Nevertheless, through their Los Angeles-area company, Shoring Engineers, where Weinstein and Woodley are both vice presidents, they have been involved in the construction of more than a dozen university buildings. From the Galen Center and the new USC School of Cinematic Arts building to the Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower and the LAC+USC Medical Center, Weinstein and Woodley have contributed their expertise in an arcane niche of the contracting industry, one that’s largely unseen by the general public.

Weinstein and Woodley provide excavation, shoring and shotcrete services. And while some of the terms may sound unfamiliar, these processes are essential to nearly all major construction projects. “We don’t do glamorous work,” admits Woodley.

Before a large building goes up, especially in an urban area, builders typically must excavate enormous sections of earth. To prevent the sides from caving in, temporary support systems, or shoring, must be erected. Finally, after the foundation has been installed, perimeter concrete walls are built by shooting concrete infused with air from a high-pressure hose (shotcrete).

Shoring Engineers is one of only a handful of companies in Southern California to offer all these services. As a result, Weinstein and Woodley have contributed to many of the region’s high-profile projects, including the Staples Center, L.A. Live, the L.A. City Hall retrofit and the Pasadena City Hall retrofit.

Woodley, who lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., with his wife, Karen, and their two children, credits his education at USC for giving him the skills to succeed in his profession. “There’s more to civil engineering than just punching numbers into equations and pounding out numbers on your calculator. [At USC] you’re learning to think. You’re learning to problem-solve.”

Weinstein came to USC from New Jersey with plans of becoming an architect. But after a semester, he decided that a degree in civil engineering would put his analytical skills to better use. Weinstein went on to become president of USC’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and took part in many of the group’s engineering competitions.

Weinstein recalls one memorable contest in Arizona where the challenge was to construct a concrete canoe and then race against other teams. How was a group of cash-poor students supposed to transport a 15-foot concrete canoe to Arizona? Weinstein and his teammates cleverly built their canoe in two-foot pieces, which they decided to fuse together on site using steel rods, bolts and latex paint.

When they laid out their canoe pieces, the general response from other teams was, “ ‘Aw, we’re so sorry that it broke on the way down,’ ” Weinstein says. “And then we put it all together and it was an impressive feat – at least, for a bunch of students.”

How did they do in the race? “Our rowers weren’t quite up to muster,” he recalls with a laugh.

Weinstein, who lives in Chino Hills, Calif., with his wife, Amelia Erickson ‘85, and their two daughters, feels good about their work even though it's invisible to nearly everybody. “We don't get the glory, which is fine,” he says, “but we know.”

And that's all that really matters.

 – Matt McKillop