San Francisco, CA (April 23, 2008) - The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) announced the winners of the SEAONC 2008 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards competition. This year SEAONC added a sustainability category, and two Degenkolb projects received an award of Excellence.

Providence Newberg Hospital, the nation’s first LEED Gold hospital, is honored in the Large Sustainability Category. Degenkolb was charged with developing a structural system that would help meet LEED certification criteria, maintain a better than life-safe seismic performance in the hospital, minimize vibration sensitivity, and be flexible enough to change programming in the future should the need arise. The seismic resilience will ensure that the community receives critical care in the time of a crisis, and also extends the life of the building after a natural disaster—reducing the resource demands on the environment and financial demands on the area after a major earthquake. It is expected that the sustainable design will result in 26% reduction in energy costs over a comparably sized conventional structure.

Project FROG, a modular classroom prototype, is honored in the Small Sustainability Category. Units are grounded in green building technology and are extremely efficient in how they are manufactured and how they operate, minimizing energy use and resources needed. These units are quick to deploy and can be easily assembled with a small crew and simple installation equipment.

Awards will be presented on the evening of Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at the City Club in San Francisco. Founded in 1930, SEAONC is committed to advancing the art, science and practice of structural engineering.

Project Frog Images: Project Frog, Inc.
Providence Newberg Images: David Davidson Photography

San Francisco, CA (April 23, 2008) - The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) announced the winners of the SEAONC 2008 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards competition. This year a monumental study that could result in significant cost savings and life-safety to our country’s citizens received an award of Merit.

FEMA commissioned a study to analyze how much, if any, blast and progressive-collapse resistance could be gained in older existing buildings if seismic rehabilitation measures are undertaken.This study was a ground-breaking, first step in determining whether a multi-hazard mitigation strategy could save lives and protect communities from economic and human devastation after a terrorist attack or earthquake. As part of this study, FEMA mandated that a seismic rehabilitation design be developed for the Alfred P. Murrah Building, the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing.

As part of the team, Degenkolb assessed whether a seismic retrofit can increase the blast resistance of a building, designed retrofit schemes without considering blast, reenacted the 1995 bombing, and reevaluated the conclusions of the FEMA 277 report. Ultimately, the team concluded that seismic strengthening would have prevented the progressive collapse of the building and limited the collapse of individual floors to only the first level.

Awards will be presented on the evening of Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at the City Club in San Francisco. Founded in 1930, SEAONC is committed to advancing the art, science and practice of structural engineering.

April 18, 2008 - San Francisco, California - The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) announced Jim Malley as the winner of the Best EJ Paper of 2007 competition. His paper “The 2005 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings” was published in the first quarter 2007 issue of the AISC Engineering Journal. This paper was selected from the list of papers published in that Journal during 2007. Readers had the opportunity to send in their preferences by completing a survey posted on the AISC web site early this year. The award was presented during the 2008 NASCC: The Steel Conference, held in Nashville, Tennessee, April 2-5, 2008.

Jim Malley is a renowned expert in steel construction. His portfolio includes structural design, seismic evaluation, and seismic strengthening of existing buildings. Jim will soon ascend to the presidency of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations in 2009 and serves as chair of the AISC’s International Seismic Steel Joint Action Group, accountable for sharing technical information and design developments on steel buildings subjected to earthquakes.

AISC, headquartered in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information.

The United States Geological Survey reports that California has more than a 99% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes.

The likelihood of a major quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%-and such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state.

The new study determined the probabilities that different parts of California will experience earthquake ruptures of various magnitudes. The new statewide probabilities are the result of a model that comprehensively combines information from seismology, earthquake geology, and geodesy (measuring precise locations on the Earth’s surface). For the first time, probabilities for California having a large earthquake in the next 30 years can be forecast statewide.

“This new, comprehensive forecast advances our understanding of earthquakes and pulls together existing research with new techniques and data,” explained USGS geophysicist and lead scientist Ned Field. “Planners, decision makers and California residents can use this information to improve public safety and mitigate damage before the next destructive earthquake occurs.”

The new information is being provided to decision makers who establish local building codes, earthquake insurance rates, and emergency planning and will assist in more accurate planning for inevitable future large earthquakes.

The official earthquake forecasts, known as the “Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF),” were developed by a multidisciplinary group of scientists and engineers, known as the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities. Building on previous studies, the Working Group updated and developed the first-ever statewide, comprehensive model of California.

