STRUCTURE

NCSEA | CASE | SEI SEPTEMBER 2024

concrete:
Where City and
Nature Take Form

INSIDE: One River North Project 40

Spiderweb Cracking in Two-Way Slabs 13
What Does a Dam Engineer Do? 32
Intuit Dome Is Nothing But Net 46
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September
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2024
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 Contents S E P T E M B E R 2 0 24

40 ONE RIVER NORTH: WHERE CITY

AND NATURE TAKE FORM
By Austin Reese, PE

Coordination, collaboration, and creativity were required to meet the

structural engineering challenges created by the building's unique
canyon feature.

F E A T U R E S

WHAT DOES A DAM STRUCTURAL

ENGINEER DO, ANYWAYS?
By Aimee Corn, PE
32 44 INTUIT DOME IS NOTHING
BUT NET
By Ryan Anderson, SE, DBIA, and Sam Bass, PE

Geology, hydrology, hydraulics, and more go into the structural engineering Los Angeles Clippers’ new carbon neutral arena crosses over into an
puzzle of each dam project. all-encompassing facility.

THE ARC AND

THE PARK 52
By Bryan Seamer, SE, and John Wilson, SE

On a tight, urban site, LPA’s West Hollywood Aquatics and Recreation

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 C O L U M N S a n d D E PA RT M E N TS
9 Editorial What in the World Is Going on With the New Computer-Based Structural Exam?
By Carl Josephson, PE, SE
17

10 Structural Influencers
Janiele Maffei

13 Structural Quality
The Underlying Cause of Radial and Spiderweb Cracking in Two-Way Slabs
By Terrence Paret, Hayley Proctor, PE, Gwenyth Searer, PE, SE, and Prateek Shah, PhD

17 Structural Analysis
What About the Purlins?
By Tim Lane and Cris Moen, Ph.D, PE

20 Structural Design
Protective Design Strategy of Blast-Resistant Structures
By Dr. Ibrahim M. Metwally, Ph.D, PE

22 Building Blocks 29
Tall Timber FAQs

24 Structural Quality
Improving Structural Behavior and Long-Term Performance of Critical
Infrastructure with Type K Cement
By Susan Foster

29 inSights
The Construction Productivity Problem
By Cary Kopczynski, Michael L. Tholen, and Phil Diekemper
60

60 Codes & Standards

2024 International Existing Building Code and Snow Load Damage Repairs
By Michael Fillion, PE

74 Structural Forum
Forming Strong Connections With Future Structural Engineers
By Scott Francis, PE, and Chad Mitchell, PE, SE
In Every Issue
3 Advertiser Index
64 Industry News
68 SEI Update
70 CASE in Point
72 NCSEA News

Publication of any article, image, or advertisement in STRUCTURE®

magazine does not constitute endorsement by NCSEA, CASE,
SEI, the Publisher, or the Editorial Board. Authors, contributors,
and advertisers retain sole responsibility for the content of their
submissions. STRUCTURE magazine is not a peer-reviewed
publication. Readers are encouraged to do their due diligence
through personal research on topics.

S E P T E M B E R 2 024 7
 EDITORIAL
What in the World Is Going on With the New
Computer-Based Structural Exam?
By Carl Josephson, PE, SE

T here are eleven member

boards in NCEES (National
Council of Examiners for
A Difficult Exam

The depth portions of the structural

Engineering and Surveying) To improve the exam, make it relevant and more exam are indeed difficult. With the
that require an engineer to have in keeping with typical office practice, NCEES “Alternate Item Type” questions, which
a Structural Engineer license to may require fill-in-the-blank, multiple
design some or all the buildings
needs licensed practicing structural engineers correct responses, drag and drop, etc.,
or bridges in their jurisdictions. (including newly licensed engineers) there is no partial credit. The answers
There are four other states in to participate in the process. are either right or wrong. The previous
which use of the title Structural method of grading did not report the
Engineer is restricted to engineers relative difficulty of the breadth and
licensed as a Structural Engineer. It depth sections of the exam and it is hard
has become increasingly clear that That said, common concerns that have been to know if the depth portions of the
engineers who practice structural engineering raised by examinees who recently took the new exam are truly more difficult.
across state lines or who design buildings that are exam were that the use of the computer-based All would-be examinees should take advantage
commonly called “significant structures,” need references were clunky and slow, only one of reviewing NCEES videos that explain how
to become licensed as a Structural Engineer. As window could be open at a time, some refer- the new Structural Exam works by watching
with all engineering licensing, the minimum ences did not have bookmarks, it was reported “P.E. Structural Computer-Based Exams” by
requirements involve the “three-legged stool” that one couldn’t go back to a problem later, NCEES Media on YouTube.com. NCEES has
of education, experience, and examination. The and time seemed too short for the exam. the reference text materials available prior to
examination for would-be Structural Engineers The licensing committees of SEI, NCSEA, taking the exam, but the code materials are not
is now the NCEES PE Structural Exam that is and CASE have been monitoring the exam, and available in the same digital format as will be pro-
used by all jurisdictions that license SEs. fielding concerns and complaints. The commit- vided at the exam due to copyright protections.
The exam went from being a two-part (16- tees or their members have discussed these issues The exam writers and standard setters for all
hour) exam that tested vertical design one with NCEES, who has been open and receptive, the NCEES exams including the PE Structural
day and lateral design the next, to a four-part and is looking to continually improve the exam. Exam are volunteers who, after they apply to
(21-hour) exam that takes at least four days to Here is some of the feedback that we received: help on the exam, are vetted and invited to
complete. The previous exams had the breadth participate. NCEES pays for travel, lodging,
portion (vertical or lateral) in the morning and Digital Reference Materials and incidentals for the volunteers, who can
the depth portion of the respective section in also receive continuing education credit for the
the afternoon. Previously, the exam was graded For exam security, we will never see personal time spent working on the exam. Participants
with a “hybrid compensatory grading system” reference material come into or out of the exam have found the experience of working on the
which meant that one could not get an accept- rooms again. The solution is providing all ref- exam to be extremely rewarding, both per-
able result in either vertical or lateral if they did erences that the examinee needs in a searchable sonally and professionally, and many of us
especially well in the multiple choice portion digital format. Unfortunately, the proprietary have developed close friendships with col-
and bombed the “paper and pencil” portion. software used by Pearson VUE test centers leagues across the country that have served
Now the four sections (vertical breadth, lateral does not allow more than one window open at as resources and helped us in our practice. To
breadth, vertical depth, and lateral depth) are a time. For the foreseeable future, one will not improve the exam, make it relevant and more
all graded separately, reported separately, and be able to have two references open simultane- in keeping with typical office practice, NCEES
acceptable results are required for each. The ously, and there are no plans by Pearson VUE needs licensed practicing structural engineers
first administration of the new computer-based to rewrite their software or to provide multiple (including newly licensed engineers) to par-
NCEES PE Structural exam took place this year, monitors for any of their exams. ticipate in the process. Learn more and get
with the depth portion of the exam in April. For involved at ncees.org/volunteer/. ■
the first administration of the new SE exam, the Going Back to Uncompleted
pass rates for the breadth (multiple choice) por- Problems The comments and statements in this article
tions of the exam were in the 50% range, while are the author’s alone and do not necessarily
the pass rates for the depth (alternate item type) It is true that after the break, for security reasons, reflect the positions or policies of NCEES.
portions were in the 15% range. The pass rates one is not allowed to go back to work on uncom-
for the breadth sections were slightly higher than pleted problems. This was true with the “paper Carl Josephson, PE, SE, is a Senior Principal at Josephson-
what has been seen in the past for the combined and pencil” exams as well and it does not reflect Werdowatz & Associates, Inc. in San Diego, and Chair of
score, and the pass rates for the depth sections a change in policy. Before or after the break, one the Structural Engineering Licensure Coalition -
were lower. can “flag” questions to go back to later. www.selicensure.org.

STRUCTURE magazine SEPTEMBER 2024 9

 structural INFLUENCERS
Janiele Maffei
Janiele Maffei is the California Earthquake Authority's Chief
Mitigation Officer and Director of Research. Among several
responsibilities at CEA, she manages an incentive program
that has helped more than 23,000 California residents com-
plete code-compliant seismic retrofits. She earned an AB
in architecture and an MS in structural engineering at the
University of California Berkeley. She is also a past president
of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California.

STRUCTURE: What or who encouraged you to seek a career in

structural engineering?
Maffei: My grandfather was a carpenter, and he had a magical
workshop in his basement with a box of scrap wood specifically
saved for his granddaughters’ special projects. Each of us had our
own little tool box and we loved spending time with him building
objects with maximum nails and minimal usefulness. My grandfather
built a playhouse in our back yard and filled it with creative home-
made toys. My Barbie dream house and dream car were made of
wood. I loved designing and building things and was the only girl
I knew who had a Mattel power shop. I was the only girl in my 8th
Grade mechanical drafting class and one of three girls in my high
school drafting class. I majored in architecture at the University of
California (Cal) but took all the math, science, and undergraduate
electives necessary to be accepted into the Structural Engineering
Structural Mechanics (SESM) graduate program. While the ratio
of men to women was close in architecture, I was one of only six
women in the graduate program. While being a female certainly
made me stand out I shared the same desire to build great things.
STRUCTURE: If you had to give advice to young people con- buildings. I really enjoy the notion that everyone in structural engi-
sidering a career in structural engineering, what would that be? neering, and in the broader earthquake engineering community, has
Maffei: The typical advice to someone interested in engineering is a little piece of the puzzle and I am the puzzle master. The modern
to take all the math and science you can. However, the people who term for this is networking but it feels more like making friends to me.
gravitate towards engineering already tend to already be interested in STRUCTURE: Of all of the projects you have worked on, would
math. I would encourage them to make sure that they focus on being you describe the one or two that you are most proud of and why?
a well-rounded person. Study music, art, and literature, and be an Maffei: The work I am now doing in research and mitigation for
effective communicator too. the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) will most definitely be at
STRUCTURE: Any pitfalls to be avoided? the top of the list but there are a few projects from my consulting days
Maffei: Structural engineers play a hugely important role in society, that I am very proud of too. As a Bay Area native, after I graduated
not only in their contributions to the built environment, but also in from Cal I remained in the area working in the East Bay and in San
providing solutions to the challenges and problems of our world. I Francisco. I still live about 5 miles from the Berkeley campus and I drive
read an article once about how many of the significant improvements by the historic Claremont hotel and numerous campus buildings that
in health and safety in our communities were advancements in civil I worked on. Being a part of preserving those gorgeous buildings still
engineering: improved sanitation; access to clean drinking water; brings me joy. I remember walking through Le Conte Hall and being
protection from inclement weather; and building fire protection to told by the architect I was working with on the seismic retrofit of that
name a few. It may feel comfortable to be behind the desk on a com- structure that “Oppenheimer touched these doorknobs.”
puter, but real problems are solved through creativity, collaboration, STRUCTURE: What lessons did you learn that were valuable
and communication. for later?
STRUCTURE: Your working career started out in a traditional Maffei: The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. It might
engineering office. What did you learn there or who did you meet taste a bit different, but it is still pretty much grass. When I first started
then that proved useful later? Janiele Maffei SE after my son was born, I had the pleasure of working
Maffei: To answer your question about who I met as a young(er) with a number of structural engineering firms around the Bay Area. I
engineer that proved useful today, I have a one-word answer: everyone. found similar issues at all of them with middle managers, less so with
My current job is to take the best and brightest structural engineering the older guys. I found giant egos and gentle souls. I also discovered
ideas and put them to use to create earthquake resilience in residential the depth and breadth of talent in our industry was enormous.

