VOL. LXII, NO.
4 FOUNDED 1930
575 MARKET STREET SUITE 2125 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-2870
President’s Message
SEAONC Strategic
Plan vs. Godzilla
Doug Hohbach, President
As an insert in this letter, you can
find the SEAONC Strategic Plan,
initiated during the previous Andy
Merovich administration and com-
pleted several months ago. Accom-
panying it are near term and longer
term implementation strategies.
Many of the near term actions have
already been implemented, including
the publication of CQA Committee
Welding Procedures Specification
Continued on page 2
Meeting Notice
SEAONC Degenkolb Forum
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The City Club
155 Sansome St. 10th Floor
Registration Deadline: 12:00 p.m. March
29th (Details to the right, reg. form on back
of news)
SEAONC Business Forum
There is no Business Forum for the month of
April. Business Forum Chair Jim Mogannam
asks that Members with suggestions about
topics or possibls speakers, contact him at
Mo@forell.com.
SEAONC South Bay Meeting
Tue. April 24, 2007
Michael’s at Shoreline
2960 N. Shoreline Blvd. Mnt. View
Registration Deadline: 12:00 p.m. April 19th
(Details on page 2, reg. form on back of news)
415/974-5147 WWW.SEAONC.ORG
April 3rd Degenkolb Forum Monthly Meeting
DEGENKOLB FORUM
The ATC-58 Project
Development of Next-Generation
Performance-based Design Guidelines
Ronald O. Hamburger, SE
Program Chair: Hamid Fatehi
Modern concepts of performance-
based earthquake engineering
originated in the mid-1990s, with the
ATC-33 project and development of
the seismic rehabilitation guidelines
that would eventually be published
as the ASCE 41 standard. Even before
the ATC-33 project initiated, Califor-
nia engineers had been practicing
rudimentary approaches to perfor-
mance-based design, attempting
to assist clients by identifying the
likely performance of buildings, in
the form of probable maximum loss
(PML) and risks to life safety, and
designing some buildings with an in-
tent that they could withstand strong
earthquakes with limited damage.
However, the ATC-33 concepts of
quantified performance levels (Im-
mediate Occupancy, Life Safety, Col-
lapse Prevention) tied to quantified
ground motion exceedance probabili-
ties, introduced both a new paradigm
and new excitement into earthquake
engineering. Following the North-
ridge earthquake, SEAOC responded
with its Vision 2000 project, popular-
izing the concepts of performance-
based design and calling for the
development of performance-based
design procedures applicable not
only to the evaluation and upgrade of
existing buildings but also the design
of new buildings.
Ten years after publication of the Vi-
sion 2000, FEMA-273/274 and ATC-40
-1-
April 2007
OFFICE@SEAONC.ORG
documents, the success of perfor-
mance-based design in engineering
practice is undeniable. Developers of
structural engineering software have
folded the performance-based design
technology into their products; the
State of California has formally ac-
cepted the use of these procedures
as acceptable means of designing
upgrades for schools, hospitals and
state-owned buildings and engi-
neers around the United States have
become familiar with nonlinear and
performance-based design concepts.
Some of the tallest buildings being
constructed today are designed using
the procedures contained in ASCE41
and similar performance-based de-
sign criteria.
As successful as the present genera-
tion of performance-based design
criteria have become, they have
several important limitations. First,
Continued on page 2
In the April News:
Presidents Column................. 1
Degenkolb Forum................... 1
YMF Spotlight.......................... 3
South Bay Meeting................. 2
SEAOC News............................ 4
Rebuilding Together............... 6
Business Forum........................ 7
Seismic-Safety Advocates..... 7
Sustainable Design.................. 8
Job Forum................................... 9
A Message from the President
Continued from page 1
document, the issuing of regular
press releases, the installation of the
long awaited web site calendar, the
appointment of a newsletter editor
(Grace Kang) and an improved and
better coordinated with SEAOC, Ex-
cellence in Engineering competition.
Also underway or almost complete is
a Field Act White Paper and a YMF
developed slide show on structural
engineering. Also a sub-committee
to the Existing Buildings Committee
has been formed to develop a build-
ing rating system for earthquake
performance.
In case you were wondering,
Godzilla is a symbol for the inertia
a successful organization such as
SEAONC can have. Implementation
of a strategic plan requires counter-
punching that inertia by taking the
initiative to improve. A yearly revisit-
ing of the plan is anticipated.
The Board welcomes your input, par-
ticularly on this initial version.
“ Degenkolb Forum” Continued from page 1
there is no direct tie between the dis-
crete performance levels and actual
losses that may be incurred, making
it difficult for owners and other deci-
sion-makers to choose appropriate
performance goals for projects. Per-
haps more important, there is no way
to judge the reliability of buildings
designed to these procedures and
no one knows whether their designs
will be able to deliver the promised
performance.
The Applied Technology Council
is presently engaged in develop-
ing next-generation procedures that
address these issues. These next-
generation procedures incorporate
structural reliability approaches to
express performance in terms of the
probability of incurring specific dol-
lar, downtime and casualty losses.
The guidelines, presently being
generated by the project team enable
evaluation of existing buildings,
design of new buildings or existing
building upgrades, and development
of PML, among other applications.
Preliminary guidelines are presently
being made available for precaution-
ary use by the profession.
Biography
Ronald O. Hamburger, SE, is a Senior
Principal with Simpson Gumpertz
& Heger Inc. in San Francisco. A
past-President of SEAONC, SEAOC
and NCSEA, and past Board Mem-
ber and Vice President of EERI, Mr.
Hamburger has been an international
leader in the development of per-
formance-based design criteria and
procedures. He was a member of the
Vision 2000 committee, a key member
of the ATC-33 and ATC-40 project
teams, project director for the FEMA/
SAC Steel project and since, 1997, has
been the Chair of the Scientific Advi-
sory Committee of the Pacific Earth-
quake Engineering Research Cen-
ter. Recently, Mr. Hamburger was
appointed to the NEHRP Advisory
Committee on Earthquake Hazard
Reduction that advises the NEHRP
agencies on national earthquake poli-
cy. He is a past chair of the SEAONC
Seismology and Existing Buildings
Committees and presently chairs the
Building Seismic Safety Council’s
Provision Update Committee. Since
2002, he has served as project direc-
tor for the ATC-58 project to develop
next-generation performance-based
seismic design criteria.
Earlier Dinner
Meetings
Note that the start time of the
Monthly Dinner Meetings in San
Francisco has been moved up 15
minutes to 6:15 - social reception be-
gins at 5:30. In conjunction with the
meetings being run more tightly, it
is anticipated that dinner meetings
will end 1/2 hour earlier on aver-
age. We appreciate your timeliness.
Thank you.
-2-
South Bay Meeting April 24th
APRIL 24TH, 2007 SOUTH
