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State Leadership

President

Tyler Winkley (SE)

Vice President

Heather Kline (SP)

Treasurer

Owen Kohashi (SE)

Secretary

Jessica Jenness (SE)

Past President

Daniel Sumerfield (SE)

Trustees

Owen Kohashi (SE)

Tyler Winkley (SE)

Jessica Jenness (SE)

Daniel Sumerfield (SC)

Matt Leslie (SC)

Jared Plank (SW)

Heather Kline (SP)

Matt Hoit (SP)

Winter 2023-24 Issue



1. Seattle Chapter Dinner Meeting
2. Southwest Chapter Dinner Meeting
3. Chapter Check-In
4. Recap of "Keeping the Lights On" Seattle Dinner Meeting
5. SEFW Fall Forum Spotlights Evolution of Convention Centers, SCC Summit Expansion
6. NCSEA Annual Summit Reports
7. Save the Date! 2024 SEA Northwest Conference
8. SEAW Scholarship Updates and a Call to Action
9. Remembering the Legacy of Charles "Cap" Pearson
10. December 31 Deadline for ATC 60 Commentary
11. Calendar
12. Membership Postings
13. Job Opportunities

Seattle Chapter Dinner Meeting

Date: Wednesday, January 25th, 2024

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Location: Father LeRoux, S.J. Conference Center

Seattle University

901 12th Ave

Seattle, WA 98122

Registration Fees:

Members, Non-Members, & Guests - $20

Students - Free

Table Sponsorship - $300

• Fee may be split with another company

Agenda

5:30 - 6:30 pm Registration/Networking

6:30 - 7:30 pm Dinner 

7:15 - 7:30 pm Welcome/Announcements

7:30 - 8:30 pm Student Showcase

Annual Student/Young Member Group Sponsored Meeting

Seattle Chapter Young Member Forum featuring a Firms Showcase and Student Project Showcase. The meeting will take place at Seattle University's Father LeRoux SJ Conference Center.



Our meeting will kick off with the popular Firms Showcase networking event from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The showcase is an opportunity to introduce attendees to a variety of structural design firms in the Seattle area, their work on various types of projects, and answer questions from students on what it's like to work for a Seattle area structural design firm.

Student Project Showcase

After dinner, the evening’s main program will feature presentations from students at Seattle University and the University of Washington. This will be an exciting opportunity to learn about the student projects and academic research going on in our professional community.

Southwest Chapter Dinner Meeting

Date: Thursday, January 11th, 2024

Time: 5:00 - 7:30 PM

Location: La Quinta

1425 East 27th St, Tacoma WA

Registration Fees:

• CSI and SEAW Members - $35
• Non-member - $40
• Students or Retired - $20

Guests are welcome

Agenda

5:00 - 5:45 pm Social / Gathering Time

6:00 - 6:30 pm Dinner 

6:30 - 7:30 pm Dinner Program Presentation

• Goals/Aspirations for the learning environment: dual purposed design, inspired learning, community connectedness, more;
• How the need to keep school operations functional, site constraints, budget parameters and high stakeholder involvement influenced the project;
• How collaboration with the GC/CM throughout design and construction protected the fundamental ideas;
• How technology was used to design, visualize, and communicate - from ideation through close-out
• Applied for 1 AIA LU HSW credit

Chapter Check-In

SPOKANE, by Heather Kline: 

We have closed our 2023 year with some interesting and diverse set of lunch meetings, from licensure discussions, metal deck, and structural resiliency. We are looking forward to continuing the momentum in 2024 with another Project Showcase and some great technical presentations lined up. The chapter has also begun planning for the 2025 NW Conference. If you have any suggestions or ideas on projects or activities to include in the Project Showcase or NW Conference, chat with one of our friendly board members. Looking forward to rejoining together in January! 