10 STRUCTURE magazine
 STRUCTURE: After several years sexual harassment, and there was barely
in the industry, you shifted focus and any maternity leave let alone parental
went to the California Earthquake leave. I can honestly say that it was very
Authority. Why? difficult to compete with my male col-
Maffei: I was in a semi-retirement leagues who had a wife at home. I took
state, traveling a lot with my husband. a leap and started my own company and
We visited 12 countries in 12 months that forced me to take a lot of responsi-
one year and I was pretty much able to bility and also allowed me to work with
work anywhere with a laptop. Then the so many different engineering firms.
job description for the Chief Mitigation From lemons—lemonade.
Officer with the CEA flashed across my Janiele Maffei spoke on TV on the 10th anniversary of the Napa STRUCTURE: You have dem-
screen. I realized that I wasn’t finished yet, earthquake. onstrated a long and dedicated
I had more to give. The notion of work- commitment to professional activities.
ing on residential earthquake resilience directly through mitigation What is the most rewarding aspect of your service?
could be described as being my sweet spot. I also had that collection of Maffei: We asked the very first homeowner who retrofitted
friends, otherwise known as my network, who teemed with solutions with one of our grants how he felt about the program and about
ready to be put into action. the retrofit. He said, without prompting, that he slept better at
STRUCTURE: Most engineers don’t want to speak, let alone be night. I honestly feel that my team is “fighting the good fight.”
the voice of an industry. What can we learn from your experience? Our residences are typically the single largest investment we will
Maffei: The common notion is that public speaking is number make, they are where our family sleeps at night, they are our home.
one on the list of human fears. Seinfeld had a great bit about Knowing that we are assisting homeowners increase the resilience
people preferring to be the guy in the casket rather than the one of their homes is so worth it.
giving the eulogy. A quick internet search suggests that the fear of STRUCTURE: What is your approach to mentorship?
heights is actually number one, and contractors I have worked with Maffei: It still surprises me when I am the oldest person in the room.
can attest that I definitely have acrophobia. However, I somehow I laugh at myself because I have become that older person who always
found my voice somewhere around the time I stepped into that has a related story to tell, on any subject. Being around longer does
middle school drafting class as the only girl. I stood up at a school afford one the opportunity to share lessons and wisdom. But it is
assembly and said something into the mic and realized that the also an opportunity to assist a mentee find the value in themselves,
world didn’t come to an end. It didn’t rise to the level of “Ich bin regardless of what stage they are in their career. The most important
ein Berliner” but I think it encouraged me to speak up. In my part of being a good speaker is being a good listener because everyone
current job I have on average one public speaking event a week, learns more from a dialogue than from a monologue.
sometimes more. However, I don’t consider myself to be a fully STRUCTURE: Many people think the structural industry
formed orator. I am continually watching and listening to other broadly, including risk mitigation and insurance, has changed
speakers, at conferences, on TV, and in movies, noting how they during the last few decades. Do you agree? Is it for the good or
succeed, and fail. bad?
STRUCTURE: There is a lot of talk these days about commu- Maffei: Mitigation and insurance has definitely changed. Mitigation
nity resilience. But more than talk about that, you actually did has become enormously important because we have so many buildings
something. Would you tell us a little more about your motiva- that are becoming un-insurable. The confluence of older buildings
tions and goals? designed and built before building codes with seismic provisions, the
Maffei: My success started with the important decision in 1996 upward financial pressures of inflation and the cost of global capital
to include continual funding for mitigation in the CEA’s operating make catastrophe insurance unaffordable to most people. Many cities
budget. While the contributions are small ($5 million maximum in California are moving in the right direction by retrofitting their
per year) we are able to leverage that funding with State and FEMA vulnerable structures. However, life-safety retrofits don’t necessarily
funding to provide $3,000 grants for what is, on average, a $5,200 improve the insurability of the building. It is safe to say that there is
retrofit. We also just received news that we have Building Resilient more work to be done.
Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding for multi-family STRUCTURE: We all have mentors and people who helped us
soft-story retrofit grants. The decision to ask the California legislature be successful. Who would you like to thank and why?
to create the Chief Mitigation Officer position was also an important Maffei: I would like to thank my husband who taught me what
step towards success. My motivation was to step up and accept the torque was when I was an architectural student and he was in civil
challenge to put that funding to good use. engineering at Cal. I think my forming a study group with two other
STRUCTURE: Can you say a little more about what it was like female graduate students was absolutely the right thing for me to do for
entering an industry where women are few and far between? our relationship at the time. However, he has been a sounding board
Maffei: With a nod to Ruth Gordon, the first woman to become and incredible engineering confidant and mentor. He is, and I believe
a structural engineer in California, there were definitely chal- I am qualified to say this, one of the best structural engineers I know.
lenges to being one of very few female engineers in the profession STRUCTURE: In terms of your personal legacy, what would
in the 1970s and 1980s. While there were supposedly around 20 you like to be remembered for?
women who got their California SE before me, I knew of only a Maffei: Just to prove I can make up a story about anything: a few
handful of women who were older than me who were still working friends and I pondered the question of whether we would like to be
in the profession. It was a time when construction calendars and known for our intellect, our beauty, or our kindness. I don’t think
marketing materials featured scantily clad women on their covers. anyone is truly intelligent or beautiful if they are not kind. I will go
The Anita Hill testimony hadn’t yet socialized the notion of with kindness. ■

SEPTEMBER 2024 11
LOCATIONS
St. Louis: 866.421.2460
Great Lakes: 314.568.3827
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structural QUALITY
The Underlying Cause of Radial and
Spiderweb Cracking in Two-Way Slabs
This article explores the subject of radial and spiderweb cracking in reinforced concrete two-way flat plates
and flat slabs (herein referred to as “two-way slabs”) and the underlying reasons for it. Proper investigation of
radial and spiderweb cracking will be addressed in a following issue of STRUCTURE.
By Terrence Paret, Hayley Proctor, PE, and Gwenyth Searer, PE, SE, and Prateek Shah, PhD

O ver the years, the writers have observed radial (sometimes called
“starburst” or “sunburst”) and spiderweb cracking in dozens of
two-way slab structures. These slabs were constructed in different
explore the conceptual behavior of two-way slabs.

regions of the country, were designed by different engineers in dif- Conceptual Flexural Behavior of Two-Way Slabs
ferent decades using different editions of ACI-318, support different
occupancy types, and were constructed by different contractors. Many When subjected to service-level gravity load, multi-span, two-way
of these slabs were found to exhibit radial and spiderweb cracking slabs with larger span-to-thickness ratios are generally expected to
during construction, i.e., before the addition of finishes and before experience larger midspan deflections, and therefore larger curvatures
being put into service, but others were only reported to have radial and near the columns, than slabs with smaller span-to-thickness ratios, all
spiderweb cracking after years of continuous occupancy, sometimes other things being equal. These differences can be idealized in three
only discovered after the removal of floor finishes during routine dimensions by thinking of the relatively flatter deformed shape in slabs
maintenance or remodeling. The relatively common occurrence of with smaller span-to-thickness ratios as “doming” and the amplified
such cracking across a breadth of circumstances warrants a techni- curvatures in slabs with larger span-to-thickness ratios as “tentpoling”
cally accurate understanding of its causes and structural significance. (Fig. 1). Both behaviors are flexural as they are associated with cur-
While radial and spiderweb cracking sometimes are interpreted vature. The larger curvatures associated with larger span-to-thickness
to be symptoms of elevated punching shear stress, and therefore ratio slabs necessarily increase the propensity for cracking and local
are mistakenly interpreted to signify high risk conditions, analysis yielding of negative flexural reinforcement close to the columns, both
and research both demonstrate that these crack patterns are actually of which would further amplify deflection and tentpoling.
characteristic of flexural behavior that typically manifests at loads Figure 2 overlays a typical layout of column strip reinforcement onto
significantly below ultimate punching shear capacity, as documented a plan view of the deformed shape for a typical bay extracted from
by Elstner and Hognestad as well as Paret et al. This cracking largely the tentpoling illustration in Figure 1. Because curvatures vary across
results from a fundamental disparity between the explicit averaging the width of the column strip, the distribution of negative moment
of flexural demands across column strip widths in the ACI 318 strip across the width of the column strips also must vary, with the highest
method of design and the quantifiable distribution of bending moment negative moment located near the centerline of the column strip (close
in real slabs. Before delving into supporting analyses, it is helpful to to the columns) and significantly diminished negative moment near

Fig. 1. (Above) Notional deformed shape

comparison of slabs with varying span-to-thickness
ratios. The area outlined in red is shown in plan view
in Figure 2.

Fig. 2. (Right) Plan view of overlay of distribution of

negative moment reinforcing steel (solid blue lines)
and deformed shape (see Figure 1). The edges of
the column strip are shown with black, dashed lines.
The corners of the plan coincide with the centers of
the surrounding bays.

