Newsletter of the
Structural Engineers Association of Washington
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State Leadership
President
Mike Visser (SE)
Vice President
Daniel Sumerfield (SC)
Treasurer
Matt Leslie (SC)
Secretary
Shalini Prochazka (SE)
Past President
Jim Farley (SW)
Trustees
Mike Visser (SE)
Shalini Prochazka (SE)
Tyler Winkley (SE)
Matt Leslie (SC)
Brian Parsons (SP)
Dan Tappel (SW)
In this Issue:
- March Meeting Preview:"Initial Investigation into the Partial Collapse of the Champlain Towers South(CTS) Building in Surfside Florida”
- Spokane Chapter Resumes Meetings in New Venue,Seeks Officers
- Wind Study Completed; Reports, Recommendations are Forthcoming
- Engineer's Notes from Afield: Musings after the NCSEA Conference
- Engineer's Notes from Afield: a YMG President Report on the NCSEA Summit
- Calendar
- Member Notices
- Employment Postings
- Message from the Chair
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Seattle Chapter's March Virtual Meeting!
"Initial Investigation into the Partial Collapse of the Champlain Towers South (CTS) Building in Surfside Florida"
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Date: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM PST
Location: GoTo Webinar
Cost:
SEAW Members and Students - FREE
Non- Members - $15 per person
PDH: 1 Hour PDH certificates will be emailed to attendees after the webinar.
Register to Attend:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Presentation:
On June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside Florida collapsed without warning. The initial collapse occurred outside of the building tower, in the pool deck region. Seven minutes later, the central portion of the building collapsed; the eastern portion of the building collapsed quickly after that. The western section of the building remained standing. Professor Lehman worked with an investigative journalist team at the Miami Herald led by Sarah Blaskey to investigate the partial collapse using tools and technologies she had developed through her research on seismic evaluation of existing buildings and the design of new concrete connections. The primary objective of the investigation is to understand how initial damage in a pool deck could lead to the partial collapse of this flat-plate cast-in-place reinforced concrete structure with an eye towards improving evaluation methods for these structures. This talk will address the building collapse using: (1) timeline of the collapse as reported by witnesses, (2) building damage photographs and videos, (3) building plans and repair drawings and permits, and (4) advanced nonlinear finite element analyses of the Level 1 slab to investigate possible initiation points and progression of damage.
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Presenter: Dawn Lehman
Dawn Lehman is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. She received her BS from Tufts University in 1989 and her Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in 1998. She worked as a structural engineer in Boston MA between these degrees. She has been a faculty member at the University of Washington since 1999. Her research expertise lies in seismic engineering of structural systems. She has conducted research on a range of systems including reinforced concrete walls and frames, steel braced frames, as well as concrete-filled-tube, precast and reinforced-concrete bridge systems. Her research results have been implemented in codes, design manuals, and provisional structural engineering recommendations, including AASHTO, AISC, WSDOT BDM, Caltrans SDM, and ASCE 41. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed research articles. She led the technical investigation of the CTS collapse as a consultant to the Miami Herald.
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Spokane Chapter Resumes Meetings in New Venue, Seeks Officers |
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The Spokane Chapter will resume its monthly meetings at the historic“Bissinger Room” at Bernardo Wills Architects in Spokane |
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Due to COVID-19, the Spokane Chapter has been meeting virtually since the start of the pandemic. It has been challenging, but we have worked through it and still managed to have a lot of great virtual guest speakers with good member attendance.
Now that case numbers are dropping and restrictions are being lifted, we are actively working on transitioning back to in-person meetings beginning in March. We’ve tried making this transition a few times in the past, but the pandemic kept throwing curve balls which prevented us from doing so. We are all very hopeful that isn’t the case this time and are looking forward to getting back to our normal routine.
Historically, our chapter has met at the Ruby River Hotel. However, for our first meeting back in-person, we are planning to meet at a new-to-us venue called the “Bissinger Room” at Bernardo Wills Architects office in Downtown Spokane. This venue is in a renovated historic building and has most of the original structure preserved and exposed. We are excited to try it out and hope that the exposed structure isn’t too much of a distraction for all the structural engineers in attendance.
Since it’s been awhile since we met in person, we are planning on putting a larger emphasis on socializing and networking to make up for lost time. We plan on transitioning back to our typical meeting format after the March meeting. It’s going to be great seeing everyone again and I’m looking forward to it! Our next meeting will be March 18 at 3-4:30PM.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about our plans moving forward, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear your feedback. Email Chapter President Brian Parsons at Brian.Parsons@avistacorp.com.