BAY DINNER MEETING
Evolution of United States
Building Code Ground Motion
Criteria
By Charles A. Kircher, Ph.D., P.E
Pat Chow, South Bay Program Chair
As California looks to adopt the
2007 International Building Code
in the very near future, come to the
April South Bay Dinner Meeting
to hear Charles A. Kircher present
an overview of the ground motion
criteria over the last 25 years, and to
glimpse into the IBC future as ASCE
7-05 replaces the UBC as the primary
source of seismic design require-
ments for new buildings.
The seismic code ground motion cri-
teria have improved
Centennial Contributionsignificantly in
the last 20 years. ASCE 7-05 ground
motion criteria represents the best
science and as the consistence crite-
ria for the United States model build-
ing codes. The ASCE 7-05 incorporat-
ed spectral contour maps developed
(and will be updated) by the United
States Geological Survey (USGS).
Tax season will be over and this
dinner meeting will provide nour-
ishment for the taxed out body and
mind. We look forward to see you
at Michael’s at Shoreline, 2960 North
Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain
View.
New Member Perk
New Members to SEAONC will
now receive their first dinner meet-
ing free*. Please pass the word
on to anyone considering joining
SEAONC. Please help us engage
our new members at their first din-
ner meetings!
THANKS,
The Membership Committee
(*The dinner must be within
the first two months of joining
SEAONC)
YMF Spotlight: Lucie Fougner
By Becky Claassen
In this edition of the YMF Spotlight
Series, Lucie Fougner shares about
her life as a young engineer. Lucie is
a Design Engineer with Degenkolb
Engineers in Oakland, and has been
with them since 2001 after graduat-
ing from Cornell University with a
BS in Civil Engineering. She also
earned her MS in Structural Engi-
neering from UC Berkeley in 2004.
Something that sets Lucie apart from
the average young engineer is her
extensive involvement with the phil-
anthropic organization Rebuilding
Together San Francisco. Projects that
the SEAONC team has managed in
previous years include renovations
of the Community Works facility,
Gateway Charter School, and Dolo-
res Street Community Center. As
the co-chair of the SEAONC Public
Affairs Committee, Lucie has helped
SEAONC become more involved in
this charitable organization.
YMF: Can you tell us something
about your experience working at
Degenkolb and some of the projects
you are working on now?
Lucie: Most recently, I’ve been work-
ing on a nonlinear dynamic analysis
of a steel moment frame hospital
tower built in the 1960’s. We’re
doing a detailed nonlinear analysis
using Perform-3D, and proposing an
alternative analysis criteria docu-
ment. We’re optimistic about show-
ing that the level of retrofit required
is minimal to achieve a Life Safety
objective. I’ve also been working on
the retrofit of the Bancroft Library at
Cal, which is a lot of fun because it
means that I get to be back on cam-
pus. We are adding concrete shear
walls, and strengthening the slabs
and beams for heavy library stack marathon. Can you elaborate on your
loading by adding topping slabs to interests outside of engineering?
act compositely with the existing Lucie: I did just complete my first
system, rather than by strengthen- marathon last year… I’ve only been
ing with steel framing below. For running for a couple years but it’s
both of these jobs, advanced analy- completely addictive. I’m embarrass-
sis is allowing us to get the most out ingly slow but I figure that means I
of our existing buildings. can only get better! And I love to
paint when I can find the time; I just
YMF: What involvement have you had my first show this past year at
had with SEAONC in the past? Any my favorite coffee shop. Running and
plans for staying involved in the painting both help keep me sane.
future?
Lucie: This year, Shane Gross and YMF: Any closing thoughts or com-
I are the chairs of SEAONC’s Public ments?
Affairs Committee. Previously, I’ve Lucie: I’m really looking forward to
been involved with Continuing Ed this April’s RT project… I’m hop-
and Public Affairs, but I decided ing a lot of people make it out this
to direct all my effort towards PA year! We’re really gearing up right
this year. Our primary objective now, and the big reward for me is to
is to fundraise for and organize see it all come together on Rebuild-
SEAONC’s volunteers’ involvement ing Weekend. People can find more
in Rebuilding Together Weekend. information about RTSF at www.
Regardless of who chairs the Public rebuildingtogethersf.org (and click
Affairs Committee next year, I on the Summer 2006 newsletter
plan to stay involved in Rebuilding to see before and after pictures of
Weekend. It’s a great way to get to- SEAONC’s featured project from
gether with friends and colleagues last year). If anyone would like to
from different companies and work volunteer on Saturday April 21st or
towards a common goal. 28th, or donate to RT through SEA-
ONC’s team, they can contact me at
YMF: Can you tell us a bit about the lfougner@degenkolb.com.
organization Rebuilding Together
and the service project currently be-
ing organized for SEAONC?
Lucie: Rebuilding Together San
Francisco (RTSF) is a fantastic
nonprofit organization that started
in response to the Loma Prieta
earthquake and provides free home
repair and renovation programs for
low-income, elderly and disabled
San Franciscans and for nonprofit
and neighborhood facilities. The
last weekend in April, RT volunteers
pull together to complete projects
all over the city. RTSF has come
to depend on the SEAONC team
because of the practical experience,
special skills, and huge number of
enthusiastic volunteers we bring to
the job every year. This year, we’ll
be overhauling a community center
building on Treasure Island that
houses a collaboration of 20 com- YMF Spotlight is a monthly article, high-
munity-based organizations that lighting some of the talented young per-
serve formerly homeless low-income sonalities that characterize the SEAONC
families. This building is used for
community. If you would like to nomi-
community meetings, a food pantry,
and job training, and it needs our nate a young engineer with an interesting
perspective to share, please email Karl
help.
Telleen ktelleen@ruthchek.com.
YMF: I understand you are quite
a talented artist and recently ran a
-3-
SEAOC News
President’s Message
By Norman Scheel
SEAOC President
The new era of the International
Building Code (IBC) is upon us. The
California Building Standards com-
mission has adopted the IBC as the
model code for California. Printing
is scheduled to be complete on July 1,
2007 and the projected date when the
new code will be in effect is January
1, 2008.
In anticipation of this, SEAOC has
funded the preparation of 3 volumes
of Structural/Seismic Design Manu-
als (SSDM). Volume I and Volume
II are currently available from ICC
and Volume III will soon be in print.
The SEAOC Seminars Committee
is in the process of arranging for
SSDM seminars to be presented
through the four regional associa-
tions. These are expected to take
place in the spring and fall of 2007.
These seminars will be used to pres-
ent examples and problems from the
new SSDM’s.
On February 10, 2007, the newly re-
constituted SEAOC Code Committee
met in Los Angeles. One of this com-
mittee’s charges is to review code
change proposals and recommend
approval, disapproval or modifica-