SEPTEMBER 2024 13
 the edges of the column strip. This distribution, whether Robust Compliant Marginally Compliant
for the larger or smaller span-to-thickness ratio slabs, is
at odds with the ACI 318 strip method of design which
assumes an averaged, uniform distribution of moment
across the column strip width, thereby leading to designs
in which negative moment reinforcement is uniformly
distributed across the column strip width.
For typical span-to-thickness ratio slabs, even when the
total quantity of column strip reinforcement is adequate
Fig. 3. Similar crack patterns are predicted by ETABS for each model. Maximum predicted crack widths
to carry the total column strip moment, the concentra- increase from 38 to 45 to 53 mils as the robustness of the slab decreases.
tion of negative bending stresses very close to the column
results in a mismatch when compared to the more uniform
distribution of steel in the column strip. This mismatch is indica- with the letter of the code – to distinguish it from the “Compliant”
tive of what the writers refer to as a “nonuniform utilization” of the model, which met the minimum slab thickness requirements, while
negative moment reinforcement: closer to the column, the stresses in the marginally compliant model did not. The flexural reinforcement
the column strip reinforcement are necessarily higher than they are in all three models was “designed” by ETABS to comply with the
farther away from the column. Intuitively, the greater the degree of ACI 318 strip method.
nonuniform utilization of the reinforcing steel, the greater the like- For parking garages, which typically have few, if any, deflection-
lihood of developing relatively wide concrete cracking and yielding sensitive finishes, the controlling criterion for immediate live load
of reinforcing steel. However, this mismatch must be quantified to midspan deflection per ACI 318 Table 24.2.2 is ℓ/360, or 1 inch
objectively assess the consequences of the mismatch. in the case of a 30-foot span. Table 1 shows the predicted immedi-
ate live load deflections; all are less than 1 inch, indicating that the
designs are code compliant, though notably, the predicted midspan
Quantifying Nonuniform Utilization deflection of the “Compliant” and Marginally Compliant” slabs are
roughly five and eight times, respectively, the predicted deflection of
Finite element software packages commonly used in structural design the “Robust” slab. These values represent the deflection increment due
can readily quantify the severity of any nonuniform utilization, provide to short-term live load on a slab that may have already experienced
insight as to whether this nonuniformity is sufficient to lead to radial some cracking due to dead load.
and spiderweb cracking and yielding of reinforcement, and predict The dominant slab cracking patterns predicted by ETABS for the
the midspan deflection and crack pattern that results. Using ETABS, three slabs are distinctly radial and concentrated close to the columns
the writers developed three models of an idealized multi-span parking (Fig. 3), which is consistent with expectations for the flexural doming
garage slab to isolate and study the influence of span-to-thickness ratio and tentpoling behavior illustrated in Figure 1. Although the mesh-
on performance (Table 1). The analyses, described below, demonstrate size dependency of these predictions makes them more reliable as
that characteristic tentpoling behavior due to nonuniform utilization qualitative points of comparison than as explicit predictions of in-field
of negative moment reinforcement, including radial and spiderweb performance, the ETABS prediction that even the “Robust” slab will
cracking and yielding of reinforcement close to columns, predictably crack radially suggests that this behavior is inherent to two-way slabs
occurs even in code-compliant slabs under service loading. regardless of level of safety and that engineers should not be surprised
The three models were identical in every respect (e.g., span length, to see such cracking in buildings they design, even when the slabs are
column size, and loading) except for slab thickness, which was used code-compliant in all ways, including punching shear.
to alter the span-to-thickness ratio. As tabulated, the slabs in all The ETABS analyses also illustrate that the underlying mechanics
models were compliant in two-way shear (i.e., punching shear), of the radial cracking issue derive from nonuniform utilization of the
though to different degrees since the slab thickness varied. Models uniformly distributed negative moment slab reinforcement. Figure
characterized as “Robust” and “Compliant” had 12-inch-thick 4 graphically depicts the nonuniform utilization from the ETABS
and 10-inch-thick slabs, respectively; each satisfied the minimum analysis for the “Compliant”/10-inch-thick slab. Since the negative
thickness requirements and the deflection limits set forth in ACI moment demand across the width of the column strip is not uni-
318-19 Table 8.3.1.1 and Table 24.2.2. The third model, which had formly distributed while the negative moment reinforcement is, the
a 9-inch-thick slab, did not meet ACI 318’s minimum slab thickness local moment demand close to either side of the column significantly
requirements but was also ACI-318-compliant because it satisfied exceeds the reinforcement provided per the ACI 318 strip method.
the calculated deflection limits. The 9-inch-thick slab model was At the same time, near the outer margins of the column strip width,
characterized as “Marginally Compliant” – despite being compliant the reinforcement is more than adequate to resist the local moment
Table 1. Numerical Study Summary
Model Interior Exterior Column Slab Thickness Two-way Complies With Complies Calculated Live
Span Span Size (in.) Shear DCR ACI 318 Min. With ACI 318 Load Midspan
(ft) (ft.) (in.) Thickness Limits? Deflection Deflection (in.)
LImits?
Robust 30 27 30x30 12 ~0.7 Yes Yes 0.1 in.

Compliant 30 27 30x30 10 ~0.8 Yes Yes 0.5 in.

Marginally
30 27 30x30 9 ~1.0 No Yes 0.8 in.
Compliant

14 STRUCTURE magazine
demand. Said another way, while the ACI 318 strip method provides
adequate capacity to resist the total column strip moment, the demand
significantly exceeds the slab capacity over the portion of the column
strip width nearest the column, which leads to radial and spiderweb
cracking and yielding within that portion of the column strip. In a
true nonlinear analysis package that explicitly accounts for yielding
and redistribution, the lateral extent of the overstress would spread
farther from the column.

Consequences of Nonuniform Utilization

Radial and spiderweb cracking and yielding of reinforcement that Fig. 4. Area of reinforcing steel required to satisfy the actual negative moment demand
results from the described nonuniform utilization may not negatively (blue) versus the ACI 318 strip method requirement (orange) for the “Compliant” (10-inch-
impact the ability of the slab to support design loads, but it can impact thick) slab.
how the slab performance is perceived, and – if exposed to water and
chlorides – the slab’s long-term performance. In addition to the pos-
sibility that some owners and occupants may consider the cracking to assumption, however, does not withstand scrutiny. Not only will
be objectionable and may express alarm due to the presence of radial common design software predict tentpoling behavior, including
cracking, tentpoling behavior can lead to a potentially significant cracking and amplified deflections, in code-compliant designs,
increment of deflection that might not always be considered during but slabs that are code-compliant also commonly exhibit such
design especially if it is not relevant to the ACI deflection criteria for behavior in the field. This phenomenon has sometimes resulted in
that structure; that increment can also impact owner and occupant design engineers, third-party engineers, developers, owners, and
perception of performance even if it does not impact safety. For occupants characterizing normal predictable radial cracking and
example, for the design of parking garage slabs for which immediate measured elevation differences in slabs that exceed code design
live load deflection is the only relevant codified calculated deflection limits as objectionable or even as safety risks. As such, an objective
criterion, dead load deflection and incremental dead load deflection understanding of two-way slab behavior is urgently needed by the
due to tentpoling would normally be ignored, even though those profession.
together may be several times greater than the immediate live load To assist in developing the needed understanding and perspective,
deflection. In the writers’ experience, when tentpoling and out-of- Figure 6 sets forth conceptual “scales” of code compliance, struc-
levelness of two-way slabs become readily visible, the users’ experience tural safety, and serviceability notionally achieved by any given slab
and owner satisfaction regarding those slabs may be reported as being design. The scales depict ranges of possible design outcomes from
diminished (Fig. 5). “increasing non-compliance” (solid red) to “marginally compliant”
Three of the primary considerations often involved in structural (dashed red to dashed blue) to “increasing robustness” (solid blue)
design of two-way slabs are code-compliance, structural safety, and relative to code-compliance; from “decreasing safety” (solid red) to
serviceability. In part due to the nonuniform utilization of negative “increasing safety” (solid blue) with intermediate degrees of safety
reinforcement, all code-compliant two-way slab designs do not (dashed red to dashed blue); and from “unsatisfactory for most
attain comparable degrees of safety and serviceability. Given that owners” (solid red) to “unsatisfactory for some owners” (dashed red
ACI 318 provides no guidance on this subject, it might be assumed to dashed blue) to “satisfactory to most owners” (solid blue) relative
that a design that exactly satisfies minimum code requirements to serviceability. The scales are intended to be read in accordance
would attain comparable degrees of safety and serviceability. This with their vertical alignment, e.g., reading vertically along Line
1, the dashed red and blue “marginally compliant” portion of the
code-compliance scale aligns with the solid blue of the structural
safety scale because “marginally compliant” designs are likely to still
be structurally safe, but may well perform unsatisfactorily for some
owners; this may represent a design that meets only the minimum
strength and deflection requirements of ACI 318. At the lower end
of “marginal compliance” (i.e., Line 2), structural safety is still likely
but is less assured while serviceability tends toward “unsatisfactory
for most owners.” At the higher end of “marginal compliance” (Line
3), structural safety becomes more assured while serviceability tends
toward “satisfactory for most owners.”