SOUTHWEST, by Jared Plank:  

The Southwest Chapter is looking forward to 2024! We had a great 2023 and know that the new year will be even better! In 2023, we had a great combined meeting with the Seattle chapter and also a well- attended watch party for the SEFW Forum. We are planning some fantastic meetings, presentations, and site visits for 2024. We hope our members and guests will make it a priority to attend our events this new year. See below for some brief updates on what’s going on and see you ALL at our next event!!:  

Next Event: Combined meeting with CSI on Jan 11th – Bryant Montessori School.

More info to come soon! 

Open Board Positions: We have a handful of openings for next year on the board. Please let me know if you are interested in serving on the board or helping with activities.  

Lastly, mark your calendars for these future events:  

• Chapter Meeting – Feb 21st – Manufacturer Tour and presentation/Combined event with ASCE local chapter 

• Combined AIA SWW/CSI Event – April 18th  

• End of Year Social Event – June TBD 

We look forward to seeing you all soon! We know you are all busy, but taking some time out for yourself and seeing new and old friends will be worth it! 

Rendering of the Bryant Montessori School by TCF Architecture; come tour the project at our combined meeting with CSI in January. Rendering courtesy Tacoma Public Schools.

Recap of "Keeping the Lights On" Seattle Dinner Meeting

By Anand Mourougassamy, YMG  

The Seattle SEAW Chapter’s December dinner meeting was held at the Elysian Fields in Pioneer Square. Presenters for the event, “Transmission Towers – Keeping the Lights On” included:  

• Owen Kohashi, P.E., S.E., Structural Engineering Supervisor at Seattle City Light 
• Tim Nordstrom, P.E., S.E., Senior Structural Engineer at Tacoma Power 
• Darrell Staaleson, P.E., S.E., Principal at Staaleson Engineering 

The presentation started off with a quick introduction to transmission towers and provided an overview of Seattle City Light and Tacoma Power's experiences with transmission tower projects. The presentation covered Tacoma Power's emergency replacement of a damaged steel lattice tower, and Seattle City Light's relocation of a transmission tower in response to soil erosion and risk of flooding.  

Owen started the presentation by defining the purpose of transmission towers in carrying power long distances and discussed different types of transmission towers used and some of the design considerations. Steel lattice towers were commonly built from the 1930s to 1960s but are not used often now due to higher labor costs. Many of these original towers are still in use and are part of the electric grid system that keeps our city’s lights on. Some of these towers lack original drawings and manufacturer information which are important for maintenance and repairs.  

Tim and Darrell then discussed the emergency replacement of a damaged steel lattice tower part of the Tacoma Power network. A fallen cottonwood tree was the main suspect causing damage to the steel tower. When Tim and Darrell arrived at the site, they looked at a leaning tower actively carrying power with one of its braces completely buckled out. The response involved assembling a team, inspecting the damage, developing a work plan, coordinating with crane operators, removing the damaged tower, and installing new wood poles. Lessons learned included having a clear chain of command, following the agreed-upon work plan, and ensuring structural integrity before removing the damaged tower. 

For the last part of the presentation, Owen discussed the relocation of two transmission towers in the Seattle City Light network to avoid a migrating river that was threatening the tower bases. Multiple solution concepts were developed and considered. Relocation of the existing towers triumphed over other solutions driven by cost and schedule. The biggest available crane on the West Coast was used in the project to relocate the existing towers to new foundations approximately 400 feet away. Project challenges included coordinating with line crews and crane operators, scheduling power outages with other utilities, and site remediation. Key takeaways for success were collaboration, communication, meeting schedule and budget, and ensuring safety throughout the project. 

Overall, the presentation was a great way to understand transmission towers and appreciate the engineering behind a critical part of a network that is so essential for the city to keep its lights on! 

Darrell Staalenson (L) and Tim Nordstrom present at the Seattle Chapter Dinner Meeting at Elysian Field.

Photo by Anand Mourougassamy. 

By Connor Lester, YMG

Derek Beaman from MKA introduces structural engineering aspects from multiple convention centers during the SEFW Fall Forum in November. Jeff Blosser and Mark Reddington (R) also speak. Photo courtesy SEFW.  