tion. These recommendations will
then be submitted to the appropriate
NCSEA committees as well as the
IBC Structural Committee. Volun-
teers are needed at the local level
to serve on the regional association
code committees to have a voice in
the code development process for all
our members.
The state Code Committee also has
established an ad hoc Wind Subcom-
mittee with the charge of proposing
a code change to simplify the wind
provisions in the 2006 IBC. The sub-
committee met with the Washington
and Oregon Structural Engineers
Association’s Wind Committees
in Portland in late February to try
to form a consensus for this wind
code proposal prior to moving on to
NCSEA and IBC. The objective is to
make the wind provisions we would
be using very similar to those in the
1997 UBC.
The SEAOC Long Range Plan has
called for the publication of a Journal
of the Structural Engineers Associa-
tion of California. At this time this
journal is conceptual only and is
envisioned to be under the direction
of a 3 or 4 person Editorial Board.
The content of the Journal is not
intended to be technical only but to
also contain a variety of other types
of articles as determined by the Edi-
torial Board possibly such as opinion
pieces, key moments in the history
of the profession, etc. The Journal
content is not intended to compete
or conflict with the Blue Book which
remains the province of the SEAOC
Seismology Committee.
And, finally, if you have not met
the current SEAOC Board of Direc-
tors, please see the sidebar column
accompanying this article that lists
the officers and board members. The
Board meets four times per year with
Executive Committee conference
calls as necessary between meetings.
The Board is charged with making
policy decisions as to the directions
to be taken by the association and
assure that communication and
coordination of program direction
between the four regional associa-
tions is maintained at a high level.
This is one of the most dedicated
and effective group of individuals it
has been my pleasure to be affiliated
with. Please feel free to contact Board
members in your area with your
questions, concerns or comments.
SEAOC Frequently Asked
Questions
How can I get the SEAOC discount
on SEAOC-produced publications
such as the new Structural/Seismic
Design Manual series through the
ICC bookstore?
Call ICC toll free at (888) 422-7233,
extension 3221. The person at that
extension knows the deal with
SEAOC and will fulfill orders with
the member discount. Orders will
be taken from voice mail if she is not
personally available.
How do I access the SEAOC web site
secure section?
-4-
Enter ID “SEAOC” and password
“SEA32OC” to access the information.
The code is case sensitive – use capital
letters.
How do I get information on state
legislation that has been introduced
and its status?
Updated bill summaries are posted
on the SEAOC web site at seaoc.org
on the home page. You can check this
site from time-to-time to get the latest
update on legislation of interest to the
profession. If you wish to access a bill
itself, its status, as well as all Califor-
nia statutes and general information
on the Legislature, go to web site
leginfo.ca.gov and click on the appro-
priate button on the home page.
How do I go about obtaining the
entry package for the 2007 SEAOC
Excellence in Engineering Awards
Program?
The full package is on the SEAOC
web site home page at seaoc.org and
can be printed out.
When and where is the Structural
Engineers World Congress 2007?
November 4 – 9, 2007, Bangalore, In-
dia at Hotel Grand Ashok. Go to web
site sewc2007.org for full information.
Where can I get information on the
2006 IBC, UMC, and UPC training
sessions CALBO is offering?
The schedule and registration in-
formation for the CALBO training
sessions on the model code and state
amendments is posted on the SEAOC
web site at seaoc.org. This informa-
tion can also be accessed through
the web site at calbo.org/docu-
ments/0650_0001.pdf. SEAOC mem-
bers get the CALBO member rate.
SEAOC News
SEAOC February 10 Board for educational events using the
Saif Hussain
SEAOSC program as a model.
Meeting Summary of Actions (SEAOSC President)
* Regional associations were asked to
Coffman Engineers, Inc.
review Sections 5 and 6 of the SEAOC
Major actions taken by the SEAOC Policies and Procedures Manual in
Board of Directors at the February 10 Martin Johnson
accordance with the review schedule
meeting include: (SEAOSC Past President)
and bring their recommendations to
• Reviewed and approved the De- ABS Consulting
the June Board meeting.
cember 31 financial statement.
• Received staff activity report Chris Kamp
The next meeting of the SEAOC
covering period since last Board (SEAOSD President)
Board of Directors is June 9 at the
meeting. SDSE
Sacramento Hyatt Regency.
• Reviewed NCSEA report of activ-
ity. Bret Lizundia
• Discussed possible activities for (SEAONC Vice President)
the College of Fellows to undertake.
Structural Engineers Rutherford & Chekene
• Acted to contribute $2500 to assist Association of California
in sponsoring the 2007 Structures Brad Lowe
2006-2007 Board of Directors (See Treasurer)
Congress in Long Beach on May 17 (Executive Committee members
– 19, 2007.
* Appointed a working group to re- in bold italic type) Matt Melcher
view the current SEAOC committee (SEAOCC President)
Officers Lionakis Beaumont Design Group
structure and make recommenda-
tions for the Board to consider. President
* Asked regional associations to rec- Andy Merovich
ommend a member to be appointed (See Secretary)
Norm Scheel
to the Seismic Safety Commission (SEAOCC)
SE seat being vacated by SEAONC Brian Reil
Norman Scheel Structural Engineer (SEAOCC Past President)
member Dan Shapiro.
* Acted to approve a letter of com- Buehler & Buehler Structural Engi-
President-Elect neers
mendation for all who have worked
on the Blue Book over the years in Jon Kiland
recognition of their contribution. Fred Schott
(SEAONC) (SEAOSC President – elect)
* Reviewed status of Long Range DASSE Design
Plan progress. Fred Schott & Associates
• Discussed ways and means of Secretary
best pursuing enhanced earthquake Staff
hazard mitigation procedures. Lee Adler
Andy Merovich Executive Director
• Received progress reports from (SEAONC)
committee chairs on their Plans of SEAOC
A.T. Merovich & Associates
Work.
* In response to community colleges Treasurer
now being able to opt to conduct
construction projects under either Bradley T. Lowe
the Field Act or the California Build- (SEAOSD)
ing Code, SEAONC is in the process Hope Engineering, Inc.
of putting together a recommenda-
tion to be submitted to DSA and the Past President
SSC outlining an appropriate design
standard of care – this will be sub- Daniel J. Novak
mitted to this Board for review and (SEAOSC)
approval at the June meeting. Tetra Tech, Inc.
* BOPELS, at SEAOC/SEAONC’s re-
quest, has agreed to release SE exam Directors
problems minus answers from 5
years ago with SEAOC devising the James Amundson
answers for presentation at SE exam (SEAOSD Past President)
review courses to enhance the value Hope Engineering
of these courses to the attendees. Be sure to make your reservations
* Regional associations were urged early for the 2007 SEAOC Conven-
Doug Hohbach tion. Please visit www.seaocc.
to take the necessary steps to estab- (SEAONC President)
lish procedures for awarding PDH’s org/2007convention for more infor-
Hohbach-Lewin, Inc. mation and to register.