Conclusion
While the ACI 318 strip method of design has proven to be a reli-
able method for achieving safe two-way slab designs, the mechanics
of two-way slab behavior result in nonuniform curvature—and
Fig. 5. This parking garage slab is exhibiting tentpoling behavior. Larger curvatures can be therefore nonuniform utilization of the negative reinforcement—
seen near the column. across the width of the column strip in slabs designed by the strip

SEPTEMBER 2024 15
 Fig. 6. Notional performance scales for two-way slabs. Numbered lines are
described in the text.

method. These nonuniformities are underlying causes of

commonly observed radial cracking and spiderweb cracking,
which are characteristic flexural behaviors of two-way slabs
and are often exhibited by code-compliant slabs. Commonly
used design software can be used to demonstrate that radial
and spiderweb cracking are predicted to occur in slabs that
are proportioned and reinforced to just satisfy all code
requirements, including for punching shear, as well as in
slabs that are substantially more robust than required by
code. Localized slab softening that develops in the vicinity
of the supports as a result of nonuniform
utilization of the negative moment rein-
forcement will result in greater curvature

Reduce GWP
close to column supports (i.e., tentpoling),
which is sometimes noticeable and neces-
sarily amplifies midspan deflection beyond
what would otherwise occur.
Engineers designing and assessing two-
of Concrete Mix Designs way slabs should anticipate this behavior,
take steps to mitigate it by relying on
by Specifying CSA Cements more robust proportioning and reinforce-
ment than is set forth by code minimum
requirements, and be aware that radial and
9 Less GHGs produced per metric ton spiderweb cracking and tentpoling behav-
9 Reduced emissions from raw materials ior are sometimes incorrectly construed
as ramifications of punching shear or as
ADVERTISEMENT–For Advertiser Information, visit STRUCTUREmag.org

9 Fewer natural resources consumed otherwise detracting from the safety of the
slabs that exhibit them. The performance
9 Reduced energy consumption
of highly optimized designs will not be
9 Meets GSA’s definition of top 20% comparable to more robust designs with
of low embodied carbon (LEC) cement regard to these behaviors. More robust
designs generally tend to experience less
Global Warming Potential noticeable radial and spiderweb crack-
(kg CO2-eq/metric ton) ing and less noticeable tentpoling even
1000 if these behaviors will not be completely
900
919 eliminated. Expectations of behaviors that
27% Less may be unsatisfactory to some owners (i.e.,
800
cracking and out-of-levelness) should
50% Less
700
673 be clearly discussed with clients before
600 completion of new designs to ensure that
500 design decisions regarding slab span-to-
461
400
thickness ratios are not driven entirely by
300
code minimum requirements and cost.
200

100

0
Komponent® Rapid Set® Industry Average
Cement Portland Cement
Full references are included in
Producing low embodied carbon cement since the 1960s. the online version of the article at
Request our Type III EPDs. STRUCTUREmag.org.

Terrence Paret; Hayley Proctor, PE; Gwenyth Searer,

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Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. and focus on structural
CTScement.com  800.929.3030 engineering related to existing buildings.

16 STRUCTURE magazine
structural ANALYSIS
What About the Purlins?
“Then and now” structural differences for the purlin lines of an existing metal building roof in Ohio highlight the
need for engineering care during a retrofit.
By Tim Lane and Cris Moen, Ph.D, PE

M etal building roof system design has evolved since the 1980s. Design
wind and snow loads for buildings with gable roofs are updated
every few years. Also, consistent research investment by the Metal Building
The purlins are 12 inches deep with 2.5 inch wide flanges and 1-inch
stiffening lips oriented 45 degrees from the horizontal flange. There are
two purlin base metal thicknesses, 0.067 inch (interior spans) and 0.075
Manufacturer Association (MBMA) and the American Iron and Steel inch (end spans). The purlins are spaced at 5 feet on center and they are
Institute (AISI) has led to improvements in the strength prediction of assumed to lap 1.5 feet on either side of a frame. (Fig. 2). The roof deck
thin-walled cold-formed steel purlins with partial bracing from the roof is assumed to be a 24 gauge R panel. The purlins are rolled from ASTM
panels. But what about the purlins? A570 steel with a nominal yield stress of 55 ksi. It is assumed that the
Many existing metal building roofs show significant strength deficits building was designed for 25 psf live load plus 5 psf defined in the general
when evaluated with modern building standards which makes it chal- notes, and this load is applied everywhere on the roof.
lenging when a roof is slated for a retrofit. And industry practice allows
additional dead load without engineering and calculation that can lead
to more roof performance uncertainty, e.g. the International Existing Purlin Line Strength Prediction
Building Code (IEBC) Section 502.4 “5 % rule” which states:
Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element for which an addi- It is challenging to know exactly how purlin line strength was deter-
tion and its related alterations cause an increase in design dead, live or mined for the original building. Distortional buckling, i.e., partially
snow load, including snow drift effects, of more than 5 percent shall be restrained flexural-torsional buckling of the purlin compressed flange,
replaced or altered as needed to carry the gravity loads required by the had not been incorporated into the AISI standard in 1989, and com-
International Building Code for new structures. bined action checks considering flexure, torsion, and shear were also
not fully developed yet. Metal building manufacturers typically relied
on simply-supported single span pressure box tests (base tests) and
Building Dimensions and extrapolated these results to continuous spans which could miss strength
Original Design Criteria limit states near the frame line purlin laps--for example the common
failure mode of bottom flange purlin buckling near a lap (Fig. 3).
A pre-engineered metal building built in 1989 in Delaware, Ohio, is Now, the AISI S100-16 North American Specification for the Design
shown in Figure 1. The overall building dimensions are 144 feet long by of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members provides approaches for
120 feet wide, with varying frame spacings. The roof slope is 2 on 12. The considering all the potential strength limit states including combined
building was designed according to the 1987 Ohio Basic Building Code actions and even partial bracing from attached roof panels, see AISI
which references the 1984 Building Officials and Code Administrators S100-16 Section I6.1.
National Building Code. In this study the building purlin strength for gravity loads is calculated

Fig. 1. This metal building in Delaware, Ohio, was built in 1989.

SEPTEMBER 2024 17
 Left: Fig. 2. The purlin framing plan for a metal building in Delaware, Ohio, shows the purlins
spaces at 5 feet on center. Above: Fig. 3. Typical continuous purlin line failure mode near
frame line at edge of lap.

with the open-source software PurlinLine.jl (https://www.runtosolve. ultimate-level unbalanced snow load on the leeward side of the roof
com/purlinline) utilizing AISI S100-16 Allowable Stress Design (ASD) of 42.0 psf extending 18 ft. down from the ridge. The ASD snow
and structural analysis (https://github.com/runtosolve/ThinWalledBeam. load factor is 0.7, resulting in a demand pressure of 29.4 psf and a
jl) to predict the roof pressure where the first strength limit state develops. demand-to-capacity ratio of 1.5. Both the original design and a
This software considers the continuous spans, varying purlin sizes (end design check following modern codes shows that the roof purlins are
spans versus interior spans), and the partial lateral bracing provided by overloaded by about 10 psf.
the R panel roof deck.
For gravity loads on this building’s roof, the typical 6 span purlin
line allowable pressure is 19.6 psf. (A detailed structural report is Retrofit Solutions
available [https://runtosolve.com/purlinline/structures_magazine]).
The failure develops at the end of the lap in the 30 feet end span, When a metal building roof system like this one in Ohio is found
consistent with Figure 3. The strength limit state is predicted by AISI to be overstressed, common engineered roof retrofit solutions
S100-16 to be shear + flexure interaction, which makes sense for this considered are: adding additional purlin lines or reinforcing the
12-inch-deep purlin. existing purlins.
Roof retrofits where additional purlin lines are placed between
the existing lines (Fig. 4) are effective and can bring a roof up to
Roof Performance
The original demand design load for the roof is 30.0 psf, and
the predicted ASD purlin line strength is 19.6 psf, resulting in a
demand-to-allowable strength ratio of 1.5 which means the purlins
are probably overstressed at ultimate loads (Table 1). This is an
example where industry practice of applying the IEBC “5% rule”
should be questioned.
What would happen if this building was designed with modern
building codes? Consider the unbalanced snow load described in
ASCE 7-22 Section 7.6.1 since it will create the most severe conditions
for the purlins near the ridge. The ground snow load in Delaware,
Ohio, for Risk Category II is 32.0 psf, see ASCE 7-22 Figure 7.2-1B.
The unbalanced snow depth is calculated as 2.7 ft., resulting in an

Table 1. Design Roof Loading and Demand-to-Allowable Strength Ratio

Source Design Roof Demand/

Loading Allowable
Design drawings 30.0 psf 1.5
(1987) Fig. 4. Purlin line retrofit solution where new purlin lines (marked ‘N’ in drawing above) are
ASCE 7-22 (Snow) 29.4 psf 1.5 installed between existing lines. Installation requires disruptive access inside the building.

18 STRUCTURE magazine
 Fig. 5. In this purlin line exterior retrofit
solution, a roll-formed pre-punched hat
subframe is fastened to the existing purlin
can provide 10 psf or more additional purlin
line roof strength.

modern structural performance standards. This solution is not

usually appealing to a building owner, however, because it requires
With over 45 years of experience in the metal construction industry, Tim Lane is the
either opening up the roof or disruptive work inside the building,
owner and president of TopHat Framing Systems. TopHat offers patented subframe
either of which can be time-consuming and costly.
systems as solutions for metal roof retrofit projects.
An exterior purlin line reinforcement solution like that shown in
Figure 5 can be implemented while the building is still in service. Cristopher D. Moen, Ph.D., PE, F.SEI is an engineer, software developer,
A roll-formed pre-punched hat subframe is fastened to the existing researcher, and educator. His company RunToSolve LLC creates fast open-source
purlin lines, adding 10 psf or more capacity to the roof system. A computational tools for predicting structural system performance.
new roof (typically a standing-seam roof ) is then attached to the
hat subframe top flanges.

Conclusion
The roof purlins in this Ohio
metal building were originally
designed at or beyond their
calculated structural limits.

ADVERTISEMENT–For Advertiser Information, visit STRUCTUREmag.org

This does not mean that
all metal building roofs are
about to fail in a snowstorm.
The conclusions herein are
intended to highlight that:
(1) there can be concerning
mismatches between existing
metal building roof strength
and code-specified demand
loads; (2) use of the IBEC “5
% rule” should be supported
by engineering calculation;
and (3) roof retrofit solutions
are available to mitigate exist-
ing metal building roof system
failure risk . ■

SEPTEMBER 2024 19
 structural DESIGN
Protective Design Strategy of
Blast-Resistant Structures
Reducing blast demands is an important aim achieved through reducing deformations.
By Dr. Ibrahim M. Metwally, Ph.D, PE

T he main strategy for blast-resistance structures design is to reduce

blast demands, which inherently is achieved by reducing the
deformations in structural and non-structural building components.
shapes and layouts of buildings when designing for blast loading.

