take time to celebrate how engineers make a difference in the world.  

This year’s EWeek theme, “Design Your Future,” is a call to action and celebration of the limitless possibilities that exist in engineering. Using collective ingenuity, engineering is at the forefront of innovation as we dream boldly to shape the world of tomorrow.  

75 Years of Innovation: Engineering Technologies Over the Years

As Halff marks our 75th anniversary, we reflect on the incredible technology advancements that have shaped our industry and look forward to how our engineers will continue to pave the way for the next 75 years and beyond.  

The Electronic Calculator  

The electronic calculator was invented in the early 1960s, drastically changing the way engineers and scientists performed calculations. Unlike manual methods, which were time-consuming and prone to error, the calculator provided a faster, more accurate way to handle complex math problems. Engineers were able to solve problems more efficiently with the rise of portable, affordable calculators, ultimately advancing the field and shaping modern engineering practices. 

Image source: oldcalculatormuseum.com

Invention of the Computer 

The invention of the computer transformed the way information was processed and calculations were performed. Tasks that once took a lifetime to complete could suddenly be done in a matter of minutes. While early computers were primarily designed to automate routine calculations, the 1950s saw the emergence of programming languages and data storage technologies in computers.  

Computers quickly became indispensable tools for engineers, enabling them to simulate designs, analyze data and automate tasks with speed and accuracy. As computers continued to evolve, they became central to every aspect of engineering, from structural analysis to project management, changing the way engineers approached their work and shaping the future of the industry. 

Image source: Lincoln College

Introducing CAD Software  

The invention of the computer eventually led to the development of more complex software such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Since its inception in the 1960s, CAD has streamlined the design process. From creating detailed design plans to simulating structural performance, CAD tools have become indispensable in delivering innovative and sustainable solutions.  

The release of AutoCAD in 1982, one of the first commercially successful CAD programs, further transformed the industry by making digital design accessible to a wider range of professionals. AutoCAD’s introduction altered the industry by providing affordable and versatile CAD tools for architects, engineers and designers. This greatly influenced the broader industry to integrate CAD into their workflows. 

Read more about how CAD is drafting the future and revolutionizing the AEC industry. 

Tune in later this week for part two of Engineers Week!

About the Firm 

Halff is an award-winning, employee-owned and full-service infrastructure consulting firm celebrating a legacy of 75 years of improving lives and communities. Founded in 1950 by Dr. Albert H. Halff, the firm has built a legacy of delivering innovative solutions with a people-focused approach. 

Operating from more than 30 offices across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, Halff is a leader in design excellence and community impact, earning 84 project awards since 2021. Ranked No. 87 on Engineering News-Record’s 2024 Top 500 Design Firms list, Halff is also a USA TODAY National Top Workplace for a third consecutive year.