Walnut Creek, California-based environmental contractor Brown and Caldwell has hired tech industry veteran Allan Luk as senior director of digital solutions, the company announced Sept. 5. 

Luk brings 23 years of tech experience, all at Fremont, California-based computer hardware manufacturer Seagate Technology, to the 75-year-old construction firm. Most recently, Luk served as Seagate’s director of business solutions, data science and customer experience. 

In his new role, Luk will lead and grow Brown and Caldwell’s technological capabilities, according to the release. He will also partner with the firm’s technical subject matter specialists to develop and implement emerging digital solutions to help solve clients’ challenges related to aging infrastructure, climate change impacts, the increasing cost of water and mounting workforce development needs.

“In a rapidly evolving environment, utilities are eager to access the benefits of digital transformation to better leverage their data, optimize operations, support decision making, train operators and improve customer service,” said Wendy Broley, Brown and Caldwell’s chief technical officer. “Allan’s unique perspectives and strong technology background will complement our team of industry-leading experts to strengthen Brown and Caldwell’s digital offering and our ability to help our clients realize their digital future.”

At Seagate, Luk gained insight into fields like digital transformation, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, product and solutions development and customer engagement, according to the release.

In an email, Luk told Construction Dive, "I am thrilled to apply my tech industry expertise to the environmental engineering field to help our clients harvest the value of their data.”

As the effects of climate change become more prevalent, through historic heat waves, storms and flooding, contractors are bracing for impacts in the future. Earlier this summer, Dallas-based firm Jacobs hired Luce Bassetti as its Americas coastal resilience director in an effort to strengthen its water infrastructure and climate adaptation work.

“Critical infrastructure, including energy, water and transportation systems, are increasingly affected by hazards such as storms, flooding and slow-onset changes like sea level rise, and coastal infrastructure is at particular risk,” Bassetti told Construction Dive. “Affected communities and businesses need to develop resilience to a range of interconnected threats and hazards.”