This is accomplished through various techniques: Proper Selection of Structural System

According to FEMA 427 Guidelines
Increase Standoff Distance Not many code resources are available when designing for blast
loading. However, FEMA 427 does provide guidelines. The general
Providing sufficient protection by increasing protected standoff design recommendations are not that different from what has been
distances against external attacks. The most cost-effective solution for discussed here, in that blast resistant building designs should use simple
mitigating explosive effects to a building is to ensure the explosions geometries without sharp re-entrant corners and be placed on a project
occur as far away from the building as possible (increased standoff). site as far from the lot perimeter as practical. The following discusses
Therefore, the site selection for new construction and site protection FEMA 427 recommendations for different types of framing systems:
in existing structures is important in mitigation blast risk.
Frame System

Use of Protective Barriers Walls In frame structures, column spacing should be limited. Large column
spacing decreases the likelihood that the structure will be able to redistribute
Many types of barriers are designed to resist the impact of a vehicle load in the event of column failure (Figure 3).
explosive. Among them are massive concrete barriers (Kontek 2008), In frame structures, the exterior columns should be designed to resist
concrete enclosed with steel plates (Crawford and Lan 2006), and the direct effects of the specified blast.
soil filled corrugated metal (Crawford and Lan 2006). Each barrier The frame structures system should be designed to resist the likely progres-
is designed to absorb the large amounts of energy from an impact or sive collapse. In case of occurrence any localized failure must be considered.
blast with minimal effect on the facilities it is protecting. It is not desirable to use transfer girders in design. Loss of a transfer girder
or one of its supports can destabilize a significant area of the building.
If transfer girders are required, it must be to add extra transfer systems.
Proper Selection of Building Layout
Bearing-Wall Systems
The building shape and layout should be selected to minimize the
effects of blast loading. Re-entrant corners and overhangs are likely to In bearing-wall systems that rely primarily on interior cross-walls,
trap shockwaves and amplify blast effects. The reflected pressure on interior longitudinal walls should be spaced to enhance stability and
the surface of a circular building is less intense than on a flat building. to control the lateral progression of damage. In bearing-wall systems
When curved surfaces are used, convex shapes are preferred over con- that rely on exterior walls, perpendicular walls should be provided at a
cave shapes. Figures 1-2 present desirable and undesirable structural regular spacing to control the amount of wall that is likely to be affected.

Fig. 1. Desirable structures when designing for blast loading incorporate arches, domes (right), and single-
story layouts (top).

20 STRUCTURE magazine
 Fig. 2. Less than desirable building features
for blast loading are multiple levels of
stories, complex designs, projecting roofs or
floors, and U-shaped buildings.

Roof System shear failures. Steel systems have inherent ductility but are locally
vulnerable open sections and connections. A combination of steel
The primary loading on the roof is the downward air-blast pressure. and concrete is ideal.
The preferred system is cast-in place reinforced concrete with beams in
two directions. If this system is used, beams should have continuous top
and bottom reinforcement with tension lap splices. Stirrups to develop Ductile Detailing of Structural Elements
the bending capacity of the beams closely spaced along the entire span
are recommended. Finally, use two-way floor and roof systems. Blast-resistant design philosophy allows structural elements to
undergo large inelastic (plastic) deformations under blast loading. A
ductile structure that undergoes large deformations without failure
Proper Selection of Structural Material can absorb much more energy than a brittle structure of the same
strength. Tensile reinforcement between 0.5% and 2% of the cross-
Cast-in-place reinforced concrete is the structural system preferred sectional area of the concrete element will usually ensure ductile
for blast-resistant construction. This is the material and structural behavior while providing the required strength.
type used for military bunkers. The military has performed extensive Compression steel in flexural members serves two purposes. After
research and testing of its performance. Concrete has significant mass, a structural member is deflected by blast loads, it attempts to spring
which improves response to explosions. back or rebound. Dynamic rebound causes load reversal and, under
Generally, simple geometries and minimal ornamentation (which certain conditions, can result in catastrophic failure.
may become flying debris during an explosion) are recommended.
If ornamentation is used, it is preferable to use lightweight materials
such as timber or plastic, which are less likely than brick, stone, or Acceptable Damage Levels
metal to become lethal projectiles in the event of an explosion.
Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is known for its superior Minor: Non-structural failure of building elements such as windows,
mechanical properties; compressive strength can reach up to 200 MPa doors, and cladding.
(29,000 psi) and tensile strength up to 40 MPa (5800 psi). Also, the Moderate: Structural damage is confined to a localized area and is
crack propagation can be well controlled due to inclusion of steel usually repairable. Structural failure is limited to secondary structural
fibers in its cement matrix, leading to a higher ductility and energy elements, such as beams, slabs, and non-loading bearing walls. However,
absorbing capacity so as to make it an ideal material for structural if the building has been designed for loss of primary members, local-
members that are exposed to the constant threat of blast attacks. Previous ized loss of columns may occur without initiating progressive collapse.
experimental work conducted by Mao et Major: Loss of primary structural compo-
al. and Wu et al., Barnett et al., Ibrahim nents such as columns or transfer girders leads
Metwally, Schleyer et al., and Melançon to loss of additional elements that are adjacent
confirmed the superior blast resistance of to or above/below the lost member. In this
UHPC structures under high loading rate case, the building is usually not repairable.
conditions such as explosion and impact
compared to traditional normal and high- Full references are included in
strength concrete. the online version of the article at
STRUCTUREmag.org.
Increase the Capacity of
Ibrahim M. Metwally, PhD, PE, is a professor of
the Ground Floor Columns concrete structures at the Concrete Structures Research
Concrete-filled steel columns have high Institute at the Housing and Building National Research
ductility and very good blast resistance Center, Giza, Egypt. He is licensed by the Wyoming
[Peyman, et al., Ibrahim Metwally and Board of Professional Engineers in the U.S. and
Fig. 3. Example of detonation and destruction of Level 1 column
Zhang, et al.). Concrete systems have (top) explosive location; (bottom) failure result of transfer girder and registered as a senior structural consultant at DRSO of
significant inertia but are susceptible to secondary columns. the Ministry of Housing of Egypt.

SEPTEMBER 2024 21
 building BLOCKS
Tall Timber FAQs
T hese frequently asked questions (FAQs) about tall mass timber are reprinted
with permission of WoodWorks—Wood Products Council. The website
address is: www.woodworks.org/learn/mass-timber-clt/tall-mass-timber/.

What is the current status of tall mass timber

buildings in the building code?
Follow this link for the status of the 2021 IBC and jurisdictions that have
adopted the tall wood code provisions: www.woodworks.org/resources/
status-of-building-code-allowances-for-tall-mass-timber-in-the-ibc/.

Tall Mass Timber Code Adoptions by State

2021 IBC in Whole
No Tall Mass Timber Code Provisions
2021 IBC TMT Provisions
2024 IBC TMT Provisions

2021 IBC TMT Provisions adopted on a per-city/county basis: City of

Nashville, Tennessess, and Memphis & Shelby Counties, Tennessee
2024 IBC TMT Provisions adopted on a per-city basis in: City of
Denver and City of Dallas

What are the height limits for the new

construction types?

Office 270 feet

Assembly (18 stories)
Residential

Office 180 feet

Mercantile Assembly (12 stories)
(12 Stories) Residential
85 feet.
Mercantile Office (9 stories)
Residential (8 stories) (9 stories)
(8 Stories)
Assembly
Mercantile
(6 stories)

Type IV-A Type IV-B Type IV-C

22 STRUCTURE magazine
What are the timber exposure limits for Types
IV-A, IV-B, IV-C and IV-HT construction?
Required Noncombustible Protection on Mass Timber Elements by Construction Type

IV-A IV-B IV-C IV-HT

Timber No exposed timber Ceilings and integral beams up to an area equaling 20% Full interior timber exposure Full interior timber exposure
Exposure permitted (per 2021 IBC) or 100% (per 2024 IBC) of fire area or permitted* permitted*
Allowances dwelling unit area or Walls and integral columns up to an
area equaling 40% of fire area or dwelling unit area or A
combination of each, with the sum of ratios (actual exposed
divided by allowable exposed) not to exceed 1.0
Interior Always required. 2/3 of Required with exceptions. 2/3 of FRR, 80 minutes minimum Not required* Not required*
Surface of FRR, 80 minutes minimum
Building
Elements
Exterior 40 minutes 40 minutes 40 minutes 15/32″ FRT sheathing or 1/2″
Side of gypsum board or noncombustible
Exterior material
Walls
Top of Floor 1″ minimum 1″ minimum Not required* Not required*
(above
Mass
Timber)
Shafts 2/3 of FRR, 80 minutes 2/3 of FRR, 80 minutes minimum, inside and outside 40 minutes minimum, inside and Not required*
minimum, inside and outside
outside

*Not required by construction type. Other code requirements may apply. 5/8″ Type X gypsum = 40 minutes

What are the fire-resistance rating I’ve heard that the 2024 IBC allows 100%
requirements for tall mass timber? timber ceiling exposure in Type IV-B
FRR Requirements for Tall Mass Timber Structures (hours) construction, up to 12 stories tall. Is that
Building IV-A IV-B IV-C correct?
Element
Yes, the 2024 IBC includes new code provisions which allow timber
Primary Frame 3 2 2 ceiling exposure in Type IV-B construction up to 100%. The new
code language in the 2024 IBC is available at codes.iccsafe.org. Several
jurisdictions such as the City of Denver, City of Dallas, State of
Oregon and State of Washington have incorporated these new timber
Exterior Bearing 3 2 2
exposure limits in their building codes, and several design teams are
Walls
looking to utilize the new limits in project-specific discussions with
their local building officials.
Interior Bearing 3 2 2
Walls

Roof Construction 1.5 1 1

Primary Frame at 2 1 1
Roof

Floor Construction 2 2 2

For more information, contact WoodWorks: [email protected].

Source: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) Table 601

SEPTEMBER 2024 23
 structural QUALITY
Improving Structural Behavior and
Long-Term Performance of Critical
Infrastructure with Type K Cement
Type K shrinkage-compensating concrete optimizes performance and value and minimizes
carbon intensity impact.
By Susan Foster

I mproving overall structural behavior and long-term performance of

critical concrete infrastructure is paramount to supporting today’s
carbon neutral initiatives and ensuring good stewardship of both public
From its earliest use in prestressed pipes and pavements to its use in
shrinkage-compensated designs for post-tensioned structures, contain-
ment structures, dams, spillways, mat slab foundations, bridge decks,
and private owner investments. More stringent performance requirements pavements, and slabs-on-ground, Type K cement has proven to be
combined with the challenging dynamics of change in type, quality, and a reliable solution for all types of critical structures. Its performance
availability of concreting materials is inspiring innovation, creativity, and continues to aid designers in simplifying designs and influencing
collaboration. It is also renewing interest in materials with established, more efficient constructability while minimizing in-service costs and
proven performance that offer solutions to today’s challenges. One of operational downtime for repairs.
those experiencing an inspiring renaissance is Type K cement.