-5-
Pending Members
Associate
Tracy Leung, SOHA Engineers
Design Engineer
Sylvie Petta, KPFF Consulting
Engineers, Project Engineer
Michael Cardellini, DASSE Design,
Staff Engineer
Bill Wells, Peoples Associates
Structural Engineers, Assistant
Engineer
Janey Chan, Peoples Associates
Structural Engineers, Assistant
Engineer
Life Member SE
Robert Okano, Peoples Associates
Structural Engineers
Member
Linda Liang, Treadwell and Rollo,
Inc., Senior Engineer
Timothy Lucido, Rutherford &
Chekene, Staff Engineer, PE
Student
Amy Yip, Stanford University
Graduate Student
Madeline Cunanan, San Francisco
State Univ, Graduate Student
Welcome New Members
Associate
Townsend Brown, GFDS Engineer,
Design Engineer
Joseph Rakow, Exponent Failure
Analysis Associates, Engineer
Mauricio Escobar, Hohbach-Lewin,
Inc., Staff Engineer
Mollye Mikula, Holmes Culley
Structural Designer, /2nd year
Jessica Godinho, Hinman
Consulting Engineers, Porject Engi-
neer
Industry
Don Dolly, Foundation Constructors,
Inc, President
John Rainone, Sullivan Kreiss, Inc
Engineering, Team Leader
Student
Wai Hong Cheng, SF State
University, Student
Hai Hua Lei, U C Berkeley,
Student
Rebuilding Together is
THIS MONTH!
Save the date(s):
Saturday, April 21st (prep day) and
Saturday, April 28th (big work
day)!!
Thank you to everyone who re-
sponded to our previous requests
for contributions! We still need
your donations and now we need
VOLUNTEERS! This is SEAONC’s
sixteenth year of participation in this
annual charity event. Rebuilding
Together is a nationwide, non-profit
organization that coordinates vol-
unteers and sponsorship in an effort
to renovate neighborhood facilities
and repair the homes of low-income,
disabled and elderly homeowners.
This year we will be working on a
Treasure Island community center
housing twenty community agencies
helping homeless and low-income
people get back on their feet. The
facility is used for meetings and job
training and also houses a food pan-
try. Rebuilding Together Contribu-
tions are used to purchase tools and
materials for projects.
Mark your calendars for Sat. April
28th. Volunteers are needed!!! We
are sounding the call for all volun-
teers, with or without any construc-
tion experience. We are especially
looking for those with construction
experience, including home projects,
who are interested in helping us lead
a small construction team within
the larger project. If you would like
additional information or would like
to volunteer, please contact Lucie
Fougner at lfougner@degenkolb.com
or Shane Gross at sgross@degenkolb.
com or call (510) 272-9040. Please
mail tax-deductible donations, pay-
able to Rebuilding Together, to:

