Celebrating the legacy of W. Lee Shoemaker, P.E., Ph.D.: Three decades of advancing research education and engineering at MBMA

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Lee's career at MBMA helped shape modern metal building design through research, education and engineering leadership.

The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) is honoring one of the most influential technical leaders in its history as W. Lee Shoemaker, P.E., Ph.D., retires after 32 years of extraordinary service. As director of research and engineering, Lee has shaped the modern era of metal building system design and guided the industry through three decades of growth, change and continual advancement. 

Lee joined MBMA in the early 1990s, bringing with him an exceptional engineering background that included shipbuilding crane design, university teaching, consulting and advanced research. His academic path included a bachelor's and Ph.D. in civil engineering from Duke University and a master's degree from Tulane University. That foundation, combined with his practical experience, prepared him to lead MBMAs research program with vision, curiosity and rigor. 

Over his 32 years with MBMA, Lee oversaw more than $4 million in industry-changing research. Under his leadership, MBMA addressed some of the most significant engineering questions facing metal building systems, including wind behavior, seismic performance, cold-formed steel optimization, energy efficiency and material advancements. Lee's work ensured that metal buildings were understood accurately by engineers, treated fairly in codes and standards and recognized across the industry for their performance and versatility. 

Among his most recognized contributions is his instrumental role in developing design guidance for moment end plate connections, including widely referenced work on flush and extended multiple row end plate moment connections. This research strengthened the structural backbone of metal building systems and continues to guide engineers and manufacturers today. 

Lee also championed studies that clarified the difference between deflection and drift, deepened the industry’s understanding of pressure versus suction effects on metal buildings, and highlighted key performance factors that influence safe, economical and efficient structural design. His expertise elevated MBMA's credibility as the industry's technical authority and helped ensure metal buildings met the evolving demands of modern construction. 

Beyond his engineering achievements, Lee has been one of the industry’s strongest advocates for education and workforce development. Recognizing the need to inspire and prepare future engineers, Lee worked to bring metal building systems into university classrooms. One of his proudest initiatives is the MBMA Annual Student Design Competition, which challenges students across the country to explore metal building design in real-world applications. His enthusiasm has encouraged countless young designers to see the potential of metal buildings and to bring new ideas to the field. 

His influence and character were celebrated in full at the 2025 MBMA Winter Meeting, where the membership honored him with a video filled with heartfelt congratulations, along with in-person testimonials that reflected his impact on colleagues across the country. With his wife Leslie in attendance, Lee accepted an award of appreciation, followed by a recap of his remarkable career. The room made clear with a standing ovation what the industry has long known: that Lee is deeply respected, admired and genuinely loved by the metal building community. 

Throughout his career, Lee has been described as an engineer’s engineer, and his work has touched nearly every aspect of the metal building industry. His leadership ensured that MBMA remained a trusted source of unbiased technical research and that metal buildings continued to advance in safety, efficiency and application. 

Lee Shoemaker retires with a legacy defined by technical excellence, fairness in codes and standards, and a groundbreaking career in research, along with a deep commitment to the next generation. His sense of humor and love of the industry will inspire the industry for years to come. MBMA proudly honors a leader whose influence will be felt long after his well-earned retirement.