The Technology
Early Innovation
Type K cement (American Society of Testing and Materials’ ASTM
Developed in the late 1950s and brought to market in the early C845 – Standard Specification for Expansive Hydraulic Cement)
1960s, Type K cement has proven to be a valuable innovation in is a hydraulic blended cement that combines an expansive calcium
cement technology for over 60 years. It is specifically engineered to sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement-based additive with a Portland cement
eliminate negative volume change and improve durability by lower- source (ASTM C150, C595, and C1157). It is proportioned to achieve
ing permeability, increasing density, improving sulfate and abrasion sufficient expansion to overcome the shrinkage characteristics of concrete
resistance, and eliminating drying shrinkage cracking. It effectively and grout mixes. The advanced hydration mechanism of the expansive
addresses the fundamental shortcomings of Portland cements by CSA cement-based additive (marketed primarily as Komponent in the
improving the quality of the cement paste and inherently improving U.S. ) drives the performance of Type K cement-based mixes.
long-term performance and structural behavior of vital structures. During hydration, primary ettringite (the mineral name for calcium

Fig. 1. Shrinkage-compensating cements develop compressive stresses in concrete during hydration that later counteract tensile stresses induced by shrinkage.

24 STRUCTURE magazine
sulfoaluminate) is formed that contributes to design strength, con- critical structures like concrete containment, post-tensioned designs,
trolled set, and early expansion. The qualified dosage of the expansive bridges, and mass elements have been constructed optimizing design,
cement additive needed to create adequate expansion is determined durability, constructability, and sustainability.
by ASTM standards designed for use with expansive cements (i.e.,
ASTM C806 - Standard Test Method for Restrained Expansion of Containment
Expansive Cement Mortar and ASTM C878 - Standard Test Method
for Restrained Expansion of Shrinkage-Compensating Concrete). The For critical concrete containment structures, preventing contami-
goal is to create sufficient designed expansion to compensate for the nation from external impurities and preventing seepage and leakage
shrinkage characteristics of the mix and ensure the concrete is kept of contents into the environment is crucial. Since the early 1970s,
in compression for the life of the placement (Figure 1). K-SCC has been used successfully to create well designed, reliable
By efficiently consuming the excess mix water that is not used by concrete containment structures with extended joint wall panels,
Portland cement during hydration and minimizing bleed water, foundations and slabs that help prevent leakage, unscheduled down-
Type K shrinkage-compensating cement mixes result in dense, low time, and costly repairs.
permeability concrete with substantially improved abrasion resistance The Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant in El Paso, TX, and
without the use of admixtures or surface hardeners. The consumption the J.W. Rogers Water Treatment Plant demonstrate the design pos-
of excess mix water prevents voids and capillaries that allow room for sibilities. With tanks including 110 feet (33.5 meters) diameter by 30
drying shrinkage and results in a more dimensionally stable concrete feet (9.1 meters) high digesters, 120 feet (36.6 meters) diameter by
placement. By eliminating curling and shrinkage stresses, the load 20 feet (6 meters) high primary clarifiers, and 140 feet (42.7 meters)
capacity of the placement is increased, allowing thinner sections to diameter by 16 feet (4.9 meters) high secondary clarifiers, all were
be placed and reducing the overall volume of concrete required. In constructed without joints by using K-SCC. More than ten years
addition, its 0% tricalcium aluminate (C3A) content means sulfate later they are still crack free and leak free.
resistance is improved proportionately to the percentage replacement The $255 million 69th Street Complex Wastewater and Sludge
used with all Portland cements, making it ideal for containment, Treatment Plant in Houston, TX, used K-SCC for the con-
marine, and other environmentally exposed structures. struction of foundation slabs for the reactors, clarifiers, pump
stations, thickener and digester complex, roof slabs, and reactor
train beams. Key drivers for use on this project were eliminating
Design drying shrinkage cracking and preventing leakage in critical areas,
reducing shrinkage reinforcement, and placing large sections that
When designing with shrinkage-compensating concrete, industry stan- minimized construction joints and waterstops. Other advantages
dards, guidelines, specifications, and other published resources are available included low permeability, higher abrasion and sulfate resistance,
to aid in design and constructability. The “Key Resources” sidebar provides and its inherent cohesiveness that allowed for ease of placement
a brief overview of commonly referenced standards, methods, codes and of smooth, dense surfaces.
resources, from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and ASTM, when The reduction in steel reinforcement and waterstops combined with
designing with shrinkage-compensating concrete. the reduction in formwork, mobilizations, man hours and pump days
resulted in an overall savings to the project. As reported by the joint
Reinforcement venture design team of Environmental Management Consultants
(EMC) and the City of Houston, “The use of Type K concrete on the
As engineers, owners, and project budgets are now more heavily 69th Street Complex was certainly a valuable learning experience for
influenced by supply chain dynamics, project and maintenance both the consultants and the contractors and has demonstrated that
budgets, global warming potential (GWP) impacts, and com- the economies of shrinkage-compensating concrete construction and
mitments to sustainability, shrinkage-compensating concrete the resulting long-term, crack-free performance of those structures is
maximizes versatility. When designing with Type K shrinkage- worth the extra effort and care.”
compensating concrete, reinforcement options are no different The City of New York’s project for eight underground, four-million-
than with other cement types required for concrete design—from gallon combined sewer overflow (CSO) tanks is another example of
traditional steel rebar and steel fibers to FRP, synthetic fibers and K-SCC delivering innovation, constructability and value. Hazen and
hybrids. Whichever is most suitable, available, and cost effective Sawyer were selected to design these critical structures with a focus on
for the project can be used. minimizing the number of construction joints. With conventional
concrete, ACI 350 – Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures
recommends a maximum construction joint spacing of 30 feet to
Applications control shrinkage cracking. When using shrinkage-compensating
concrete, ACI 223 – Shrinkage Compensating Concrete recommends
Type K cement was originally brought to market regionally as a spacing up to 150 feet (45.7m).
finished cement. By the 1980s, effective ASTM standards and ACI By using K-SCC a reduction in construction joints minimized
guidelines had been developed to support consistent quality as a locally points of water leakage and reduced total construction time. In a
blended cement and made the use of the expansive cement additive comparative analysis between the use of conventional concrete and
economical and readily available nationwide. Type K cement is now shrinkage-compensating concrete, the net savings for the project was
prequalified per ASTM C878 and added at the local batch plant over two months of construction time saved on the slabs, four months
using normal bulk batching and mixing operations. This is a more on the walls, and approximately $900,000 in materials and labor.
practical and cost-effective way to deliver high-performance Type Additional value was realized in-service by minimizing maintenance
K shrinkage-compensating concrete (K-SCC) and grout (K-SCG), costs and operational downtime.
and it paved the way for use in a wide range of applications. Key

SEPTEMBER 2024 25
 Post-Tensioned Structures after placement, critical areas where RTS cracking could be expected
revealed the K-SCC placements to be crack-free. The structural
In post-tensioned structures, the dimensional stability of K-SCC designer stated: “The real proof is in the slab itself—there are virtually
offers significant advantages. Post-tensioning provides control over no cracks in more than 420,000 square feet (39,019 square meters )
flexural cracking while K-SCC eliminates other key challenges related of slab. Further, the concrete frame was bid and completed 42 days
to negative volume change, like drying shrinkage cracking and restraint- ahead of a very aggressive schedule.” Net savings by elimination of
to-shortening (RTS). It also significantly reduces the effects of long-term pour strips were estimated at $250,000 with a total realized savings
creep and shrinkage helping to overcome the effects of differential of the redesign using K-SCC of ~$3 million.
displacement of supports and minimizing long-term relaxation of steel The Dallas Municipal Center is another iconic structure that opti-
tendons. This improved dimensional stability eliminates labor intensive mized design and performance of K-SCC. It exemplifies what can
and time-consuming details like pour strips, slip joints, wrapped dowels be achieved when innovation is combined with collaboration and
and additional reinforcement for crack control. communication. This structure is a monolith of 60,000 cubic yards
Economic studies have shown that in properly designed structures, (45,873 cubic meters) of buff-colored K-SCC integrated into a unique
the savings in design element costs, traditional reinforcement and post- post-tensioned structure consisting of underground parking and office
tensioned steel more than offset the moderate material cost impact of spaces. The use of K-SCC allowed structural engineers to address crack-
the cement additive. Of the three key influencers of prestress losses ing concerns related to temperature and shrinkage and reduced the
(i.e., prestressing steel relaxation, creep shortening, and shrinkage), amount of reinforcement needed to address RTS. It also allowed the
shrinkage constitutes approximately 42% of the long-term losses contractor to cast large individual sections of exposed concrete (up to
and reduces the initial prestress force by ~7%. When shrinkage is 70 feet long by 14 feet high (21 meters long by 4 meters high)). This
eliminated, this reduction translates into a reduction in the quantity improved project efficiencies and time to completion. Final reports
of prestressing steel required. Additionally, a K-SCC structure has noted that the shrinkage-compensating concrete performed “very
less dimensional change resulting in substantial reduction in column satisfactorily,” the contractor “did a commendable job in obtaining
moments and affects a reduction in total column steel. Expansion the designed architectural finish.”
joints can realistically be increased to approximately 500 feet (152.4
meters) without sacrificing performance. Bridges
The University of Alabama’s Ridgecrest Community Residence, an
eight-story dormitory and parking structure, illustrates the advantages The use of K-SCC in bridge decks has also been well documented
of using K-SCC in post-tensioned structures. Structural Design through the years. The Ohio Turnpike Authority has been using it on
Group (SDG) of Birmingham, Alabama, used K-SCC to optimize their bridge decks since the 1980s with great success (Figure 2). In
design and improve structural behavior, meet budget requirements, a comparative study conducted from 1983 to 1990, results showed
and reduce time to completion. During onsite inspection two years substantial improvement in bridge deck performance, resulting in

Key Resources
ACI 223 – Shrinkage Compensating Concrete is the primary resource for the design and construction of shrinkage-compensating
concrete structures. It offers the most comprehensive insight into design considerations like durability, permeability, sulfate resistance,
elimination of curling, warping, and drying shrinkage cracking, increased load capacity, prevention of calculated shortening in
conventionally reinforced and post-tensioned structures, along with recommended constructability practices.
ACI 301 – Specifications for Structural Concrete includes a section reviewing the use of shrinkage-compensating concrete that
addresses requirements and qualifications designers and specifiers should consider.
ACI 302 – Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction, Chapter 5 reviews specifics related to design and construction of joints
when using shrinkage-compensating concrete.
ACI 360 – Design of Slabs on Ground, Chapter 9 reviews design of shrinkage-compensating concrete slabs with design examples
in Appendix 5 and Chapter 14 highlighting the elimination of saw cut joints when using shrinkage-compensating concrete.
ACI 350 – Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures references performance characteristics like minimizing drying shrinkage
and improving both sulfate and abrasion resistance using Type K shrinkage-compensating concrete. It discusses the elimination of
bleed water and ultimate lower permeability and reviews key advantages and related engineering regarding thinner walls, elimination
of contraction joints, and reduction in reinforcement (maximum 0.3 percent shrinkage steel is common with joint spacing up to 150 ft
(45.7m).