The organizations sponsoring the Working Group include the U.S. Geological Survey, the California Geological Survey and the Southern California Earthquake Center. An independent scientific review panel, as well as the California and National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Councils, have evaluated the new UCERF study.

The consensus of the scientific community on forecasting California earthquakes allows for meaningful comparisons of earthquake probabilities in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as comparisons among several large faults.

The probability of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake over the next 30 years striking the greater Los Angeles area is 67%, and in the San Francisco Bay Area it is 63%, similar to previous Bay Area estimates. For the entire California region, the fault with the highest probability of generating at least one magnitude 6.7 quake or larger is the southern San Andreas (59% in the next 30 years).

For northern California, the most likely source of such earthquakes is the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault (31% in the next 30 years). Such quakes can be deadly, as shown by the 1989 magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta and the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquakes.

Earthquake probabilities for many parts of the state are similar to those in previous studies, but the new probabilities calculated for the Elsinore and San Jacinto Faults in southern California are about half those previously determined. For the far northwestern part of the State, a major source of earthquakes is the offshore 750-mile-long Cascadia Subduction Zone, the southern part of which extends about 150 miles into California. For the next 30 years there is a 10% probability of a magnitude 8 to 9 quake somewhere along that zone. Such quakes occur about once every 500 years on average.

The new model does not estimate the likelihood of shaking (seismic hazard) that would be caused by quakes. Even areas in the state with a low probability of fault rupture could experience shaking and damage from distant, powerful quakes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is incorporating the UCERF into its official estimate of California’s seismic hazard, which in turn will be used to update building codes. Other subsequent studies will add information on the vulnerability of manmade structures to estimate expected losses, which is called “seismic risk.” In these ways, the UCERF will help to increase public safety and community resilience to earthquake hazards.

The results of the UCERF study serve as a reminder that all Californians live in earthquake country and should be prepared. Although earthquakes cannot be prevented, the damage they do can be greatly reduced through prudent planning and preparedness. The ongoing work of the Southern California Earthquake Center, USGS, California Geological Survey, and other scientists in evaluating earthquake probabilities is part of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program’s efforts to safeguard lives and property from the future quakes that are certain to strike in California and elsewhere in the United States.

The full UCERF report, and a summary fact sheet are available online.

San Francisco, CA (April 7, 2008) – Chris Poland, Chairman and CEO of Degenkolb Engineers has been appointed to the San Francisco Urban Planning and Research Association (SPUR) board of directors. As part of his continued commitment to earthquake safety worldwide, he currently chairs SPUR’s Hazard Mitigation Taskforce.

Under his leadership since 1985, Degenkolb has grown 400% through deliberate, strategic planning and consistent operations. As an internationally recognized authority on earthquake engineering, he routinely participates in policy-changing research projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Geological Service, the National Institute of Standards/Technology (NIST), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Research Council of the National Academy of Engineering. He is currently serving as chair of NEHRP’s newly formed Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACHER).

About SPUR
The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) is San Francisco’s preeminent public-policy think tank. Through research, analysis, public education, and advocacy, SPUR promotes good planning and good government.

For the second year in a row, I am proud to serve as the captain of a twelve-member relay team of runners which will make the journey from Calistoga to Santa Cruz on foot during the last weekend in April. The team, Faster by the Dozen, will forfeit a night of sleep and two days of showers in favor of a weekend of living out of vans and running continuously through the night. With three relay legs each, we will run through 36 cities, and over the Golden Gate Bridge at midnight, covering a total distance of 199 miles. Our team consists of friends and colleagues from within our industry and outside, with teammates representing companies such as SGH, Whiting-Turner and Geomatrix. What I love about The Relay is that it turns distance running, which can be a very individual sport, into a group effort; in addition to dedicated training, it requires excellent communication, teamwork, planning and a lot of enthusiasm just to make it to the finish line.

While our team members cover the costs of our registration, support vans, and the equipment and supplies that we carry with us, we also participate in fundraising to support Organs-R-Us. Degenkolb’s donation will help raise awareness about organ donation and support a group that saves lives every day. This year’s race is dedicated to Shawn Stockwell, a 10-year old boy who lives here in the Bay Area and is awaiting a heart transplant. Last year, we raised about $2500 and made the list of top ten teams in fundraising out of a field of about 250. We hope to beat that this year.