For the last 44 years, LMN Architects has taken an interdisciplinary approach to design all types of gathering spaces from arts and culture, urban mixed-use, higher education, and urban infrastructure. Mark believes the modern convention center is “combination of all of these ideas.” A recent example from LMN’s portfolio includes the Cleveland Huntington Convention Center which was designed as a new heart to downtown Cleveland in a reinterpretation of the 20th century concept that was never fully realized. Part of this project included a large gathering space above the underground parking lot. As Mark pulled up a picture of thousands of Clevelanders packing the space following the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Championship win, Derek quipped “luckily we designed that space for 100psf [pound per square feet] live load.” 

The presentation continued with a discussion of the intricacies of convention center design where Derek put the scale of these projects into focus. The Las Vegas Convention Center, for example, has over 600,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. An audible gasp from the crowd could be heard as Derek demonstrated the massiveness of this space by overlaying the entirety of Lumen Field within the convention center. Derek also gave a crash course on convention centers by discussing the various spaces typically included. It was shared: 

• Perfunctory spaces near the exterior of the building to allow people to gather comfortably are designed with 100psf live load and a minimum of 30 feet wide. 
• Exhibit halls used for trade shows and conventions, with 90-foot column spacings and 30-foot clear heights and driven by the standard 10-foot by 10 foot booth area, are robustly designed to support heavy 300psf live loads and even allow for drive in trucks. 
• Meeting rooms with 16-foot clear spans, 30 foot by 60 foot open spaces and 125psf live loads designed to be expandable with operable partitions.  
• Ballrooms are constructed to support dining and dancing in column free, 50- to 60,000-square-foot spaces full of high-end finishes; these are typically controlled by vibration design over the 150psf live load. 
• Flex halls are built as a mash-up of exhibit halls and ballrooms. 
• Loading docks with 16-foot-tall column layouts are defined by the need for truck movement and a 250psf live load. 
• Signature spaces are designed to highlight unique aspects of the environments in which they are built. 

In the past, convention centers were designed to be a “box with docks,” typically large horizontal buildings with little focus on the integration of these spaces into their surrounding environments. Today’s convention centers are designed to vertically integrate these typical spaces into “stacked programs.” 

To highlight how the Seattle Convention Center Summit was designed to become a center point for the Seattle’s urban core, Mark discussed the use of space and perspective to tie in each of the intersecting neighborhoods. From the N/S elevation, the design team looked to transition from the large urban buildings of Seattle’s downtown retail core to the pedestrian scale of Capitol Hill, by incorporating small retail spaces along Pine Street. As one travels along this street up the 50-foot rise in elevation, “you get to see two scales,” Mark says. In the E/W elevation the goal was to connect two major greenspaces in Seattle from Freeway Park to Denny Park. 

Derek continued the conversation into the unique aspects of the structure that made Summit, a “Stacked Program on Steroids,” such a challenging project to design and build. The first major hurdle was designing a stacked program where large column-free spaces needed to support floor after floor above. The first-floor exhibit hall, with its 60-foot column spacing, required 46-foot-deep trusses to hold three levels of parking above. The third-floor flex hall, in turn, needed 62-foot-deep trusses to support the two floors of meeting space. While the upper story Ballroom needed a measly 20-foot truss to do the job of supporting the roof. Uniquely, users who park and attend meetings at Summit find themselves inside these massive trusses. 

The next major hurdle came from the push to provide that pedestrian path along Pine Street. The East corner of Summit extends over the southbound lane of I-5. To the design team’s utter dismay, WSDOT would not let them drop new columns down into existing lanes of traffic. To support this end of the building a “Magic” hanger column (M-Truss) was devised to tie the building into the existing sidewalk. Mark asked, “We thought this was a really good idea, what did you think Derek?” This hanger column required a 48-foot-deep truss for a 45-foot cantilever and only provided a 40-foot back span. The design team at LMN then had another “really good idea” to open egress along Pine Street. And what did Derek think? He loved the opportunity to put a cantilever on a cantilever. This time a 60-foot-deep truss was designed to support the entirety of the SW façade. 

