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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)

November 2023 Issue



1. SEAW Seattle Chapter's December Dinner Meeting
2. Joint Chapter Meeting Features Friendly Competition
3. SEFW Fall Forum is November 16!
4. Opportunity for New SEFW Administrator
5. SEAW Wind Engineering Committee Report
6. Coming Soon: 2023 Northwest Conference Articles
7. Calendar 
8. Membership Postings 
9. Job Opportunities 

SEAW Seattle Chapter's December Dinner Meeting

Date: December 5th, 2023

Location: Elysian Fields Brew Pub

Price:

• Students or Unemployed Members: $25
• SEAW Members: $35
• Non-members: $45

Time: 5:30PM-8:00PM

• 5:30PM Networking (cost includes one beer, No-Host Bar for additional beers or premium drinks)
• 6:00PM Buffet Taco Bar
• 6:30PM Program

Transmission Towers - Keeping the Lights On

What’s it take to keep the lights on? Have you ever thought about the structure of an electrical transmission tower or the engineers that deal with them? This presentation by structural engineers from local utilities Seattle City Light and Tacoma Power will go over the basics of steel lattice transmission tower structures and look at two recent projects – an emergency project to quickly deal with storm damage to a tower, and a project to relocate two towers before they were swept away by a river.

1 PDH will be available upon request.

Presenters:

Owen Kohashi, PE, SE, Seattle City Light

Owen is the Structural Engineering Supervisor at Seattle City Light. The Structural Engineering Group performs structural and civil engineering design for many teams throughout the utility to ensure the safety of SCL’s hydroelectric dams, powerhouses, transmission lines, distribution infrastructure, substations, and facilities. Owen has been at SCL for 12 years and prior to that worked in building consulting structural engineering for 20 years. He is currently the SEAW Seattle Chapter Vice President and the SEAW State Board Treasurer.

Eli Wilson, PE, Seattle City Light

Eli is a Senior Engineer in the Structural Engineering Group at Seattle City Light. He has 13 years of experience planning, designing, and supporting the construction of hydroelectric projects, transmission lines, substations, and buildings.  He was the lead engineer on the Skagit Boulder River Tower Relocation project, which involved moving two lattice towers with the lines still attached to avoid future river migration from undermining the existing tower foundations.

Tim Nordstrom, PE, SE, Tacoma Power

Tim is a Senior Structural Engineer with Tacoma Power.  He was the lead engineer for Tacoma Power for the emergency replacement of steel lattice tower TP 143 when it was severely damaged during a storm. Tacoma Power operates a large electrical transmission and distribution system as well as 7 large dams and powerhouses and 4 fish hatcheries. Tim has 25 years of experience as a structural engineer, has been at Tacoma Power for 4 years, and currently serves as the SEAW Legislative Committee Chair from 2013 to the present and previously served as the State President and Southwest Chapter President.

Darrell Staaleson, PE, SE, Staaleson Engineering

Darrell is the Principal for Staaleson Engineering, P.C. and has over 35 years of experience serving clients making structural designs on private, commercial, and public works projects. He was the principal consultant on the emergency replacement of tower TP143. He is Past-President of SEAW, Seattle Chapter and Past-President of SEAW State Association; currently serves as SEAW Public Information Committee Chair and Sr. Editor of Equilibrium; and served as a member of the 2023 Northwest Conference Steering Committee. Darrell was honored to be the recipient of the SEAW Seattle Chapter 2021 Engineer of the Year Award. 

Joint Chapter Meeting Features Friendly Competition 

By Anand Mourougassamy 

SEAW Seattle and Southwest Chapter’s joint chapter meeting was hosted at the Simpson Strong-Tie warehouse and training center in Kent on October 24 and was sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie. 

This was my first time attending a joint chapter meeting. The meeting was a great opportunity to meet and network with a lot of SEAW members from the Southwest chapter.  

At the meeting, all participants were divided into smaller groups and competed against each other in a sawhorse building competition. All teams were given a limited resource of pre-cut timber, power tools, and Simpson’s proprietary wood connectors and tasked to come up with a sawhorse design that would withstand the most compressive load on its midspan. It didn’t take too long before design debates and arguments filled the warehouse floor. As expected with 40 structural engineers in a room, almost every team came up with a unique version of the sawhorse. When it came time to test, members eagerly gathered around the hydraulic load test cell and cheered for their designs as they were put under thousands of pounds of stress.  

Team #4 designed and constructed a sawhorse with the highest load capacity. Pictured from left to right are Khoa Nguyen, Tim Nordstrom, Darrell Staaleson, Alexis Moser.

Photo courtesy Darrell Staaleson. 

Team #4 had the highest load capacity and went home with some well-earned prizes courtesy of Simpson Strong-Tie. It is notable for this event was that Alexis started without experience building with wood and ended the event driving in the wood screws like a journeyman contractor. 

Additionally, the Southwest chapter conducted a raffle and many attendees were selected for gift cards and even a full power drill set. The synergy at the meeting served as a good reminder of how fun and important collaboration is. 

