In Memoriam

Thomas W. Taylor, PE

1936-2026

It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of structural engineer Thomas W. Taylor, PE, an industry giant renowned for his innovative impact on the built environment, engineering profession, and formation of countless engineers.

Considered one of the most brilliant minds in the field over the course of his 60+ year career, it was an incredible honor for us when he joined DeSimone in 2024 as a Principal and Director of our Dallas office. To have experienced firsthand the passion, commitment, knowledge—and charm—that he shared with us and our clients was nothing short of a privilege. Taylor came to DeSimone from Datum Engineers, which he led after incorporating in 1963, building it into one of the most respected engineering firms in Texas.

Known as ‘an architects engineer,’ Thomas served as principal-in-charge and project manager for over 50 structures in the Dallas Central Business District, including the Nasher Sculpture Center, Thanks-Giving Square Chapel, Dallas Police Memorial, Federal Reserve Bank, the Dallas Convention Center, and the AT&T Corporate Headquarters. Most recently, he was involved with the planned renovation and expansion of the Dallas Museum of Art.

Celebrated for his continual drive to innovate, Taylor pioneered the introduction of a range of structural systems, including a precast concrete stack-wall system for parking garages in 1974, the tallest slipform core for high-rise buildings (710 feet) in 1988, and an insulated, load-bearing masonry cavity wall. He also spearheaded the use of tilt-wall construction for ‘high-design’ architectural buildings in the early 2000s, such as the Chapel of Saint Ignatius at the Seattle University with Steven Holl Architect.

A dedicated supporter of engineering education, Thomas Taylor and his wife, Dane Taylor, both graduates of the University of Texas, helped establish the Thomas Taylor Design Studio at UT Austin, a state-of-the-art design space for teaching the integration of architecture and engineering systems.

While the loss of Thomas Taylor the engineer will reverberate throughout our firm and the industry at large, we mourn most deeply the loss of Thomas Taylor the man—his warmth, quick and curious mind, infectious smile, relentless energy, and unabating dedication to a field that never ceased to inspire him. He will be profoundly missed.