Rebuilding Together
Save the Date: May 1, 2007 c/o Lucie Fougner
Degenkolb Engineers
SEAONC proudly announces the first annual Association Awards 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 450
Ceremony in celebration of the 2007 Excellence in Structural Oakland, CA 94612
Engineering Awards program. Thanks! Look forward to seeing you
on April 28th!!
This year the Association will celebrate 2007 Excellence in Structural Engi-
neering Award recipients and their work at the May 1st, 2007 SEAONC Din-
ner Meeting. Award recipients will be formally announced and invited to
make a brief presentation and overview of their Awarded project entry. All
are invited to this extraordinary event to celebrate and give recognition to
those in the SEAONC membership demonstrating excellence in their work.

-6-
Seismic-Safety Advocates Join
Forces to Aid San Francisco
On February 24th, more than 150 engineers, architects
and graduate students joined forces to conduct a block-
by-block survey of San Francisco’s multi-unit residential
wood-frame buildings, including the so-called “soft-story”
structures located throughout the City that are potentially
at risk during earthquakes.
These volunteers, organized by the Earthquake Engineer-
ing Research Institute’s Northern California Chapter
(EERI-NC) and the Structural Engineers Association of
Northern California (SEAONC), collected data on struc-
tures in downtown neighborhoods including the Mission,
Haight-Ashbury, and Telegraph Hill. Their data will be
used by City authorities to assess further the City’s vulner-
able housing stock leading to mitigation strategies that will
ultimately reduce the seismic risks posed by these build-
ings. Joining the volunteers from EERI-NC and SEAONC
were members of the San Francisco branches of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Civil
Engineers (ASCE), and graduate students from UC Berke-
ley, San Francisco State and Stanford University.
Soft-story buildings are those in which the first story is
substantially more flexible than the stories above, typically
due to multiple openings for garage doors and entrance
ways. These structures perform poorly in earthquakes.
In the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 16 people were killed
and 34,000 housing units were left uninhabitable by soft-
story building collapses. Closer to home, in the 1989 Loma
Prieta Earthquake, 2 lives were lost and 7,700 housing
units were rendered uninhabitable due to soft-stories. In
light of this, it is perhaps not surprising that a 2006 study
by Kircher et al., prompted by the recent anniversary of
the Great San Francisco Earthquake, concluded that soft-
story wood buildings were among the most vulnerable
building types when estimating losses due to a repeat of
the 1906 event.
Last year, Assembly Bill 304 was signed into law by Cali-
fornia Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, allowing local
governments to identify soft-story buildings as potentially
hazardous to life and to establish local standards to retrofit
them. Other California cities, such as Berkeley and Fre-
mont, have surveyed their buildings but none has as large
an inventory as San Francisco. The City’s Department of
Building Inspection (SFDBI) staff has studied key neigh-
borhoods, but it would take them months, or even years, to
canvass the entire city.
This event provided a hands-on opportunity for seismic-
safety advocates from varying backgrounds – structural
and civil engineers, geologists, seismologists, architects,
building officials and others – to work together to perform
a great community service. What’s more, the exercise was
an excellent learning experience for future post-disaster
surveys. According to Ray Lui, Manager of SFDBI’s Struc-
tural Safety and Emergency Planning Division, “Collect-
ing reliable data efficiently and systematically is far easier
before the big quake than afterward. Plus it can give us a
chance to head off seismic hazards before they occur.” He
should know. Lui coordinated SEAONC’s efforts for the
State’s Office of Emergency Service (OES) Safety Assess-
ment Volunteers (SAV) in New Orleans following Hurri-
cane Katrina.
-7-
February South Bay Program
Wrap-up
Construction of the New
Stanford Football Stadium
By Pat Chow, South Bay Program Chair
Co-presented By Tim Stitt, Vance Brown Builders & C.S.
Hwang, County of Santa Clara
Mr. Stitt and Mr. Hwang presented interesting facts about the
new $100 Million Stanford Football Stadium to 45 SEAONC
members and guests at the South Bay meeting. Mr. Stitt shared
many photographs of the project, covering the period from the
conclusion of the last football game the previous year to the
completion of the stadium just before the first football game of
the following year; a total of nine months!! Mr. Hwang further
described the structural systems and the positive environ-
ments that made this fast paced project possible.
Sampling of the facts includes the following:
- Convince all contractors and sub-contractors that the sched-
ule can be met
- Demolition was completed in one week, one week ahead of
schedule
- The track around the stadium was left in place during con-
struction for truck traffic
- Parts of the stadium berm was conserved as historic; and to
minimize excavation and disposition
- Aluminum was salvaged for $180,000
- First concrete was poured two weeks after start of construc-
tion
- Foundation for the bleacher was simple concrete piers – 400
pieces, 30 and 36 inch diameters, length ranging from 25 feet
to 90 feet
- Used fiberglass forms for the piers – 60 piers per week
- Experienced a wet winter – mud and more rain
- MSE walls were used to stabilize the remaining berm – quick
and economical
- 3-100 feet long tunnels were dug by a “wine cave guy” from
the wine country
- The Press Box exterior was constructed with window wash-
ing equipment
- Upper bleacher was design/build by a bleacher contractor
- Press Box was designed by Middlebrook+Louie – SMRF with
long tall columns
- There is a 4 hour fire/area separation wall between the
bleacher and the Press Box – this fire wall is an example of
compromise and working together toward a common goal
between the Applicant, Fire Marshal, Architect, and Plan
Reviewer
- The original score board had to be relocated
- The project was originally budgeted at $30 Million,
upped to $45 Million from the first estimate, and com-
pleted at $100 Million
- Names of Donor of $1 Million or more are prominently
displaced in the luxury suites
The main themes that made this achievement possible
remain to be - working with good communications; hav-
ing good team members; make and approve changes on
site; working with approved contractors and designers;
and good participations from the governing agencies.
Sustainable Design: Some
Frequently Asked Questions
by Lindsey Maclise, Lisa Minakami,
Townsend Brown, Sarah Vaughan, Alan
Kren, Sustainable Design Committee
Members
A colleague recently asked two ques-
tions relating to sustainable design,
both prompted by projects he was
working on. The first was “What risk
is there in using fly ash in concrete
due to the heavy metals in fly ash?”
His client had heard that fly ash con-
tained heavy metals and was worried
that using it as a substitute for cement
in concrete posed a health risk. The
second concerned using salvaged
wood timbers and the affect fatigue
has on the strength and stiffness char-
acteristics of the salvaged timbers.
As one tenet of sustainable design is
to recycle and reuse, both questions
were appropriate subjects for research
by the Sustainable Design Committee.
What follows is what we learned.
Fly ashes contain minute amounts of
arsenic, chromium, lead, titanium and
other heavy metals. The amount of
heavy metals contained in a particular
fly ash varies on the type and source
of the fly ash. There is concern on
the presence of these metals on the
possible impact to human health
when used in HVFA Concrete. Stud-
ies on the possible toxicity of HVFA
were conducted at the University of
Aachen, Germany, and by Zhang,
Blanchette, and Malhotra at CANMET
(Canadian Center for Mineral and
Energy Technology), Canada. Both
studies show that when fly ash was
used in good quality concrete the
amount of heavy metals that leached
from the concrete were either unde-
tectable or well below the prescribed
limits for unsafe drinking water. In
general, less than 1% of the heavy
metals contained in the fly ash were
detected to leach out of the concrete.
A 30% and 60% Fly ash mix were both
tested, with similar results. Based
upon the results from the testing there
is a relatively low risk of heavy metal
contamination to humans or the sur-
rounding environment when fly ash is
used in good quality HVFA concrete.
More detailed information is in the
reference paper by Malhotra, V.M.,
Mehta, P.K., “High-Performance,
High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete: Mate-
rials, Mixture Proportioning, Proper-
ties, Construction Practice, and Case
Histories”; Supplementary Cementing
Materials for Sustainable Develop-
ment Inc., Ottawa, Canada, August
2002, pp. 8-10.
2006-07 Committee Chairs
Timber bridges, many of which are
over 40 years old, comprise about Business Forum
James Mogannam