The Spokane Chapter is currently seeking a new Vice President (SE required) and Director (PE required) that would fill the empty positions for the Fall ’22-Spring ’23 SEAW season. It’s a great opportunity for anyone that would like to get more involved with SEAW. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the SEAW Spokane Board and would highly recommend it. If you are interested, or know of someone that may be, please reach out for additional details.
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Wind Study Completed; Reports, Recommendations are Forthcoming |
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The SEAW Wind Engineering Committee (WEC) Report, presents the following report:
Washington/Oregon Special Wind Regions (SWR) Study – CPP has completed the Columbia River Special Wind Region Study. In the near future the Washington Pacific Coast SWR will follow, then the North Olympic Peninsula SWR. These reports will quantify specific wind speeds and boundaries in Washington State for the crosshatched Special Wind Regions on the ASCE 7 Chapter 26 wind maps.
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The results of CPP’s studies will be first reviewed by the SEAW WEC, then approved by the SEAW State Board. SEAW’s final recommendations will then be submitted for adoption by the Washington State Building Code Council, and eventually for inclusion in ASCE 7 and the IBC.
WDM Design Example 3A – The final draft of the revision to Design Example 3A of the SEAOC Wind Design Manual has been completed and forwarded to SEAOC for subsequent inclusion in the next revision of the SEAOC Wind Design Manual.
Participation - All SEAW members, whatever their experience, are encouraged to participate at in WEC meetings. Please contact the WEC chair, Scott Douglas sdouglasscott@gmail.com, to join the SEAW WEC and receive additional information and announcements on Committee activities and actions.
Next Meeting - Thursday April 28 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Meeting will be virtual via the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 881 0110 8023
Passcode: 523148
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Engineer's Notes from Afield: Musings after the NCSEA Summit |
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I just returned home after a week in New York City attending the NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit.
Besides hanging out with the Statue of Liberty, I had time to attend Code Advisory Committee Meetings and several exceptional presentations. A few of my thoughts are outlined below:
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SEAW was well represented and recognized at the conference. Eleven SEAW members attended, with SEAW firms winning the following NCSEA Excellence in Structural Engineering awards:
- Rainier Square (MKA), the first major SpeedCore project
- International Arrivals Facility Pedestrian Bridge (KPFF), a 780-foot pedestrian walkway over an active taxiway at Sea-Tac Airport.
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Scott Douglas met a friendly Statue of Liberty during his time in New York City for the NCSEA Summit. |
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I attended a terrific presentation on the new ASCE 7-22 Snow Load Chapter by Dr. Michael O’Rourke, P.E., S.E. Many members might have noticed the ASCE Hazard Tool for 7-22 specifies ground snow loads significantly higher than ASCE 7-16 snow loads. ASCE 7-22 ground snow loads are now ultimate snow loads based on additional data and ASCE Table 1.3-1 Target Reliability Factors.
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Tami Evans gave a very insightful presentation on a productive workplace, including:
- A happy workplace is imperative to success
- Connection creates culture
- Culture creates positive employee engagement and profit
- The fastest way to connect with anyone is with levity
- Passion and personality upstage perfection
- Say No to make room for Yes
- If someone else is carrying negative baggage, don’t pick it up
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I attended two presentations on 9/11 and the WTC by Joseph Englot, P.E. He was the Chief Engineer of the PANYNJ working in Tower 1 at the time of the 9/11 attack and gave a fascinating presentation on the WTC, its history, construction, the 1993 bombing damage and 9/11 attack, emergency response, and forensic conclusions.
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An enlightening presentation on the Florida Pedestrian Bridge discussed the forensic investigation, including the cause of failure and lessons learned.
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The discussion on the Surfside Condominiums Collapse taught that in many cases, the media will incorrectly report what an engineer may tell them, and many things an engineer says may be taken out of context. The general public will assume the media’s report is correct. At the presentation, a reporter from Engineer News Record encouraged NCSEA members to contact ENR directly for future newsworthy events.
I always return from these conferences prouder of our profession and in particular the achievements of our SEAW. I encourage others wishing to attend to serve on an SEAW Committee or Board. This year, as in years’ past, a member of the State Board and the YMG Board attended the conference, with expenses paid, in appreciation of their volunteer SEAW efforts.