ACI Special Publications and the Post-Tensioning Institute’s PTI Journal have published numerous research reports on the use of
shrinkage-compensating concrete for innovation and advancement in post-tensioned buildings, bridges, slabs-on-ground, soil
anchoring and other infrastructure.

ASTM C150 – Standard Specification for Portland Cement

ASTM C595 – Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
ASTM C806 – Standard Test Method for Restrained Expansion of Expansive Cement Mortar
ASTM C845 – Standard Specification for Expansive Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C878 – Standard Test Method for Restrained Expansion of Shrinkage-Compensating Concrete
ASTM C1157 – Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cements

26 STRUCTURE magazine
 of the use of K-SCC in bridge designs have been published demonstrat-
ing the performance advantages that can be achieved. The durability
attributes that contribute to their extended service life include abrasion
resistance, significantly reduced shrinkage cracking, reduced surface
capillaries and porosity; superior compressive and splitting tensile
strengths ease of placement, consolidation, and finishing, ultra-low
permeability, and excellent freeze/thaw results with air entrainment.
Grouting is another common application of K-SCG. The Bob Kerrey
Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska, is 3,000 linear feet. K-SCG
was used for this cable-stayed superstructure to protect the post-
tensioned (PT) tendons which are essential to the bridge’s long-term
durability. Its low permeability, increased density and dimensional
stability ensured the PT tendons were effectively protected from
moisture, salts, air, and other elements that promote corrosion and
Fig. 2. SCC is a consideration for bridge decks because it can reduce early drying shrinkage deterioration. Adding the Type K expansive cement additive to a bulk
cracking, which will reduce water penetration and rebar corrosion, as well as reduce shrinkage-compensating grout mix improved production efficiencies
cracking development and growth.
at the plant and during pumping operations on-site. It also achieved
cost savings over the pre-blended bag material typically used.
zero instances of drying shrinkage cracking. When asked about main- Success stories continue as many transportation departments across
tenance cost impacts, Chief Engineer, Doug Hedrick noted “The the country embrace a proven solution to building safer, more sus-
answer is quite simple, it is very low cost to maintain the shrinkage- tainable infrastructure.
compensating concrete decks – no deck delamination's, spalls, or steel
corrosion. We don’t even think about cracks, crack maintenance or Pavements
spalls on our shrinkage-compensating concrete decks.”
In cooperation with various states throughout the U.S., other studies In reinforced pavement designs, eliminating joints in runways

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska, is a cable-stayed superstructure with with a length of 3,000 linear feet.

SEPTEMBER 2024 27
 and taxiways is essential. Joints are the location of curling, spall-
ing, and cracking that result in foreign object debris (FOD),
creating safety hazards and costly maintenance and repair projects.
To identify the most durable pavement solution that would
reduce the number of joints required on airport runways and
taxiways and significantly reduce the costs associated with main-
tenance and repair, K-SCC was chosen for use on one of the
most innovative concrete slabs ever constructed. In 1993, this
post-tensioned, steel fiber reinforced pavement was placed at
Rockford International Airport’s Runway Extension project in
Rockford, Illinois.
In a side-by-side comparison of two K-SCC designs using steel
fiber reinforcement the contractor was able to place two contigu-
ous “Innovative Pavement Slabs” (IP1 and IP2, respectively) of
taxiways paralleling a new runway extension. IP1 and IP2 were
placed in 75-foot (23 meter) wide pavement sections. The addi-
tional flexural strength provided by using steel fibers allowed a
reduction in pavement thickness from 15 inches (38.1 centime-
ters) to 10 inches (25.4 centimeters). Transverse joints were cut
in the steel fiber reinforced IP1slab at varying span lengths from
85 feet to 200 feet (26 meters to 61 meters) to test how far apart Komponent Type Il Cement Portland Cement
natural cracking of the material would be with increased joint Industry Average Industry Average
spacing. IP2 used steel fiber reinforced K-SCC for a 1,200-foot
Fig. 3. The Global Warming Potential is charted for three cements.
(365.8 meter) long placement with longitudinal post-tensioning
and no control joints. The increased flexural strength provided
by post-tensioning allowed further reduction in slab thickness grout project was batched on this remote site to achieve 7,000
to only 7 inches (0.18 meters). The pavement was inspected pounds per square inch (psi) strength. Six submerged steel gate
quarterly for five years. After 10 years of heavy use, the slabs supports were successfully secured and protected using K-SCG
were performing exceptionally well with minimal cracking and with the two-year inspection indicating the grout was meeting
virtually no spalling. The FAA’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) dimensional stability design expectations.
reported the steel fiber reinforced K-SCC (IP1) in Very Good
condition (PCI 82), and the post-tensioned K-SCC slab (IP2) Sustainability
in Excellent condition (PCI 98).
With a GWP of 461, K-SCC provides a GWP 56% lower than
Dams & Spillways Portland cements and 37% lower than Type 1L Portland-limestone
cements (Fig. 3). The use of K-SCC not only lowers the overall
Dams and spillways are other critical structures where K-SCC and carbon impact of any mix design, it also significantly reduces
K-SCG are used. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved overall carbon impact throughout the concrete’s service life. By
the use of K-SCC for their first full-size prototype at the Ririe reducing materials and labor requirements during construction,
Dam located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Idaho Falls, improving durability, and minimizing repair and maintenance,
ID. The goal was to place larger, uniform surface slabs of concrete owners, designers and patrons benefit from an asset life two to
and minimize cracking. Using K-SCC, the spillway chute invert three times that of a similar Portland cement concrete structure.
slab allowed the contractor to increase panel sizes to either 91 With ever increasing demands to build more durable critical
feet x 75 feet (27.7 meters x 22.9 meters) or 45.5 feet x 75 feet infrastructure efficiently, and with more sustainably and added
(13.9 meters x 22.9 meters) in area (vs. the conventional panel value, Type K shrinkage-compensating cement will continue to
size of 22 feet x 25 feet (6.7 meters x 7.6 meters)). This allowed deliver. Embracing innovative approaches to design, integration
a reduction in total number of invert panels from 104 to either of new products, and the collaborative efforts of professionals
18 or 9, depending upon the option selected. Minimum thickness throughout the industry in its use will make a difference in the
was 12 inches (0.3 meters). Total spillway invert slab contained race to carbon neutrality while improving performance.
5,584 cubic yards (4,269 cubic meters) of concrete. The reduc-
tion in linear feet of joints, percentage of steel reinforcement,
linear f ootage of foundation anchors and foundation drain holes
provided economic incentive for this project. Evaluations follow- Full references are included in the online version of the article
ing the placement noted limited cracking at abrupt foundation at STRUCTUREmag.org.
irregularities and overbreak in the rock excavation, none deemed
detrimental to the slabs, and many slabs that did not exhibit any
signs of cracking.
In 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department
of the Interior, and US Bureau of Reclamation Cooperative used
Susan Foster is Director – Strategic Initiatives & Komponent for CTS Cement.
K-SCG for the $900M Folsom Dam Auxiliary Spillway Control
Structure project (Folsom, CA). This bulk shrinkage-compensating

28 STRUCTURE magazine
inSIGHTS
High-rise concrete core
shear walls take shape
with the initial double-lift
pours.

The Construction Productivity Problem

The new ACI Center of Excellence is focusing on ways to advance construction productivity.
By Phil Diekemper, Cary Kopczynski, and Michael L. Tholen

I n 2017, the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) published a sobering

study showing that construction industry productivity gains have
lagged significantly behind those of other industries for many years.
construction document quality. One thing all agreed on, however, was that
structural engineers and other designers have enormous power in setting
the stage for productivity improvement. By improving the constructability
In fact, MGI concluded that very little progress has been made in of design, they can change construction.
construction productivity for several decades.
In a 2023 report, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
found much the same thing. Their work was published in the paper, Enter PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for
“The Strange and Awful Path of Productivity in the U.S. Construction Advancing Productivity
Sector.” The report showed that inflation-adjusted productivity,
defined as “value creation per worker,” has made no net progress In response to the productivity challenge, the American Concrete
since the 1950s. It further concluded that the construction sector’s Institute (ACI) formed PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for
deteriorating efficiency in transforming intermediate construction Advancing Productivity, in 2023. PRO is ACI’s third Center of
goods—essentially the raw materials of construction—into finished Excellence and focuses on leveraging ACI’s global leadership in con-
products is largely responsible. crete materials, design, and construction to help advance industry
In the wake of these and other critical reports on construction pro- productivity. Like the other two Centers, PRO is a separate 501(c)(3)
ductivity, many individuals and organizations have scoured the data entity with its own vision and mission, Board of Directors, and bylaws.
to try to better understand it. And the news is not uniformly bad. Being under the ACI umbrella, however, provides the benefit of the
Innovative processes and technology have improved many segments Institute’s vast resources. Instrumental in PRO’s efforts are structural
of the industry and will continue to do so. Building information engineers, as they can help pave the way for success.
modeling (BIM), for example, is revolutionizing design. Modular PRO began work by uniting leaders from across the architecture,
assembly is doing the same for construction. However, the aggregated engineering, and construction (AEC) industry to identify productivity
data for the industry at large shows that productivity has been in a barriers and find solutions. Shortly after its formation, PRO invited a
neutral to negative trend for many years. diverse group of structural engineers, contractors, materials suppliers,
MGI and others disagree on the cause of the problem. Many theories and others to meet at ACI World Headquarters in Farmington Hills,
have been proposed, including aversion to innovation due to dispropor- Michigan. The objective was to identify strategies for attacking the
tionate risk sharing, contractual roadblocks that discourage teamwork, the productivity challenge.
fractured nature of the industry that “silos” its players, and deterioration of Six strategic initiatives resulted from this meeting:
SEPTEMBER 2024 29
 1) Improve the constructability of concrete structures
2) Align contractual agreements of design, construction,
and ownership teams
3) Incentivize innovation in design and construction
4) Improve collaboration among all project stakeholders
5) Improve construction document completeness and
coordination
6) Expand industry use of new technologies.