one-third of the inventory of Class I 415/837-0700
freight railroads. In 1998, the Trans- mo@forell.com
portation Technology Center, a sub-
sidiary of the Association of American Bylaws
Railroads, teamed with Texas A&M
J.E. Goudie
925/399/5876
University to generate fatigue data for jegoudie@cs.com
use in assessing the performance and
reliability of existing bridges under
Construction Quality & Assurance
Tim Hart
heavy axle loading. Cyclic tests were 510/433-9370
performed on 45 new solid sawn hart@DASSE.com
stringers. Test results indicated that Continuing Education Committee
while horizontal shear was the most Natalie Tse
common failure mode, beams failed at 415/989-1004
shear strengths higher than the allow- natalie-tse@kpff-sf.com
able values defined by the AREMA Disaster Emergency Services
(The American Railway Engineering Steven Lew
and Maintenance of Way Association) 415/957-2480
Manual for Railway Engineering. It
slew@trseinc.com
was also observed that cyclic load- Existing Building
ing caused the incremental growth David Bonowitz
of pre-existing checks, which eventu- 415/865-8034
david.bonowitz@jud.ca.gov
ally led to horizontal shear failure. A
beam having several large checks at Legislative
mid-depth was found to be more del- David Wilson
415/834-2010
eterious than one having numerous dwilson@cdengineers.com
smaller, evenly distributed checks.
Those wishing more information are Membership Committee
directed to the reference paper at
Kevin Morton
kmorton@hohbach-lewin.com
www.arema.org/eseries/scriptcon-
tent/custom/e_arema/library/2001_ Professional Practices
Conference_Proceedings/00020.pdf Jeff Taner
510/845-6600
jtaner@atmainc.net
Wood structures in general are subject
to decay, fatigue cracks, porosity, and Program
Hamid Fatehi
other defects that can undermine the 415/957-9445
timber’s strength. A study to improve hamid.fatehi@arup.com
non-destructive evaluation techniques
of salvaged timber was performed by Program (South Bay)
Patrick Chow
Washington State University, in col- 650/428-2860
laboration with USDA Forest Products patchow@rpse.com
Laboratory and the Federal Highway
Public Affairs
Administration. Effective methods of Lucie Fougner
accessing the mechanical integrity of lfougner@degenkolb.com
timber using ultrasound inspection, 510/272-9040
Co-Chair
radiography, and vibration analysis Shane Gross
were developed and improved upon. sgross@degenkolb.com
More information is in the reference 510/272/9040
paper by Emerson, R.N., (1999) “Non- Seismology & Structural Standards
destructive Testing of Large Bridge Mark Moore
Timbers”, Forest Products Society, 415/568-4433
Proceedings of the 11th International mmoore@ruthchek.com
Symposium on Nondestructive Test- Sustainable Design
ing of Wood, Madison Wisconsin, Alan Kren
September 1998. 415/568-4433
akren@ruthchek.com
The Sustainable Design Commit- Transportation Structures Committee
Mark Ketchum
tee expects that structural engineers 415/989-4135
have questions regarding sustainable mketchum@opacengineers.com
design. Feel free to ask any member Website
of the committee your question, or Darrick Hom
email Erik Kneer, committee vice- 510/910-4142
dbhom@structvis.com
chair, at EKneer@degenkolb.com. The
committee will do its best to answer Younger Member Forum
questions as best it can. Refer to the
Heinz Kuo
415/568-4433
committee’s webpage on the SEAONC hkuo@de-simone.com
website for these questions, responses, Co-Chair
Scott Henderson
and supporting references. scott.henderson@kpff-sf.com
-8-
 Job Forum
Biggs Cardosa Associates has immediate
openings in our San Jose, San Francisco and
Oakland, CA offices! Are you interested
in a long-term career with an exciting and
growth-oriented firm? In San Jose, we
are looking for three Senior Engineers or
Project Managers (one with min. 10 years
experience in building design and Califor-
nia SE required; and two with min. 10 years
experience in bridge design and California
CE required). In Oakland, we are looking
for Project Engineers or Staff Engineers,
and a Senior Engineer or Project Manager
with a min. 10 years experience in build-
ing and/or bridge design (California CE
is required, SE is preferred). Please email
your resume to mharms@biggscardosa.
com. Find out more about our firm at
www.biggscardosa.com. EOE.
DASSE Design, recognized again by
Structural Engineer Magazine as one of
the best SE firms to work for, has open-
ings in Oakland for talented Staff and
Project Engineers interested in diverse
and technically challenging building
structures. Our work includes new con-
struction and retrofit, in education, health
care, civic and life sciences. Requirements
are BSCE (MSCE preferred), 2-10+ years
relevant design experience; DSA or OSHPD
experience a plus. PE or SE license required
for Project Engineers. Position requires
strong technical and communication skills,
with a desire to grow in a professional
environment. Email resume with cover let-
ter to William Andrews, andrews@dasse.
com Visit us at www.dasse.com.
Degenkolb Engineers is looking for tal-
ented engineers to join our San Francisco
team. As recognized leaders in seismic
engineering, we offer a diverse, challeng-
ing mix of projects on new and existing
structures. We offer an excellent salary and
benefits package. Currently, we are look-
ing for engineers with a M.S. in Structural
Engineering with 0-3 years of experience.
Experience in structural/seismic engineer-
ing analysis and design of buildings is
a plus. Please see our website at www.
degenkolb.com. EOE. To apply, send a
narrative letter about yourself with your
current resume to malley@degenkolb.com
or to Degenkolb Engineers, Attn: James
Malley, 225 Bush Street, Suite 1000, San
Francisco, California 94104.
DESIMONE Consulting Engineers, a
leading national structural engineering
firm with a staff of more than 160 em-
ployees, has immediate openings in our
growing San Francisco office for engineers
at all levels, especially experienced Project
Managers and Project Engineers. Presently,
we are designing a diverse mix of interest-
ing and technically challenging projects,
including museums, resorts, and residen-
tial projects, along with several high-rise
buildings ranging up to 75 stories. Ideal
candidates should have strong technical,
management and communications skills,
with a PE license (preferred). We offer a
competitive benefits package, coupled with
a dynamic work environment. Additional
opportunities are available in our New
York, Miami, New Haven and Las Vegas
offices. Please send your resume via e-mail
to rpolivka@de-simone.com.
Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc Are you look-
ing for that “dream job” that will allow you to
work in a dynamic downtown San Francisco
office with a collaborative, fun group of
engineers on some of the most challenging
and exciting structural and seismic projects
in California and around the world? If so,
Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc. is eager to
hear from you! Named in 2004 as one of the
top 15 Best Structural Engineering Firms to
Work For in the United States by Structural
Engineer Magazine, Forell/Elsesser Engi-
neers, Inc., is seeking talented engineers to
be members of our team. Join an exciting
and thoughtful team in a dynamic work
environment that actively encourages and
supports individual professional growth
through ongoing education, training, and
mentoring. Our firm offers a competitive
compensation package that includes major
medical, dental, vision, life/disability in-
surance, 401(k) match, profit sharing plan,
incentive compensation plan and a flexible
spending account. Find out more about
Forell/Elsesser at www.forell.com Please
contact Mason Walters at (415) 837-0700 or
send resumes to Mason Walters, Forell/El-
sesser Engineers, Inc., 160 Pine Street, 6th
Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111 or e-mail
mason@forell.com
FULCRUM STRUCTURAL ENGINEER-
ING has an opening for a full-time project
engineer/manager to join our growing
SOMA firm. Varied projects include chal-
lenging custom residential, commercial,
public buildings and historical retrofit and
restoration. Applicants must have 5-10 years
of experience in structural detailing and
preparing construction drawings for build-
ings, knowledge of CA/field observation and
excellent communication skills. Professional
engineering license preferred. Masters de-
gree in Structural Engineering a plus.
We are looking for someone who can run
projects from start to finish as a project man-
ager or ready to step up to a project manager
position. Excellent salary and benefits pack-
age. Email resumes to careers@Fulcrumse.
com or fax 415-543-0162
H. D. Rueb, Structural Engineer, a medium
size firm located in Pleasant Hill, has been
providing structural engineering services for
the past 35 years. We are currently seeking
a self-motivated project engineer/manager
with 5 years minimum experience who is
looking for growth opportunity working
on various building types. Applicants must
have CE license with SE and MS degree
preferred. Job requires independent person
with good communication skills to do project
management and client interface. Applicants
must be team players, work to meet deadlines
and have concrete, masonry, steel and wood