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Engineer's Notes from Afield: a YMG President Report on the NCSEA Summit |
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This last month, as the president of our SEAW YMG, I attended the NCSEA Summit in New York City at Hilton Midtown Hotel, held from February 14-17, 2022. It was a nourishing experience in the following ways:
Firstly, there was so much informational content available from the variety of seminars. It captured everything from case studies (like the Millennium Tower), to best practices in detailing, to tips and tricks in Revit and new upcoming design systems. From morning until evening, there were seminars and my mind felt like a sponge, soaking in information from everywhere. The knowledge out there that experienced engineers were sharing was useful for any engineer to learn.
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Juzer Millwala attended the NCSEA Summit in New York in February. |
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Secondly, the exhibition halls had a variety of vendors and organizations to interact with. This was a wonderful opportunity to not only learn about new products, but also to secure presenters for future YMG Happy Hours and technical seminars. I look forward to this terrific opportunity to share this knowledge available at the NCSEA Summit with other YMG engineers.
Lastly, the most important thing I took from the conference was the ability to network with other engineers. I met engineers from Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Tennessee, and many other states. These were people from diverse backgrounds who work in various firms and have had a variety of experiences. While socializing after the summit was a fantastic way to connect and learn. Taking tips from other YMGs and learning about other work cultures was an enriching experience, and I made plans to connect with many of the people I met later on this year.
I hope that anyone who attends future NCSEA Summit events, especially anyone who goes as a YMG representative, truly makes the most out of it. It is a great opportunity for any engineer and I look forward to learning about their experience in the future.
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SEFW Annual Report Coming in March |
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By Angela Gottula Twining |
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SEFW is hard at work putting the finishing touches on its 2021 Annual Report, which will be available on its website in early March. Previous annual reports can be found here: https://sefw.org/about.html
The purpose of an annual report is to provide public disclosure of an organization’s operating and financial activities over the last year, in an effort to promote trust and transparency. As a 501c3 charitable organization, SEFW publishes an annual report to share news on activities that fulfill the mission, showcase appropriate financial stewardship, and thank donors for their support. We encourage SEAW members and other supporters to review our current and past reports to see first-hand our commitment to the SEFW mission and our efforts to conscientiously manage donated funds.
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The SEFW Fall Forum is just one effort that will be highlighted in the 2021 Annual Report, which will be published at www.sefw.org in early March. |
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Highlights for 2021 which will be featured:
- The success of the hybrid Fall Forum, an educational effort that highlighted the structural engineering of Washington sports venues to 250+ individuals
- Efforts in local outreach to K-12 students, such as partnering with ASCE for its Popsicle Stick Bridge competition
- Support of the SEAW Scholarship Program
- A new donation to the ACE Mentor Program, supporting a high school student pursuing architectural engineering
- Full funding of the SEAW Special Wind Regions study
- Changes to the Board of Directors
- The first SEFW bequest donation
- A summary of income and expenditures
Please check shortly for these and other updates. Thank you for your support in 2021 and every year since our incorporation in 2010. This work is important and constant, and we are committed to advancing the profession of structural engineering through scholarships, education, research, and outreach.
Do you have ideas for efforts SEFW can support, or comments on our efforts in 2021? We’d like to hear from you! Please email us at admin@sefw.org. |
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- March 8 – Earthquake Engineering Committee Meeting, 12:15 PM
- March 11 – Timberlab, Inc., Site Visit, 1 PM
- March 18 - Spokane Chapter Meeting @ Bissinger Room, 3-4:30 PM
- March 21 to March 24 – 2022 WABO Annual Education Institute
- March 22 – SEAW Sustainability Committee
- March 22 – Seattle Chapter Virtual Meeting, "Initial Investigation into the Partial Collapse of the Champlain Towers South (CTS) Building in Surfside Florida"
- March 23 – March YMG Social @ Flatstick Pub, Seattle, 5 PM
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In accordance with SEAW bylaws, membership applications are vetted by the executive director, granted probationary status by the chapter board, and posted for membership comment. Membership is considered accepted 30 days after posting if current year dues are paid and no member objections have been received. Read More
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New Members:
- Stephan Ahn
- Jacilyn Hayden
- Ryan Anderson
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Are you currently seeking employment as a structural engineer, senior manager, or a senior engineer technician? Check out our job board for current employment opportunities. Learn More
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MC Squared Inc. is a Structural Engineering design firm located in Olympia, Washington. We service the Pacific Northwest as well as 20 other US states. We provide structural engineering for projects ranging from small residential projects to the full structural design of multi-story buildings. Typical projects include structural design for additions and modifications to existing buildings, glass store fronts, seismic upgrades for existing buildings, retaining walls, soil retention systems, and marina/port facilities.