Mark gave a further look into how these decisions provide Summit with a unique experience and why this convention center truly feels like a Seattle icon. To give credit to all the great local artists, artwork from women and minority/marginalized artists are presented along the street fronts on all sides of the building. As a shout out to the timber industry, 3,900 planks of reclaimed log booms were used as the suspended ceiling in the ballroom. Each floor is dedicated to a unique aspect of our local history from a floor dedicated to music and another to the airline industry that gives the name “Jet City.”  

And for local Seattleites, like myself, the open egress along Pine Street includes a 5-story “Hill Climb” that draws users into the space. It wouldn’t be truly Seattle if I didn’t have to climb at least one hill. 

Jeff closed out the night with a discussion of the reason for the $2 billion expansion project and why building at a second location was the right choice. Over the last decade, more business was being turned away than brought in with the one location. Now with two separate venues, multiple events can be held in tandem and dramatically improve the number of events that can be held in a single year. The economics of convention centers is an easy one as the money coming in typically comes from hotel taxes and increased consumer spending from money outside of Seattle, which means more money we get to use to provide better public goods and services. As a bonus to our city’s dedication to environmental consciousness, Summit was recently given a LEED Platinum certification. Jeff truly believes this is the “first generation of urban convention centers.” 

Thank you to Mark, Derek, and Jeff, and to everyone who organized and attended this event. And a special thanks to all the sponsors and donors who contribute to SEFW’s mission to make events like this possible. SEFW is looking forward to an exciting 2024 and continuing to further the structural engineering profession. 

From Chun Lau, NCSEA Delegate 

The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) was formed in 1993 and is now in its 30th year of existence. NCSEA is currently comprised of 44 State Structural Engineers Associations throughout the United States. SEAW was a chartered member at the inception of the Council and has been one of the larger Member Organization (MO) with our membership at 900+. 

A refresher on what a NCSEA membership includes is outlined on the membership benefit page on the NCSEA website.  

The 2023 NCSEA Summit annual conference was held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, from November 8-10, with NCSEA committee meetings on November 7.  SEAW was well represented with members participating in the NCSEA committee meetings and attending the conference.  

The Summit attracted more than 950 attendees from across the country and provided an extensive platform of more than 14.5 hours of professional development tailored for practicing structural engineers. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to engage in social and networking events, complemented by an expansive exhibit hall with over 80 exhibitors.   

The 2023 Summit opening keynote, “The Diversity Imperative,” was given by John Gavan, the CEO/President of KPFF Consulting Engineers and a Co-Founder of LeaderFlow. The presentation highlighted the crucial role of inclusivity in shaping our future success through creating and maintaining an environment of equity, inclusion, and belonging. John led a thought-provoking reflection on where the industry has been, and incorporated Dani Paxson (Regional Manager, Holmes NZ) and Janiece Williams (Executive Director, LeaderFlow) as two additional speakers to explore ways we can change our trajectory into the future.  

On the second day, the keynote was delivered by former NASA Engineer Maureen Zappala discussing how to recalibrate thinking, eliminate “impostor syndrome,” and truly believe that we are as smart as everyone thinks we are. 

I personally enjoyed meeting fellow structural engineers from all over the country. This year the Summit had attendees from far places like Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine. Social events facilitated networking among engineers from different SEAs. To kick off this year’s Summit, the most skilled and vibrant structural engineers hit the bowling alley and let the good times roll to network in style hosted by the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). The second night was the celebration of structural engineering hosted by CSI with an evening of fun, food, and inspiration, featuring the Ashraf Allstars live band. 

NCSEA continues to grow and gain national prominence and recognition through the ongoing hard work of its many vital committees, Board members, monthly Structure Magazine publications, and supporting state member organizations like SEAW. NCSEA welcomes volunteers that are willing to actively serve to promote the cause of structural engineering by participating on one of the committees. If you are interested in getting involved with an NCSEA committee, please check out the website for more information. 

