Newsletter of the

Structural Engineers Association of Washington

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October Chapter Check-In

After every SEAW State Board of Trustees meeting, each SEAW Chapter will share its status report with Equilibrium. Here is what the chapters have been up to for the last few months: 

SEATTLE

by President Tyler Winkley 

At the June Social, the Seattle Chapter introduced three new board members: 

• Jessica Jenness, Vice President 
• Violeta Tihova, Board of Directors 
• Juliette Peyroux, Board of Directors 

The YMG’s new board was also introduced, including their new leadership: 

• Evan Jordan, President 
• Anand Mourougassamy, Vice President 

Please join me in welcoming our new board members as well as thanking existing board members for their continued service. We are fortunate to have so many individuals willing to dedicate their valuable time to supporting the chapter. 

Last year, the Seattle chapter continued to provide value to our membership as people persevered through the pandemic. The board maintained the use of webinars from the previous year in lieu of dinner meetings as people began to recognize their value. The virtual environment presented an alternative option that required less of people’s time and effort, and the success was evident in the number of attendees. One virtual meeting even saw close to 400 registrants! 

Despite the great response from our members, the board acknowledged that traditional dinner meetings are still desired. As pandemic restrictions relaxed, the board worked hard to restart communications with venues, partner associations, and vendors so that membership could once again enjoy in-person meetings. The board was successful in supporting ACI with its dinner meeting in February, hosting the joint SEAW-ASCE meeting in April at the Museum of Flight, and organizing our first in-person June social in three years. Moving forward, the board will continue utilizing webinars and traditional dinner meetings as it best serves our membership. 

Lastly, the Northwest Conference SEAs determined that it would be best if the Seattle chapter host the next NW Conference since the Seattle Chapter was already preparing to host in 2020 prior to the pandemic. The Seattle Chapter graciously agreed and are excited about the opportunity. More details to come soon! 

SOUTH CENTRAL

by President Matt Leslie 

Meet the new board, same as the old board. If you’re paying attention, you might notice a pattern: 

• President/Past Vice President – Matt Leslie 
• Vice President/Past President/State Board President – Daniel Sumerfield 
• Secretary/Past Secretary – Harvey Lighthouse 
• Treasurer/Past Treasurer – Steve Martin 
• Newsletter/Past Newsletter – Tony Vader 

For the first time in a long time, or “First time, long time” as I like to call it, we met at a different venue. We have been meeting at Snipes Mountain Brewery in Sunnyside for several years. While pausing for COVID, the Fire Brigade sniped (get it, sniped) our third Thursday of the month slot. So, we scrambled to find a new venue. Exactly 18 minutes into the meeting, it was suggested that we change our regularly scheduled meeting time to meet at the old venue. The president, played by Yul Brynner said, “So let it be written, so let it be done.” I will definitely keep you updated on this exciting development in my next update. TBC… 

Tyler McNutt, with Verco, gave a presentation on metal diaphragm design and an overview of Verco’s new design tools. Glenn Denman regaled us with tales of shoddy craftsmanship (not his own) and invited us to subscribe to his YouTube channel: glennman. The chapter put forward Teresa Krell as a nominee for the $2,000 scholarship generously offered by SEFW for eligible applicants. Teresa will be presenting to the chapter for the November meeting and everybody who is anybody will be in attendance. 

I ordered carne asada, and it was pretty good. I washed it down with a nice, cool Budweiser. 

If you participate in regular SEAW dinner meetings, you’ll get to experience carne asada and Budweiser, just like Matt Leslie and the Southcentral chapter. You don’t want to miss it! 

SPOKANE

by Brian Parsons 

Towards the end of the last SEAW season, our chapter resumed in-person meetings at a new-to-us venue, “The Bissinger Room.” The venue has worked great for our group, so we are planning on holding meetings there for the foreseeable future in both hybrid and in-person only formats. We just hosted our first chapter meeting of the season and had Ivan Wong with Lettis Consultants International as our guest. He gave a great presentation titled “Keeping Pace with the Science for Seismic Design in the Pacific Northwest,” that was packed full of interesting information related to seismic design in our area. We were excited to see such a great turn out and it was great to see everyone again!   