design experience. We offer an extremely
competitive salary and benefits package.
Learn more about us, and the position, at
our website at www.hdrse.com. Contact us
at: 360 Civic Drive, Suite F, Pleasant Hill,
CA 94523 or Fax to (925) 825-9561 or email
us at staff@hdrse.com
-9-
Jon Brody Structural Engineers is an award
winning San Francisco firm with a reputation
for design creativity and a high level of pro-
fessional service. We work on a wide variety
of new and retrofit project types, with a focus
on the integration of structural require-
ments with architectural design objectives.
Committed engineers with strong design,
analytical, and interpersonal skills and min.
2 years design experience in CA are encour-
aged to apply for Structural Designer, Project
Engineer and Project Management positions
on our team. Please e-mail resume/cover
letter to inquiries@jonbrody.com.
KPFF Consulting Engineers is seeking
Project Engineers & Project Managers for
full time employment. Applicants must be
motivated and possess excellent written and
verbal skills. KPFF offers our employees an
environment that supports personal growth,
education and training, and the freedom to
pursue individual career goals. If you have
at least 5 years of design experience, a PE
license, an advanced degree in structural
engineering, and an interest in Structural
Design, we want to hear from you. Send
cover letter and resume to KPFF 1160 Battery
St., Suite 300, SF, CA 94111. EOE
Lawder Engineering-Structural designer/
engineer position available with Modesto
based structural engineering firm. Firm
provides design services for a wide variety
of projects including mid-rise buildings.
Must have BS engineering degree, have good
technical and communication skills, and be
conversant with AutoCAD, SAP 2000, ETABS.
Send resume to Lawder Engineering , PO Box
3206, Modesto, CA 95353 or fax to (209) 521-
1581 or email to jobs@jhlawderse.com.
NISHKIAN MENNINGER SEEKS EXPE-
RIENCED REGISTERED ENGINEER with 5
or more years experience in various types
of structures; office buildings, high-rises,
schools, multiple-tenant residential & other
commercial projects, garages and seismic
rehab. Resume & salary requirements to:
1200 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
or e-mail: lnishkian@nishkian.com.
OLMM (www.olmm.com), an award-win-
ning structural engineering firm, has im-
mediate openings for SENIOR and PROJECT
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS in its Oakland
office. The positions offer excellent oppor-
tunity for professional growth and advance-
ment. You will take charge of diverse and
challenging projects in a motivating and
collaborative work environment. We are
seeking motivated individuals with PE or
SE license and 3 to 10 years of experience in
structural/seismic analysis and design of
major structures in wood, concrete, and steel.
We offer a generous compensation package
including 401(k) plan with company match,
profit sharing plan, incentive compensa-
tion, and major medical, dental, vision, and
long-term disability insurance. Please email
resume to: sunil@olmm.com.
PARADIGM Structural Engineers, Inc., We
are looking for talented Project Manager,
Senior Project Engineers, Project Engineer
and Staff Engineer level individuals to
come join our dynamic and creative team.
 Job Forum
At PARADIGM, we work in a collaborative
environment which focuses on developing
you as a professional while producing some
of the most innovative design solutions for
our clients. Now is the time to take control
of your future and make a “PARADIGM
Shift!” Visit us at www.paradigmse.com and
see how your qualifications and talents can
help you become a contributing member at
PARADIGM. Send resume and cover letter
to jchislett@paradigmse.com or fax Jennifer
at (415) 362-8945.
RPSE Seeking Resumes for Structural Engi-
neers:Rinne & Peterson Structural Engineers
(RPSE) seeks and executes diverse, challeng-
ing projects. Are you customer-focused,
detail-oriented, flexible, with great commu-
nication skills? Want growth opportunity,
flexible hours, competitive salary, great
benefits and superb working environment?
Please send cover letter and resume to Hu-
man Resources, via fax at 650.428.2861, or
e-mail HumanRes@rpse.com.
Rutherford & Chekene, internationally
recognized as a leader in structural and
seismic engineering, has multiple career op-
portunities in response to our considerable
backlog of prestigious projects. Positions
involving innovative structural design and
analysis are currently open to engineers
and designers with the following levels of
experience who want to become part of our
dynamic and collaborative team: - Structural
Project Manager/Engineer with 3+ years of
relevant experience and strong analytical,
detailing, and communication skills (pro-
fessional registration highly desirable), and
- Structural Designer with strong academic
background, demonstrated interest in the
profession, and willingness to learn (M.S.
degree in structural engineering or B.S. de-
gree from a 4-year architectural/structural
engineering program preferred). If you wish
to apply for one of these positions or learn
more about them, please contact Peter Rev-
elli by phone at 415/568-4400 or E-mail at
prevelli@ruthchek.com. Also visit our web
site at www.ruthchek.com.
Structus Interested in working on diverse,
challenging projects in a congenial environ-
ment without office politics? Structus, a
small, award winning structural engineering
firm in the San Francisco Financial District
is looking for self-motivated professionals
with experience in structural design/analy-
sis/PM. Projects range from mid-rise edu-
cational/residential-mixed-use buildings
to water/waste water and transportation
facilities. Minimum Qualifications: 1 – 10
yrs. experience for Engineers (MS required
with less than 5 yrs. experience); 10 – 20 yrs.
experience for Project Managers. Fluency
in English is essential. We offer excellent
compensation/benefit package. E-mail re-
sume to henry@structusinc.com or Fax to:
415.399.8966, Attn: Don Chappell.
Tipping Mar + Associates seeks an ener-
getic, creative individual to join the staff of
a dynamic, emerging structural engineering
firm. If you have imagination in addition to
technical expertise, and would enjoy work-
ing in early collaboration with architects and
contractors to provide exceptional seismic
DISPLAY ADS
and sustainable design, please send a resume
and cover letter to Tipping Mar + associ-
ates, 1906 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA
94704; fax to 510-549-1912; or e-mail steve. Full Page $900/mo.
tipping@tippingmar.com.
2/3 Page $600/mo.
Walker Parking The Project Engineer will 1/2 Page $480/mo.
take a lead role in developing and preparing
documents for project designs. Project En- 1/3 Page $360/mo.
gineer responsibilities include performing
structural engineering work requiring use 1/4 Page $270/mo.
of conventional engineering practices, plans, 1/6 Page $225/mo.
investigations, surveys, and structures or
equipment. The prospective candidate shall
have knowledge of concrete design and have Inserts/Flyers
the ability to lead the assembly of contract
documents. Experience in the design of post- 1 sided $1000/mo.
tensioned concrete structures is desired.
Computer skills (CADD included), written 2 sided $1200/mo.
and oral communication skills are required.
Must be able to work in a team environ- Rates are for finished camera-
ment. Minimum acceptable requirements: ready black and white ads or
qualified candidate shall be a registered
professional engineer (or have the ability to proofed picture files with em-
become registered within one year), possess bedded fonts. Full payment
a BSCE degree, and have a minimum of 5 is required at time of insertion
years of experience. Send resume to sanjay. order. For advertising contract,
pandya@walkerparking.com
size specifications, and special
rates for running an ad for multiple
Watry Design, Inc. is looking for just the
right individuals to join our highly skilled months, contact the SEAONC Of-
team of architects, engineers and parking fice at by e-mail at: office@seaonc.
consultants. Are you interested in forging com or phone at 415/974 -5147.
new territory? Our firm is doing just that .
. . We currently have openings for entry to
mid-level structural designers who would
like to work for clients such as Pixar, Stan-
ford, BART, Kaiser, IKEA and Marriott.
Email resumes to jobs@watrydesign.com JOB FORUM
or fax 650.298.8151.
ZFA STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS has
Insertion Fees
an immediate opening in San Francisco
for a Design Engineer with 4 to 8 years $150 for up to
experience in structural design and 450 characters / spaces
analysis. Join a team that is dedicated to
growth with unlimited opportunities for
motivated individuals. Minimum quali- $15 for each additional
45 characters / spaces
fications: B.S. degree in civil engineering
with a structural major. Excellent salary,
401K, semi-annual bonuses, vacation and All Job Forum ads will
benefits package. Contact Principal; Dr. be printed in the newsletter
Ahmad Issa: AhmadI@zfa.com or 415-
243-4091. and posted on the
SEAONC web site.
- 10 -
- 11 -
 upcoming events