Next year’s Structural Engineering Summit will be November 5-8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. Further details, including a call for abstracts and exhibition opportunities, will soon be available online. I hope to see more of our SEAW members attending next year! 

An inspirational moment of the NCSEA Summit was when the recipients of the Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarships were announced. Photo courtesy Scott Douglas.

From Scott Douglas, SEAW Member 

I attended the NCSEA Summit in November with many of my SEAW colleagues at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Personal highlights for me included: 

• Participating as a NCSEA Code Advisory Committee member on the Wind Engineering Subcommittee and General Provisions Subcommittee. Among the many topics discussed were White Papers on MWFRS and C&C wind loads combined with axial loads on wall studs and increased guard loads for areas subject to overcrowding. 

• Attending the awards ceremony to see university students receive the NCSEA Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarships from the NCSEA Foundation. 

• Being present for one of the finest acceptance speeches I have ever heard by SEAW member Marcus Freeman, recipient of the Susan Ann “Susie” Jorgensen Presidential Leadership Award. 

Scott Douglas, seen here with his wife Martha, has his comic book autographed by Ashraf Habibullah, president of CSi. Photo courtesy Scott Douglas. 

• Having Ashraf Habibullah autograph his comic book for me; for a structural engineer this is better than any autograph on a MLB player’s baseball card. Ashraf is the founder, president, and CEO of Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSi). CSi’s structural programs include ETABS, SAFE, and SAP2000. Ashraf is a passionate and enthusiastic supporter of our structural engineering profession. Over the last several years Ashraf and CSI have sponsored A Celebration of Structural Engineering event at NCSEA Summits and SEAOC Conferences, as well as our SEA Northwest Conference last September. Ashraf is featured on NCSEA’s monthly Structure Magazine's back cover with a one-page comic “Why I Love Structural Engineering"; be sure to check it out.  

Next year’s NCSEA Summit will be in November 2024 in Las Vegas. Young members wishing to attend should consider applying for one of NCSEA’s Young Member Summit Scholarships.  

By Kevin Solberg, Scholarship Committee

As 2023 comes to a close, the SEAW Scholarship Committee will soon be kicking off the 2024 SEAW Scholarship. I’d like to take this opportunity to provide our members with general insight into our history, how the committee functions, and an opportunity to contribute.  

History 

The SEAW Scholarship was launched in 1985 when two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to local undergraduate engineering students. The scholarship funded approximately 40 percent of the annual in-state undergraduate tuition at the time. Since then, SEAW has provided $235,000 in scholarships to 86 recipients. Most of those scholarships have been awarded to students studying at universities in Washington State, predominantly at UW (40%) and WSU (22%). The current award of $5,000 remains about the same percentage of in-state tuition cost compared to the inaugural scholarship.  

Scholarship funding has traditionally come from a portion of SEAW membership dues, along with individual donations or estate bequests. When the Structural Engineers Foundation of Washington (SEFW) was founded as a 501(c)(3) in 2010, individual and corporate donors were provided with a more tax-efficient way of donating to the scholarship program. Since then, the scholarship program has seen a notable increase in the number of scholarships awarded. The average recipients per year has increased from two to three while still allowing for the scholarship amount to keep pace with the cost of tuition (which has outpaced inflation in recent years). In addition, SEAW, with the funding support of SEFW, last year launched the SEAW DEI scholarship, targeting students at the community college level. 

Process 

The SEAW Policy and Procedures Manual Article X dictates the scholarship eligibility criteria, which consists of being an US citizen, WA state resident, and a senior undergraduate or graduate student, plus a demonstrated commitment to the structural engineering profession. The criteria used to assess the applicants reflects these requirements. For example, the analysis system for transcript review is weighted towards students’ record in structural-specific coursework. In addition, applicants are evaluated based on a personal essay and references from professors and employers. The references are particularly useful as they give an independent glimpse into the student’s work ethic and activities. Applications are reviewed individually by members of the Scholarship Committee. The committee then meets to compare notes and decide which applicants should continue to the interview phase. The interviews allow the committee to get to know the applicants and consider their commitment to the profession.  