We are currently in search of candidates who have experience in structural engineering design. We do not require a PE or SE license, but we are interested in candidates who do. If you are licensed outside of Washington State, you should be able to become licensed in Washington State within 6 months.
MC Squared offers all employees paid vacation and sick leave, retirement plan with company matching, and health and dental insurance for employees and immediate family.
Qualified candidates should have:
- Bachelor of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering
- A EIT or PE or SE license in Washington State
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Risa 3D, Adapt, Enercalc, RetainPro, Simpson CFS Designer, Forte, RedSpec, and Allpile
To apply, please send resume with cover letter to MC Squared Inc., Attn: Jim Farley, via email at office@mc2-inc.com .
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We need your help!
Our firm is growing and have an immediate need for a structural engineer to help our small dynamic team solve a wide range of challenging problems. Sound interesting? Then AJP Engineering is looking for you!
AJP consults on a wide range of projects: high-end residential, multi-family, public housing, commercial/industrial, art installations, and expert witness. Visits to the field are typically 10% of your time, so you'll be able to get outside and see your work coming to life.
We offer a casual work environment (great views from the 19th floor!) with a competitive compensation package; 1.5x overtime pay, sick time, holidays, vacation time, flexible hours, health insurance, and IRA with matching contributions.
An ideal candidate has:
- Interested in project management.
- Comfortable going out onto the job site.
- Bachelor of Science required, MSCE in Structural Engineering preferred.
- Experience or coursework designing wood-framing, steel, and concrete.
- Familiar IBC, ASCE7, NDS, AISC, ACI, and ASCE
- Possesses strong written and verbal skills as well as AutoCAD drafting.
- Passed EIT and moving towards PE registration.
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Holmes is a structural and fire engineering firm, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. We are part of the New Zealand based Holmes Group, with offices around the Pacific Rim. Compelled by the possibilities, we are relentlessly pursuing Why – to create what is Best.
We are seeking Engineers for our San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle offices. Candidates must be fast learners, ambitious, have the ability to handle increased responsibilities, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be able to interact effectively with clients, project teams, and colleagues. We are looking for all levels of Engineers.
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As an industry leading manufacturer of engineered wood products, the Weyerhaeuser Product Engineering, Codes and Standards team plays a critical role in ensuring code compliance, developing product design specifications and supporting many types of structural applications of Weyerhaeuser engineered wood products. We're looking for associates who can contribute, grow, think, and create.
We currently have opportunities for an EIT and PE at our Federal Way, WA location.
You will work with a diverse team of engineers on a range of product engineering issues that will include resolving technical field issues, obtaining/maintaining code evaluation reports, supporting industry activities, and developing product application literature and design software specifications. Other engineering responsibilities will include supporting product development through testing, qualification and manufacturing activities.
Interested in joining us? Please apply at:
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Structural Staff Engineer / Project Engineer
What’s missing from Swenson Say Fagét? You! SSF has immediate openings in our Seattle and Tacoma offices for talented Structural Engineers. All experience levels are encouraged to apply. Responsibilities include being smart, having common sense, playing well with others, and tackling challenges like a dog with a bone.
We approach project design with open minds and technical chops to find solutions to some real head-scratchers. Our loyal clients provide staff at all levels opportunities to directly collaborate with architects, owners, contractors, developers, artists, and public and private entities on projects of all types and sizes. Our office culture is informal. Besides being flexible, hardworking, and technically savvy, did we mention we’re also really nice people and like to have a ton of fun?
We’ve been in business for 27 years and remain committed to creating a place where people want to spend their time and energy. Pay is dependent on experience and benefits are great. Check us out at www.ssfengineers.com. If you like what you see, we’d love to hear from you.
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By Darrell Staaleson, P.E., S.E.
Please consider joining the Public Information Committee in 2022 and volunteering for any of the associated efforts:
- Equilibrium
- Hall of Fame
- SEAW Brand Ambassador to NCSEA
- #SEEAboveAndBeyond social media campaign
We are accomplishing much good work! Contact: Darrell Staaleson at dstaal@staaleng.com or 253.520.0388.
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Structural Engineers Association of Washington
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