Boston Heywood is a civil engineering designer at FOCUS Consulting who combines a love of architecture, problem-solving, and creativity in his daily work. Growing up, he was always fascinated by impressive buildings and the way communities were designed. With a natural aptitude for math and an interest in engineering, he discovered his passion for civil engineering in high school. “I always loved seeing cool buildings and looking at architecture,” Boston said. “When I took an engineering class in high school, I grew to love solving problems and coming up with solutions, and I ended up loving the civil design side of engineering.”

Outside of work, Boston enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, whether that means getting outdoors or simply relaxing together. Lately, he has also developed a passion for building and creating things by hand. From bookshelves and coffee tables to woodworking projects and pottery, he enjoys the process of turning ideas into something tangible.

Finding His Path in Engineering

Boston’s interest in civil engineering stems from the balance of technical problem-solving and real-world impact that the profession provides. He enjoys the challenge of finding practical solutions while contributing to projects that help shape communities.

Engineering runs in his family as well. One of his biggest inspirations is his great-grandfather. “My great-grandpa was a civil engineer who I have always looked up to,” Boston shared. “Hearing stories about the things he worked on, like roller coaster design, rivers and streams in multiple states, and assisting with the design of airport jetways, has always inspired me.” Those stories helped Boston see the wide variety of opportunities available in engineering and reinforced his desire to pursue a career where every project presents a unique challenge.

Learning and Growing at FOCUS

Since joining FOCUS, Boston has gained valuable experience working on projects that directly benefit local communities. He enjoys seeing how thoughtful planning and engineering can create positive changes for residents and neighborhoods throughout the region.

One of the most meaningful aspects of his work has been contributing to projects that support community growth and accessibility.” I’ve worked on a couple of low-income housing projects, some community parks, and similar projects,” he said. “These projects have been amazing opportunities to support the growth of local communities and help provide housing in the Salt Lake area.” A particularly proud moment in Boston’s professional journey was earning his engineering degree. The achievement represented years of dedication, hard work, and commitment to his goals. “Seeing all of the time and effort that I put into myself and my goals pay off was super rewarding,” Boston said.

Boston also enjoys exploring engineering and infrastructure beyond his day-to-day work. A recent trip to New York City gave him a new appreciation for large-scale urban planning and transportation systems. “It was so cool to compare the way they plan cities in high-density areas compared to here in Utah,” he said. “The subway system alone was a marvel to me, seeing how much thought and planning went into something like that.”

Looking Ahead

As Boston continues growing in his career, he remains focused on learning as much as possible and developing a deeper understanding of every aspect of the engineering process. He believes curiosity is one of the most important qualities for success for an engineer. “The biggest advice I would give to a younger me, and anyone starting out in this career, is to be curious,” Boston shared. “Ask questions, try to understand every aspect of what you do, and don’t be afraid to ask.”

What Boston values most about working at FOCUS is the relationships, as he explains, “I truly don’t think FOCUS could exist without all of the amazing people we work with daily. I am extremely lucky to be on a team of individuals who I trust and love working with.” We are grateful to have Boston as part of the FOCUS team. His passion for learning, dedication to community-focused projects, and commitment to building strong relationships make him a valuable contributor to both our clients and our culture.