The scholarship has historically been a merit award based on grades, leadership, and engineering-related activities. In addition, the application can sometimes show basic information regarding financial means. One application question covers how an applicant is funding their education, and the interview process often allows the committee to learn about any unique hardships the applicant may have experienced.  

The scholarship committee consists of a founding Life Member (Bill Mooseker) and several past scholarship recipients (Jessica Jenness, Ben Piermattei, Damiano Saghetti, Kevin Solberg). We are active generally from January to May where our time is spent marketing the scholarship, scoring applications, and interviewing candidates. Scholarship recipients are typically announced at the Seattle Chapter SEAW Spring Social in June. 

Your Support Makes a Difference 

As a 2005 scholarship recipient, I can personally attest to both the financial and professional impact the scholarship has had on my career. Speaking for all committee members and past recipients, we are thankful for the generous member contributions that have made the scholarship program a success. Is there anything you would like to see changed with the process? Eligibility criteria? The assessment process? We are always open to feedback and ways that we may be able to improve. Should you have any comments please email me at kevin.solberg@seattle.gov. 

In January, you will receive your email reminder to pay your 2024 SEAW dues. Within your dues renewal process is an opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund. Alternatively, your tax-deductible donations are always accepted at SEFW.org. Please consider kicking off your New Year with a contribution to this important program. 

SEAW Scholarship Committee Chair Kevin Solberg (L) and SEFW Vice Chair Cale Ash (R), present a student with an SEAW Scholarship in 2023. Photo courtesy SEFW. 

By Angela Gottula Twining, SEFW

The Structural Engineers Foundation of Washington is honored to be the recipient of a generous bequest from the estate of Charles “Cap” Pearson, a Tacoma-area structural engineer and active SEAW member who passed away February 26, 2023, just after his 79th birthday. Cap’s donation will go toward the SEFW Scholarship Fund, to help support students and younger member structural engineers for years to come.  

Born February 25, 1944, Cap and his family moved to a North Tacoma mid-century modern home that overlooked the Narrows. Cap’s father was an architect, so he developed a love of design and building from a young age. Cap attended Holy Cross and Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma and then Washington State University in Pullman, where he earned his bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1966.  

After college he voluntarily joined the Air Force and was stationed in Topeka, Kansas, putting his engineering education to use by working on various Air Force projects on base. After his discharge in 1969, he returned to Washington, started working for the City of Tacoma, and earned his engineering licenses in Washington and Idaho. He worked in the Building Division and was considered an expert on City codes. As a plan reviewer, he had the opportunity to touch almost every large project under development in Tacoma, including the Tacoma Dome, Foss Waterway Seaport, and LeMay Car Museum. His sister, Ann Bowling, remembers that Cap got to walk around in the rafters of the Tacoma Dome during its construction in the early 1980s.  

Charles Pearson, “Cap,”

1944-2023.

Photo courtesy Ann Bowling.

Ann believes Cap’s love of engineering dates back to his childhood, when he was always building and tinkering. She remembers him building a cannon for the Fourth of July when he was only 14, and building a desk at another time when he needed one. “The things he built were always built extremely well, no shortcuts.” Ann continues, “He was a stickler for following the rules! We found that out on various projects like the family cabin in Idaho. There was no cutting corners.”  

The family cabin, near Priest Lake in Idaho, was built by their grandfather in 1911, and didn’t even have indoor plumbing until 1987!

Cap had a love of cars, owning many makes and models through the years, such as a 1960s Dodge Charger, a Nissan 240Z, and most recently, a bright yellow 2020 Toyota Supra. He also loved outdoor activities like target shooting, bike riding, and water skiing. 