Earlier this year, the Structural Engineers Foundation of Washington (SEFW) announced that they had a $2,000 stipend available for one of our members to attend the NCSEA Conference this November in Chicago as our YMG representative. We nominated, and SEFW accepted, Emily Sackmann with Coffman Engineers as our representative. Congrats to Emily and thanks to SEFW for making this opportunity available to our chapter. We look forward to hearing all about everything she learned at one of our future meetings.   

The Spokane Chapter is currently seeking a Director (PE required) that would fill the empty position for the Fall ’22 to 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 to any of the current board members for additional details. 

SOUTHWEST

by President Jared Plank 

The Southwest Chapter is excited to be beginning our 2022-2023 year. We are hoping to have some memorable chapter meetings and get back into the groove of things. We’ve all been yearning for opportunities to get together, learn, socialize, and have a little fun. This year will be a great one if we can all come together and get out of our comfort zones just a little bit. We need you! And I know we certainly need SEAW to provide educational content, fun social events, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. See below for some brief updates on what’s going on with the Southwest Chapter and see you ALL at our Oct 4th Site Visit/Chapter Meeting!! 

• Next Chapter Meeting: Oct 4th @ 4pm at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort construction site. See your email for updates on this event. 

• Chapter Board: Below is our current board. As you may notice we have several openings (Can we still blame COVID?). Please let me know if you are interested in serving on the board or helping with activities: 
• President – Jared Plank (PCS) 
• Vice President – Open  
• Secretary – Open  
• Treasurer – Andy Pflueger (AHBL) 
• Voting Director – Jacob Baker (PCS) 
• Voting Director – Evan Olszko, YMG Coordinator (PCS) 
• Past President – Dan Tappel (PCS) 
• Non-Voting Director – Tanner Reijm (PCS) 
• Non-Voting Director – Caitlin O’Loughlin (IMEG) 

• Ongoing Activities: We plan to have multiple chapter meetings this year including joint meetings with AIA SWW and CSI Mt. Rainier. We’ll also be sponsoring our annual scholarship again to benefit students hoping to join our ranks. 
• Goals: We hope to re-engage our membership this year and provide interesting and diverse content. We also hope to fill our board in and recruit some new faces and firms as well as embrace our stalwart past members. 

We are looking forward to seeing our friends and making new ones too! Please put our events on the calendar and plan to attend. We know you are all busy, but taking some time out for yourself will be worth it! See you soon! 

The SEAW Southwest chapter is touring the Muckleshoot Casino Expansion on October 4.  

Consider Attending the 2022 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit

By Chun Lau, NCSEA Liaison 

Join the best and brightest at the 2022 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit in Chicago from November 1 – 4. A must-attend event, this year’s Summit includes 14+ PDHs, a Chicago river cruise (SE style!), keynote speakers Adrian Smith, FAIA, and Dr. Ivan Joseph, the SEE Awards and Awards Celebration, and a special Leading Women in the Built World event!  

Click here for more information or to register. 

"Focus on the Footprint" features local A/E/C industry panel 

By Angela Gottula Twining, SEFW 

The Structural Engineers Foundation is thrilled to announce details for its 12th Annual Fall Forum held on November 30 in person at Town Hall Seattle and livestreamed for virtual viewing. “Focus on the Footprint: Making Strides in Building Sustainably” will address efforts to reduce and ultimately achieve net zero embodied carbon in the built environment.  

The keynote speaker will be Kate Simonen of the University of Washington and the Carbon Leadership Forum. To round out a discussion that traverses the building industry, Kate will be joined by Katie Ross of Microsoft, Kjell Anderson of LMN Architects, Chris Jeseritz of PCS Structural Solutions, and Stacy Smedley of Building Transparency.  

As always, the Forum is free and open to the general public! As was customary before the pandemic, the event this year will include a pre-function networking reception for sponsors and donors. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available and will be sent electronically this week to firms. Individuals may become a “Friend of the Foundation” for a $100 donation or attend the reception with a minimum $40 donation.  

The reception will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, with the Forum lecture beginning at 6 PM.  

Please invite colleagues from around the industry, as well as others who may be interested in sustainability, building green, and addressing carbon emissions. This event will be sure to engage A/E/C professionals who are committed to working together to address the issue of embodied carbon, and especially structural engineers who have an integral role in understanding materials usage.  

