Kent Yu of Degenkolb Engineers Appointed to the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Committee
PORTLAND, OR (April 23, 2007) — Degenkolb Engineers Associate Principal Kent Yu starts his four-year term on the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Committee (OSSPAC) today. In this role, Dr. Yu represents the field of engineering in the state of Oregon for OSSPAC.
“We are very excited to have Kent Yu on our board,” said OSSPAC Chair Jim Doane. “He is very knowledgeable and we think he will be a great addition to our team.”
OSSPAC promotes earthquake awareness and preparedness through education, research and legislation at the federal, state and local levels. The organization consists of an 18-member commission, representing the fields of engineering, transportation, education, housing and emergency response among other professions.
Currently, OSSPAC is preparing a report assessing the earthquake risks of Oregon schools. Working with the the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon State Board of Education, Oregon State Board of Higher Education, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and other grant agencies for SB 2 (2005), OSSPAC also will make recommendations for school preparedness.
According to Mr. Doane, Dr. Yu’s background will be an important asset to the commission in determining school buildings’ responses to earthquakes among a variety of factors such as lateral force. OSSPAC is also concerned with tsunamis caused by subduction zones, or large, undersea fault zones among other earthquake hazards.
Since joining Degenkolb in 1999, Dr. Yu has worked on a variety of projects for healthcare, education and high-tech facilities. His experience includes seismic evaluation and retrofit design for existing buildings, structural design for new construction, nonstructural bracing design and post-earthquake inspections.
The results of Dr. Yu’s research work, which includes studies on steel moment-resisting frame construction, have been published in approximately 20 technical papers and reports. He was awarded the ASCE Raymond C. Reese Research prize in 2001 to recognize his outstanding contribution to the application of structural engineering research.
Dr. Yu earned his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He also holds a Masters in Engineering and Bachelor of Science from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Dr. Yu is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Association for International Cooperation and Research in Steel-Concrete Composite.
About Degenkolb
Established in 1940, Degenkolb Engineers is one of the nation’s leading structural engineering firms in the design and seismic strengthening of buildings. Degenkolb offers comprehensive design, rehabilitation, and consulting services to architects, building owners, hospitals, educational institutions, corporations and government agencies. The firm has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Portland and Seattle.
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