Cap was an active Catholic with the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Tacoma, where he participated with the Knights of Columbus organization. He was also a devoted “fun uncle,” doting on his five nieces and nephews and now six more great nieces and nephews. Lastly, he had a real connection to education and gave back to several organizations during his lifetime. He was active with the Rotary Club in Tacoma. “Whatever he joined or did, he did to the utmost. There was no part way,” Ann remembers.  

SEFW is grateful to Cap and his legacy for this great gift. Thank you also to Cap’s surviving siblings – Ann, Tom, and Don – for their support. 

Through the years, SEFW has accepted donations that are both legacy gifts and gifts made in memory of SEAW members who have passed on. It is truly humbling to accept these gifts and use the funds in ways that honor those who have passed. Feel free to contact SEFW about estate planning questions, and please consider including SEFW in your legacy planning.

Cap with one of his prized sports cars, a 1957 Dodge. Photo courtesy Ann Bowling.

Cap and a few family members working on a project at the family cabin in Idaho. Photo courtesy Ann Bowling.

By Scott Douglas, Wind Committee

The Wind Engineering Committee submits the following report for the December Equilibrium:  

• Update to the 2004 SEAW commentary on wind code provisions (ATC 60) – The NCSEA CAC Wind Engineering Subcommittee met November 7 at the NCSEA Summit in Anaheim to assess this update effort. There is a deadline of December 31, 2023, for authors to begin work on their assigned chapters and a December 31, 2024, deadline for submittal to the NCSEA Publication Committee. Several SEAW WEC Members are involved in this Commentary revision.  
• Washington/Columbia Special Wind Regions (SWR) Study – This January the recommendations in White Paper WEC #3-2023 Structural Engineers Association of Washington will be submitted to the Washington State Building Code Council for adoption as an amendment to the Washington State Building Code. These recommendations, along with recommendations for the State of Oregon SWRs, are in the process of being submitted to the ASCE 7-28 Subcommittee on Wind Loads for balloting. 
• City of Bellevue Kzt Map – Work continues on the Kzt Wind Load Factor map for the City of Bellevue’s consideration. It will replicate the existing City of Seattle Wind Load Factor Map found at SDCI.org. If adopted the map will facilitate an alternate conservative method for rapid determination of Kzt factors and shoreline exposure in the City of Bellevue.   
• Participation – All SEAW members, whatever their experience, are encouraged to participate 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 – Friday, February 16, 2024, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Meeting will be virtual via Zoom:    

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89577690532?pwd=c1l0OXowVXRNVndZYjduTFRTckFTZz09 

Passcode: 924784 

January 11, 2024

SEAW Southwest Chapter Dinner Meeting (@Bryant Montessori School)

January 25, 2024, 5:30 - 8:30PM

SEAW Seattle Chapter Dinner Meeting (@ Father LeRoux, S.J. Conference Center, Seattle University)

February 16, 2024, 12 - 1 PM

Wind Engineering Committee, (@Zoom)

September 3-6, 2024

SEA Northwest Conference (@Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center)

November 5-8, 2024

NCSEA Summit (@MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)

Patrick Burns

Amazon

SE – Seattle Chapter

Dola Krishna Erla

Amazon

PE – Seattle Chapter

Logan Stewart

Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Affiliate – Seattle Chapter

Maxwell Staford

University of Washington

Student – Seattle Chapter

Ana Jaimes

University of Washington

Student – Seattle Chapter

Merwais Ahmadzai

Student

Employment Opportunities

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.

Senior Structural Plan Engineer

Company: City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)

Location: Seattle, WA

The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) Engineering Services Division is hiring a Senior Structural Plans Engineer (Sr. SPE) to serve as part of our dynamic Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Program Subject Matter Expert (SME) team. This URM-focused Sr. SPE will serve as the primary technical resource, working with the URM Program Manager, for the development and implementation of a mandatory URM retrofit program. This program is currently in development and the successful candidate will play a primary role in the shaping of permit, plan review, and compliance processes. The anticipated impact of this program will be a milestone in Seattle’s pathway to earthquake resilience, culminating in a mandatory URM retrofit program, the first of such program outside of California.