Many thanks to Simpson Strong-Tie team for being a thoughtful, creative host and making this joint event possible.

SEFW Fall Forum is November 16!

By Angela Gottula 

Did you know the Summit expansion at the Seattle Convention Center needed 21,000 tons of steel – the equivalent of three Eiffel towers?  

Did you know the Summit expansion project included 380,000 cubic yards of excavation, which is the equivalent of 180 miles of bumper-to-bumper dump trucks – the same distance from Seattle to Portland? 

Did you know the new Summit building adds 570,290 square feet of convention center space to the Seattle Convention Center offering, which is almost as much as adding an entire Spokane Convention Center (500,000 square feet) and Three Rivers Convention Center (75,000 square feet) combined?   

Did you know the Summit building is targeting LEED Gold certification, with sustainable features such as Salmon-Safe certification, an all-white reflective roof, plant-based ceiling tiles with 71% recycled content, wood reclaimed from structures previously on the site, and much more?  

These are just some of the unique bits of knowledge you could learn about the Seattle Convention Center expansion project at the 13th Annual Fall Forum on November 16! Mark Reddington from LMN Architects and Derek Beaman from Magnusson Klemencic Associates will join together to discuss the SCC project and also their experience on other convention center projects worldwide, including a few in other parts of Washington state. They will be joined by Jeff Blosser, CEO/President of the Seattle Convention Center, who will share more on the impact of the project on the community and the value of “gathering.”  

“Spaces that Inspire: The Architecture and Engineering of Gathering” will be a worthwhile occasion! Invite your colleagues, friends, and neighbors – this should appeal to folks inside and outside the A/E/C industry!  

A few things:  

• November 16, 6 PM @ Benaroya Hall 
• Registration is requested at https://www.sefw.org/fallforum/2023 
• All registrants will be sent a reminder and information on the livestream if virtual viewing is preferred 
• Networking reception for donors & supporters; corporate partnerships available and individuals can attend for a $40 or $100 gift 

Additionally, if you are from the SEAW Southwest Chapter, there is a watch party being organized so you can catch the Forum with other members. Details are: 

• Olympia SEAW members – Meet at 5:30 PM @ the Society Room in Cebula Hall at St. Martin’s University.  

 

Thank you to our sponsors so far, including Platinum sponsor Magnusson Klemencic Associates! You won’t want to miss it, register today!  

Come learn more about the Seattle Convention Center expansion project at the SEFW Fall Forum on November 16. Photo by Kirk Hostetter. 

SEFW is seeking a new individual to manage the administration of the organization. SEFW is a 501c3 affiliated with SEAW, but comprises a separate Board of Directors and unique administrative tasks. The current SEFW administrator is stepping away after 12 years of service, and the group is looking for someone new. An ideal candidate for the role would be someone with a background in the structural engineering or building industry who also has communications or marketing experience. The position is only about 15 hours per month, with some months requiring more time to accommodate fundraising campaigns or special events. The SEFW Board Chair, Melissa Verwest, has more information about the position and is eager to speak with anyone who is aware of potential leads. A full job description with expectations and pay rate is available.

Please email Melissa.Verwest@kniferiver.com for more information.

By Scott Douglas

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

• Update to the 2004 SEAW commentary on wind code provisions (ATC 60) – The NCSEA CAC Wind Engineering Subcommittee (CAC-WES) continues this update effort. The CAC-WES will meet November 7 at the NCSEA Summit in Anaheim to assess the progress of this update effort. 
• 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 Wind Load Factors - SDCI | seattle.gov. If adopted the map will facilitate an alternate conservative method for rapid determination of Kzt factors and shoreline exposure in the City of Bellevue. 
• Washington/Columbia Special Wind Regions (SWR) Study –The recommendations in White Paper WEC #3-2023 are being submitted for adoption by the Washington State Building Code Council. The 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.
• 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 December 01, 2023 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Meeting will be virtual via the following Zoom link:   

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89555348275?pwd=dkFUUUZweW1ML0ZlQjRwTEQ1TzViZz09

Passcode: 211702

November 7-10

NCSEA Structural Conference (@Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA)

November 15, 5:30 PM

YMG “Be a Part of the Conversation” (@ DCI Engineers, 818 Stewart Street)

November 16, 6-7:30 PM

SEFW Fall Forum (@Benaroya Hall, Seattle)

November 16, 5:00 PM

SEFW Forum Olympia Watch Party (@St. Martin's University Cebula Hall)

December 5, 5:30 PM

SEAW Seattle Dinner Meeting (@ Elysian Fields Brew Pub)

Judson Heller

ASC Steel Deck

Affiliate - Seattle Chapter

Mallikarjun Naik

Seattle University

Student - Seattle Chapter

Jonathan Reseck

Tri-City Engineers

PE - South Central Chapter

Crystal Tan

University of Washington

Student - Seattle Chapter

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.

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!