Registration is requested for individuals who wish to attend the Forum both in person and virtually. Registration will be open next week at www.sefw.org.  

Contact SEFW with any questions, and we look forward to seeing you on November 30!  

Robert Cornforth Award Winner Chun Lau 

By Daniel Sumerfield, SEAW State President 

Each year, NCSEA presents several special awards for outstanding service and commitment to the structural engineering profession. Each award recognizes a slightly different aspect of service, such as volunteerism, advocacy, education, code development, or leadership. The Robert Cornforth Award is presented to an individual for exceptional dedication and exemplary service to a member organization and to the profession as a whole. The award is named for Robert Cornforth, a founding member of NCSEA and treasurer on its first Board of Directors. (Read more about the award here.) 

It is my pleasure to announce that the 2022 winner of the NCSEA Robert Cornforth Award is our very own Chun Lau of the Seattle Chapter. Chun will receive the award at the NCSEA Annual Summit in Chicago in November, and we encourage all who are able to attend to support him and our association in this great honor. 

Chun joined SEAW in 1993 and has been actively involved with SEAW for 30 years. Some of Chun’s many contributions to SEAW include: 

• SEAW State President (2016-2017). 
• SEAW Seattle Chapter President (2016-2017). 
• Board of Directors — SEAW Seattle Chapter Board (1998-2000). 
• SEAW Strategic Planning Committee in 2012 and again in 2017. 
• Instructor for the SEAW Structural Exam Refresher Course (1991-1996) 
• SEAW Wind committee (1993-98) and co-author SEAW Wind Commentary to the 1994 UBC. 
• Washington State Building Code Council (1998-2001). 
• King County Building Code Advisory and Appeals Board (2000-2006). 
• BRPLES Board member from 2006 to 2016 and Board Chair for two terms. 
• SEAW delegate to NCSEA 2010 to present. 
• Northwest Conference Committee Chair 2019/2023 

He became the first SEAW member to serve simultaneously as both SEAW State and Seattle Chapter President in 2016-17. Chun was recognized as the Seattle Chapter Engineer of the Year Award in 2018 and received the Seattle Chapter President’s Award in 1996, 2017, 2019 and 2000 for his service to SEAW. 

Currently, Chun is hard at work serving as the Chair of the 2023 Northwest SEA Conference Planning Committee and would like to remind everyone to save a date for the conference to be held in Hilton Bellevue on September 14-15, 2023. 

Chun has always been a strong advocate for student and community outreach efforts in promoting our profession and has been a guest speaker and presenter at many events in and around Seattle. His ability to speak with clarity on issues related to our code of ethics while maintaining both a professionalism and friendly manner is a hallmark of leadership in the structural engineering profession.  

On a personal note, beyond his many contributions to SEAW and the engineering profession, I have appreciated working with him over the past several years and have enjoyed getting to know him more professionally and personally. He is kind, generous with his time, and patient. His decades of experience with SEAW and his knowledge have been invaluable to the incoming leadership year after year, and he is always available for conversations, questions, or guidance.  

Thank you for your contributions to SEAW, Chun, and congratulations on an award well deserved. 

SWR Report Recommends Eliminating Regions; White Paper to be Reviewed 

By Scott Douglas, WEC

The Wind Engineering Committee submits the following report for October:  

Washington/Columbia Special Wind Regions (SWR) Study – CPP has completed the final report for all the special wind regions in Washington state and along the Columbia River. CPP’s recommendations for Washington include the SWR along the Pacific Coast to remain, with generally lower design wind speeds than currently required. The report recommends the SWR along the north Olympic Peninsula Coast and the Columbia River be eliminated, with risk category design wind speeds reverting to the ASCE 7 wind maps. 

ASCE 7-16 Figure 26.5-1B 

The SEAW WEC is authoring a SEAW White Paper incorporating CPP’s final report which will be reviewed at the WEC’s October 21 meeting. After WEC approval the SEAW White Paper with the attached report will be submitted to the SEAW State Board for approval. 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. For a copy of CCP’s final report recommendations please contact WEC Chair Scott Douglas at sdouglasscott@gmail.com.  