This Sr. SPE position is part of SDCI’s Ordinance and Structural (O/S) review team. The successful candidate will also be participating and fulfilling the job responsibilities of a Senior Structural Plans Engineer including plan review and other related tasks. Please visit http://www.seattle.gov/jobs for more information and to apply. The position will remain open until filled.

MLA Engineering has a unique opportunity for an experienced Structural Engineer to join our growing consulting and design firm in Seattle, WA. Our diverse, specialized projects require critical thinking and creativity that is cultivated through our problem-solving approach in a flexible work environment. We encourage professional development and have opportunities to advance to management roles for individuals with the appropriate motivation, experience, and skills.

We design new buildings and renovate existing structures in concrete, structural steel, masonry, and wood-framed structures. We have a specialized niche in the structural design of aquarium and zoo facilities in the United States and abroad. Our projects vary from small to large-size buildings and facilities, including county and state infrastructure.

Qualifications required for this Structural Engineer position include:

• Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with Structural emphasis;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a structural engineering consulting design office;
• PE license required;
• Strong technical and analytical skills;
• Intuitive and practical;
• Practical use of REVIT as a design tool;
• Proficient with structural software such as RISA, ETABS, SAP2000;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Motivated to advance your effectiveness as an engineer.

Our work environment encourages creativity, teamwork, and professional growth. To learn more about MLA, please visit our website at: www.mlaengineering.com

Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to MLA Engineering, LLC, 1424 Fourth Ave, Ste 415, Seattle, WA 98101 or email

Location: Convenient Downtown Seattle location with excellent public transit options.

Benefits: Top line Medical, Dental & Vision insurance, generous HRA account, 401K Plan w/4% matching, PTO & Sick LV, and professional training

Work Schedule: Flexible, with a minimum of three days per week in MLA's Seattle office, combined with some remote work time from home. Supplemental Pay: Bonus and overtime pay. Projects: Diverse and often unique

MLA Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women and minority candidates to apply.

MLA Engineering has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Structural Engineer to join the concrete structures restoration group of our ten-person consulting and design firm in Seattle, WA. We are building upon our history of designing concrete structures that have superior durability in resisting environmentally harsh conditions and in evaluating and repairing existing concrete structures such as aquariums and parking garages.

Qualifications required for this Structural Engineer position include:

• Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with Structural emphasis;
• Minimum of five years of experience working in a consulting design office in the USA;
• PE license;
• Strong technical skills;
• Intuitive and practical;
• Excellent communicator;
• Motivated to learn;
• Passionate about engineering;
• Interested in advancement.

Our work environment encourages creativity, teamwork, and professional growth that could include leadership roles. To learn more about MLA, please visit our website at: www.mlaengineering.com Apply: Send PDF (resume and cover letter) to info@mlaengineering.com

Location: Convenient Downtown Seattle location near waterfront, with excellent public transit options.

Benefits: Top line Medical, Dental & Vision insurance, generous HRA account, 401K Plan w/4% matching, PTO & Sick Leave, and professional training

Work Schedule: At least three days per week in-person at our downtown Seattle office.

Salary: Competitive + bonuses

Projects: Diverse and often unique

MLA Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women and minority candidates to apply.

Applying or Renewing your Membership in SEAW

SEAW is organized into the membership categories and their corresponding dues structures 

listed below. Select the membership category that best fits your status.

Your contact information is shared with our foundation, SEFW.

In order to “opt-out” please contact the association office. Click here for our privacy policy.

Please consider making a line-item donation to SEFW as part of your dues renewal. Special designation can be placed on the donation, so it can be applied to scholarships, disaster preparedness or research opportunities. SEFW fulfills its mission with the assistance of donations from individuals and corporations. More information on SEFW and its mission to promote structural engineering can be found at www.sefw.org. Thank you for your support!