APR

3rd SEAONC Degenkolb Forum

City Club, San Francisco

4th SEAONC Spring Seminar

PG&E Auditorium, San Francisco

24th SEAONC South Bay Meeting Get your newsletter

Michael’s at Shoreline, Mnt. View electronically
The SEAONC news is available electronically to all
members. When you choose the electronic option you
help SEAONC save costs on printing and mailing.
Please contact the SEAONC office at
office@seaonc.org with “electronic subscription” in the
subject line and your name, and contact info in the body
of the email at any time to choose this option.

San Francisco -April 3rd Meeting & South Bay- April 24th Meeting
S.F. Program 4/03 NAME
Registration

5:30 pm Assembly COMPANY

6:15 pm Dinner
7:15 pm Program ADDRESS
City Club
155 Sansome Street CITY STATE ZIP

10th Floor PHONE FAX

San Francisco
EMAIL
RSVP by Fax: 415/ 764-4915, e-mail: office@seaonc.org, Phone: 415/974-5147
South Bay Program 4/24
5:45 pm Assembly Registration Deadines: Monthly Mtg: Noon, Thur. March 29th
6:30 pm Dinner & South Bay: Noon, Fri April 20th
7:30 pm Program Register early, seating is limited. No cancellations after deadlines listed
Michael’s at Shoreline above. No-shows are still responsible for full attendance fee.
2960 Shoreline Blvd.
Mnt. View Note: Payment is required by evening of the meeting.
Cost - S.F. Meeting
Pre-Regisration Late Reg. • Paying by check make payment to SEAONC.
SEAONC/ACI o $39 o $44 • Paying online (monthly meeting only) go to:
Junior Mbr. (29 & under) o $33 o $38 http://www.seaonc.org/member/member_s/events/order_form.asp
Student o $15 o $15
Non-Mbr o $44 o $49
• Paying by credit card provide the following:
(SEAONC Accepts VISA, MC, AMEX)
Cost - South Bay Meeting
Credit Card#:
Pre-Regisration Late Reg.
SEAONC/ACI o $28 o $33
Junior Mbr. (29 & under) o $20 o $25 Expiration date:
Student o $15 o $15
Non-Mbr o $33 o $38 Signature:

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