If you’d like more information about the race, or ORU, please visit the following websites:

http://www.therelay.com/

http://www.therelay.com/organs/mission.html

Bay Localize, a Non-Profit, Receives the Prize Money

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 26, 2008) - Degenkolb Engineers wrote a check today for $5,000 to Bay Localize, a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit designated by the winner of the 2008 “Sustainability Challenge,” an environmentally friendly design competition.

This year’s award went to a self-employed structural engineer Kate Stillwell for designing a handbag and hat made from recycled plastic bags. She made both items by fusing together 16 plastic bags to create a sheet of stiffer plastic, then molding the fused bags into useful shapes that she finished with a zipper and handle. Stillwell’s design provides a second use for plastic bags, a product often criticized by environmental groups.

Degenkolb’s competition awards the prize money to a non-profit of the winner’s choosing. “We challenged people to reuse plastic bags creatively and reduce the demand for new ones. Among the entries we received, we were most impressed by Stillwell’s thoughtful and creative design,” said Degenkolb Engineers CEO Chris Poland.

Stillwell chose to direct the prize to Bay Localize, an Oakland-based non-profit dedicated to ecological sustainability, after her engineering firm collaborated with the organization on a sustainability study. She was inspired by Bay Localize’s purpose. “I think their work has the potential to make a big impact,” she said. “In my own life, I try to do little things to make a difference, but the most important decision I’ve made is buying a house within walking distance to everything I do.”

Last year, Degenkolb Engineers established a sustainability committee within its organization to help direct “green” operations within its practice and to develop sustainable projects for its clients. “We are committed to being a valuable asset to the communities where we work, and to the people that we serve,” said Poland.

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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.

Bay Localize is an Oakland-based nonprofit dedicated to regional self-reliance, ecological sustainability and social justice. The organization seeks to increase the quality of life in the Bay Area while decreasing fossil fuel use. They advocate local economies, local clean energy, and livable, walkable communities.

Read full article here.

Leap… imagination in learning, best known for the annual Sandcastle Classic at Ocean Beach each Fall, is now proudly offering a second chance to support its artist-in-residency programs. The Leap Spring Gala will be held Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at the Bently Reserve in downtown San Francisco, featuring live art installations, student performances, premiere screening of the new Sandcastle Classic documentary, and an awards program honoring Mayor Gavin Newsom, Architect Art Gensler, and local public Artist Brian Goggin. Live music, a sit-down dinner, and a full-service bar round out the event offerings.

Degenkolb Engineers has been a strong supporter of Leap through the Sandcastle Classic and is proud to have Andrew Scott, Chair of the Leap Board of Directors and an Associate Principal at Degenkolb as co-emcee for the evening. Andrew is also featured throughout the documentary film, providing insight and interviews that illustrate Leap’s impacts in the community. The film will feature the SmithGroup/Herrero-Boldt/Degenkolb Sandcastle team from 2007, chronicling the team from the planning stages through the final horn and illustrating the excitement, creativity, and teamwork fostered by the event. Andrew also leads us through an interwoven montage of Leap’s artists-in-residency programs, clearly illustrating the direct benefits of supporting Leap’s programs.

Degenkolb Engineers is also a strong supporter of Honoree Brian Goggin, who is a prolific public artist, with well known pieces such as ‘Defenestration’ at 6th and Howard, ‘Samson’ at the Sacramento Airport, ‘Convertibles’ at the entrance to Menlo Park, and a high profile new work at the heart of North Beach known as ‘Language of the Birds’. Each of these pieces represents a significant commitment to public art and required considerable structural engineering effort in order to accomplish. Brian worked closely with Degenkolb Engineers on all of these projects to provide unique and effective solutions to realize his visions.

The 2008 Gala will be a unique and exciting evening, providing a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and support the Leap community. For more information, visit www.leap4kids.org

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 14, 2008)

In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, Degenkolb hosted an all-day training session for 35 of our engineers. In preparation for becoming LEED accredited, engineers from all of our offices traveled to San Francisco for the LEED for New Construction Technical Review Workshop taught by Heather Marquard of USGBC.

Designer Tim Nelson says, “Not only do I have a better grasp on the credits that structural engineers can directly influence, but I now see how understanding all LEED credits can come in handy when having discussions with architects, contractors, and other members of the project team.

The training was great starting point for preparing to take the LEED AP exam. I hope to do just that in the coming months.”