• City of Bellevue Kzt Map – A Wind Load Factor Map following the format of the existing City of Seattle Wind Load Factor map for rapid determination of Kzt and shoreline exposure factors will be generated for City of Bellevue consideration and potential adoption.  
• Update to the 2004 SEAW commentary on wind code provisions (ATC 60) – The NCSEA CAC Wind Engineering Subcommittee is proceeding with this update effort. An outline is being developed for the new commentary in order not to duplicate commentary in ASCE 7 or other publications. 
• 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 – Friday October 21 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Meeting will be virtual via the following Zoom link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86546740401?pwd=NDE1cmZDS3JBL2pLcWxmZDkxOUkzZz09 

Meeting ID: 865 4674 0401 

Passcode: 127693 

“Build Cool Stuff” Volunteer Opportunity

By Kyle Johnson, Outreach Committee

The Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) is now recruiting volunteers with engineering experience for its in-person middle school program called Build Cool Stuff (BCS). By exploring student-generated problems, each group will meet for eight weeks after school to engage in team building and the engineering design process. The collaborative foundation of BCS allows students to explore real-world topics that are connected to their everyday lives.

Here are more details about the program:

• Structure – Volunteers and educators co-facilitate an adaptable eight-week program (a basic supply kit and facilitator guide are provided with resources on the decision-making process, brainstorming, testing, prototype building, and other steps informed by engineering principles)
• Audience – The program promotes the participation of all students in 6th through 8th grade, while also being intentional about encouraging students of color to join (i.e., WABS is working with industry partners and affinity groups to promote diverse representation in volunteers)
• Purpose – The program fosters student voice and choice-based learning while scaffolding social and emotional learning (SEL) components, ultimately to engage students in engineering concepts and best practices as they relate to their own community and personal experiences
• Engagement – Volunteers and educators will share their expertise and professional knowledge, talk about career pathways, guide students through the engineering design process (e.g., answering questions, providing feedback, asking open-ended questions while students plan or build, etc.), and establish a fun learning environment

Based on the availability of educators and volunteers, sessions for BCS will take place between Monday, October 24, 2022 and Friday, January 13, 2023. Specific scheduling details (e.g., dates, duration, and frequency) will be established by each educator and communicated to Van Onishi, who will coordinate volunteer recruitment with partnering regional employers.

Google Form registration – Use the following link to sign up for the program: https://tinyurl.com/bde94sbj

If you decide to sign up for the program, a follow-up Zoom meeting will offer more resources to help with your planning:

• Volunteer Orientation – Monday, October 10th, 5:00 to 6:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81547592292 Meeting ID: 815 4759 2292

For questions about BCS, please contact Van Onishi, Director of Educator Leadership, at van@wabsalliance.org.

As was mentioned last month, WABS is also recruiting for the After School STEM Academy (ASSA). ASSA is a hands-on STEM after school program for elementary school students facilitated by industry volunteers to build 21st Century skills and awareness of STEM careers and career pathways. Through After School STEM Academy, WABS aims to address one of the largest opportunity gaps in our region which is that students, especially those furthest from educational justice lack ample resources and pathways to connect them to great careers. (https://wabsalliance.org/what-we-do/for-students/after-school-stem-academy.html)

• October 4 – SEAW Southwest Muckleshoot Resort Tour, Auburn, 4-6 PM
• October 7 – SEAW Seattle YMG Nucor Steel Mill Tour, Seattle, 2-5 PM
• October 21 – SWR Meeting, Zoom, 12-1 PM
• November 30 – 12th Annual Fall Forum, 6 PM

For more details and registration on events visit the website.

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

New Members:

• Theresa Mourdant
• Mohammad Asakreh
• Blake Spendlove
• Lance Slichko
• Eugenio Sanchez
• Mitchell Borsyth

Structural Engineer – Senior Project Manager

Kirkland, WA

Structural Project Managers at Dibble Engineers, Inc. (DEI) are provided opportunities to enhance their management and leadership skills by training and mentoring junior staff. PMs are challenged to strive for their SE licensure, Team Lead and Associate-level positions, and are encouraged to assist in business development, client retention, and company growth initiatives.   

