A water resources engineer who ironically during childhood had a near-drowning experience and subsequent aquaphobia, Sravan Paladugu, eventually overcame his fear and is now an aspiring swimmer. He is originally from India and first became interested in civil engineering in high school after watching his dad, also an engineer, develop small residential apartment buildings. Seeking better opportunities for his future, Sravan came to the United States in 2000 after completing his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He also received a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah.

His early career was primarily focused on groundwater projects, and later on storm water and flood control design for larger master plan communities and public works projects. At his wife’s urging, in 2012 he answered an ad for a water resources engineering position at BKF and was hired in our Redwood City office. His first few years at BKF exposed him to many new aspects of water engineering; including pump station design, water/sewer studies, city-wide master plans, and PS&E for capital improvement projects.

He says his efforts supporting the work of other groups within BKF helped him to grow immensely in his career; forcing him to think out-of-the-box to solve technical issues and unique challenges for clients. He appreciates the opportunity to work on all aspects of project and wear different hats, which helped him tackle projects such as the Bayfront Canal Flood Protection and Habitat Mitigation Project, which he started when he first joined BKF.

Sravan enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, gardening, tennis, golf, and (yes) swimming. A fan of national parks, he has visited many, and has successfully hiked the Grand Tetons in Yellowstone and Half Dome in Yosemite. Someday, when it comes time to retire, he aspires to build a small yet modern pre-fab home on a tropical island where he, his wife, and daughter, can do these activities all year-round.