Description and Details:

If you are a creative, proactive, and detail-oriented leader with the desire to manage your own projects from beginning to end, further advance client retention and referral strategies, and help grow our business, you could be a great fit for our learning culture. Our team works collaboratively to enhance the structural design and construction process; however, if you also enjoy mentoring and educating junior staff to build confidence in independent research of complicated engineering issues, we will provide you the chance to grow your leadership and people management skills. If you enjoy a good laugh and a fun working environment yet possess excellent technical skills and uncompromising work ethic and quality standards, we will highly value your contributions to our growing team. 

Qualifications:

• Professional PE license (SE preferred) and a minimum of 8 years of professional structural experience.
• Bachelor's degree in structural engineering from ABET-accredited university.
• Proven competency in estimating project fees and writing proposals for large projects, resulting in profitable projects and satisfied clients.
• Knowledge of multiple construction materials and project types, demonstrating proficient technical ability.
• Understanding of advanced structural modeling, analysis, design and engineering principles based upon relevant national and regional building codes and standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to build trust and positive working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate with peers on larger projects.

Interested in joining us? Send your resume with cover letter to vivian@dibbleengineers.com

Opportunities for Mid-level Design Engineer and Senior Project Manager: 

Seattle Structural is a downtown Seattle firm looking for qualified professionals to join our talented group practicing across a number of different industries. Seattle Structural offers an excellent opportunity to work on a variety of public and private institutional, healthcare, educational, and commercial projects. We offer a competitive salary and a relaxed, collaborative work environment. Benefits include medical, transit reimbursement, and retirement matching. Seattle Structural is a firm that makes it easy to become personally invested in the achievements of your company. 

Seattle Structural is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are filling two positions. Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Mid-level Designer: 5+ years’ experience.
• Senior Project Manager: 10+ years’ experience.
• BS or MS in Structural, Civil/Structural, or Architectural Engineering.
• Experience in steel and concrete buildings, aluminum structures, lateral analysis, deep foundations, and marine projects are desired.
• Working knowledge of CAD and Revit preferred.
• Strong emphasis on client service.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong technical skills.

Please address inquiries to: 

Lisa Wipplinger

Seattle Structural PS Inc.

3131 Elliott Avenue Suite 600A

Seattle, WA 98121

LWipplinger@SeattleStructural.com

CT Engineering is medium sized structural engineering firm located near the Fremont Bridge in Seattle. We are looking for entry level and experienced engineers to join our team. We offer work on podium style buildings, custom homes, apartments and shoring and excavation projects. Our typical project gives you opportunity to interact with clients, contractors, and other team members. You will typically be responsible for the entire project and will see it through from the early schematic stages to completion of construction.

We are filling two positions:

• Mid-level Engineer - 5 to 10 years’ experience in structural engineering
• Entry Level Engineer from accredited school

Desired Qualifications:

• Registered PE, SE preferred (for mid-level position)
• BS or MS in Structural Engineering
• Experience in wood framed structures and concrete PT slabs and podium style buildings.
• Working knowledge of ETABS and RAM Concept (PT Analysis) software
• Working knowledge of CAD and Revit
• Strong emphasis on client relationships
• Strong technical and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team
• Ability to prioritize and manage budgets and deadlines
• Strong Communication skills

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits including a 401k with company match up to 5% and opportunity for yearend performance bonus. Other benefits include Medical, transit reimbursement, 50% paid dues for SEAW membership and flexible work environment.

Please address inquiries to:

Craig Roberts

croberts@ctengineering.com

CT Engineering, Inc.

180 Nickerson St Suite 302

Seattle, WA 98109

Structural Staff Engineer / Project Engineer

Swenson Say Faget has immediate openings in our Seattle, Tacoma, and Central Washington 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 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 being 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. Submit your resume to info@ssfengineers.com.

By Darrell Staaleson, PIC

As chair of the SEAW Public Information Committee, I am challenging you to help raise awareness of the SE profession’s vital contribution to society.  

In October 2021, the NCSEA launched a brand and marketing initiative to do just this. The campaign’s tagline, “We SEE Above and Beyond,” describes the valuable ways structural engineers contribute to the design and construction of built structures and resilient communities. Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) serves as a guiding principle for the profession.