Collaboration Is Key to Constructability

PRO defines constructability as “the effective integration
of construction knowledge into the planning and design
of a project to optimize its construction cost and schedule
and maximize its value to the owner.” The following sec-
tion begins to explore the first initiative in PRO’s Strategic
Plan, with future articles diving deeper into the Center’s
other five initiatives. A large mat slab foundation is placed. A perimeter barrier protective system is lifted
To create maximum benefit, this integration of con- on an urban concrete high-rise.

struction knowledge must begin early in design, which

contrasts with the traditional design-bid-build method of project staff doesn’t work on the project to its conclusion. Envision a reverse
delivery which can provide low initial costs, but rarely the lowest engineering approach where the contractor and designer establish a
final cost. Nevertheless, owners and others often use bidding as a construction concept before the design begins. The design can then
cost management tool. evolve to achieve the construction plan which elevates the productiv-
When comparing design-bid-build versus design-build methods, ity of both design and construction. Ideally, design engineers would
it is important to note the various degrees of design assist available. have spent significant time in the field seeing issues they create which
Examples in section one of PRO’s Constructability Blueprint, “Value hampered productivity or caused delays. This is where staff mentor-
of Design Collaboration,” include strategic purchasing and proactive ing plays an important role. However, due to increasing distances
problem solving in the design-assist model as a means for increasing between project locations and designers’ offices, reduced budgets for
value over the project duration. In contrast, adversarial change orders field services, and other factors, this first-hand experience seems to
in the design-bid-build model result in decreasing value over the be less and less likely to occur.
project duration. The design-assist method is a collaborative effort Engineers who wish to include constructability reviews and ideas
to enhance common project goals, while design-bid-build silos each early in their design process often struggle to obtain access to trusted
group in to focusing on their own self-interest. Although design- individuals that add value and needed knowledge. In most situations,
build arrangements aren’t always possible, improving trusted design the concrete constructor of the project has yet to be decided. Highly
collaboration is key. valued contractors may be reluctant to spend time and expense
Improvements in constructability require changes in this mindset. providing suggestions or a construction plan for a project they may
Maximizing collaboration between designers and contractors is the key never be awarded, or they may skew their bids in either direction by
to positive change. It improves constructability and, hence, productivity. providing a level of knowledge about the project that is not consistent
Constructable designs ideally include input from owners, materials among all bidders.
suppliers, subcontractors, contractors, and others. Solutions are iden- The Harmon Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada, represents an extreme
tified early in the design process, which removes roadblocks, reduces example of a capable structural design lacking constructability and
later Requests for Information (RFI), and maximizes project value. trusted collaboration amongst the project stakeholders. The tower was
At the early stages of design, the design team should include experi- designed to be a 49-story building; however, the project was stopped,
enced staff who can provide valuable input and insights, even if this and litigation revealed construction defects and other issues. The

The Harmon Tower in Las Vegas

was never completed, and
litigation revealed construction
defects and other issues, like
this concrete core shear wall
link beam detail that was not
constructable.

30 STRUCTURE magazine
The Bellevue Tower in Bellevue, Washington, is an example of an ethical contractor-designer collaboration. The architectural cross section of the Bellevue base structure illustrates multipurpose levels.

unfinished tower only reached 28 floors and was ultimately demolished project site drivers, and structural system concept design. ACI
in 2015. Collaboration and teamwork were relatively nonexistent Certificate Programs, delivered through ACI University, encourage
between project teams. The design was completed and issued to the concrete professionals to gain in-depth knowledge about topics in
contractor as both were entrenched in defensive silos, and lack of trust concrete materials, design, and construction by following a defined
and blame was prevalent. The structural design documents reflected online course of study. Once a Certificate Program has been com-
a design that ultimately could not be constructed, such as link beam pleted, participants receive a certificate and digital badge that can be
reinforcement for shear walls that could not be installed. Instead of used on résumés, job board profiles, social media, email signatures,
contactor-designer collaboration to address constructability issues, and and more. The Concrete Constructability Certificate Program reviews
with a determination to meet a demanding schedule, construction structural system selection, specification of concrete, selection of
proceeded with the installation of reinforcement that did not meet the reinforcement, and testing and inspection. The program serves as a
design requirements. The later investigation of 2,800 different areas of great introduction or refresher to constructability issues for designers
the building found that 1,800 of the locations were grossly deficient with various levels of experience.
in reinforcement. Combining legal, consulting, and demolition fees, PRO also released its Constructability Blueprint, which serves as a
the total damages from the project were more than $1 billion. starting point for improving construction productivity and project
In contrast, The Bellevue in Bellevue, Washington, is a three-tower value. The Blueprint will be updated, expanded, and modified to
project highlighting the benefits of ethical, trusting contractor-designer ensure the best and most current guidelines for advancing productivity.
collaboration toward a constructable design. Consisting of hotel, retail, It represents the recommendations of PRO’s members, who are col-
and parking areas, a major structural challenge was minimizing the lectively committed to continually improving the constructability of
amount of transfer beams for the columns connecting the three areas. design and productivity. A PDF copy of the Constructability Blueprint
To achieve this, two structural concepts were presented by the designer, can be obtained from any PRO member or at concreteproductivity.org.
one included the use of a large transfer floor while the second presented As a catalyst for overcoming barriers to advancing concrete con-
slant columns as an option for connection. The final proposal was a struction productivity, PRO plans to empower and motivate the next
combination of the two, which presented a messy, expensive, and nearly generation of structural engineers and constructors to be actively
non-constructable design. To move forward, the project stakeholders involved in supporting improvements in design and construction
united and collaborated on a path forward. To begin, they established methodologies. In addition to the initiatives and resources previously
a goal to minimize the number of columns within the towers, agreed mentioned, the Center’s core functions include:
to let the structural team control the column layout, and sought the • Industry outreach and awareness
architecture to fit. The designer’s result was a decrease from 20 columns • Advancing automation
to 12, elimination of two outrigger beams, and reduction from 14 • Interaction with ACI technical committees on constructability
column transfers to eight, resulting in a less expensive project for the • Technology validation
owner and a desirable aesthetic for the architect due to a constructable • Construction productivity resources
design for the contractor. • Knowledge transfer and professional development
Several forward-thinking, industry-leading organizations have already
joined the Center as members. PRO membership is open to individu-
Available Resources and How to Help als and organizations interested in advancing concrete design and
construction. This includes industry leaders, concrete contractors,
PRO envisions a concrete industry that quickly and effectively structural designers, construction companies, concrete producers,
evaluates, shares, and adopts technology, materials, and processes that manufacturers, federal and state agencies, and more. To learn more
improve the constructability and productivity of design and construc- about PRO or to become a member, visit concreteproductivity.org.
tion for concrete structures of all types. PRO and its members can
advance new technologies and processes that improve productivity
well beyond historic levels. The Center is seeking involvement from Phil Diekemper is the Executive Director of PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for
all industry stakeholders, especially structural engineers who wish to Advancing Productivity. Cary Kopczynski is the CEO of CKC Structural Engineers and
be industry leaders in advancing concrete design and construction. is a past ACI President. He chairs the PRO Board of Directors. Mike Tholen is the Senior
Of note to structural engineers: ACI recently launched a new Managing Director, Technical Operations at the American Concrete Institute. He is a
Certificate Program that covers planning, layout, project delivery, member of the PRO Board of Directors.

SEPTEMBER 2024 31
 What Does a Dam
Structural Engineer
DO, Anyways?
Geology, hydrology, hydraulics, and more go into the structural
engineering puzzle of each dam project.
By Aimee Corn, PE

32 STRUCTURE magazine
I
f your exposure to the world of dams is limited to flownets received a solid “D.” Part of this is due to the fact that over the last
or calculating the triangular distribution of water load in one 20 years, the number of high-hazard potential dams has more than
of your undergraduate classes, maybe a childhood trip to the doubled.
Hoover Dam, or recreation at your local reservoir, you might The hazard classification reflects the hazards downstream of the
be wondering what exactly a dam structural engineer does. dam: the potential consequences if the dam were to fail, laid out
You are not alone! Many people wind up in this industry by chance. in Figure 1. High hazard dams are dams that have the potential for
economic loss as well as the potential for loss of life if the dam were
to fail; these dams are held to the most stringent safety standards.
Dams: The Big Picture The hazard classification can change over the lifetime of the dam.
As populations continue to grow downstream, more dams have the
The United States has more than 91,000 dams, with an average age potential to become high hazard structures.
around 62 years old. Dams serve a variety of purposes, including The oldest dam in the U.S., Old Oaken Bucket Pond Dam in
storing drinking water, flood control, recreation, and hydropower. Massachusetts, was completed in 1640. The early 1900s ushered in
Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases an an era of “big dam” building in America as demands for water stor-
infrastructure report card which aims to depict the condition and age and electricity increased. Dam construction increased during
performance of American infrastructure, assigning letter grades based the Great Depression and spiked the decade after World War II was
on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement. over. Dam construction peaked in the 1960s and decreased rapidly
While the overall grade for America’s infrastructure was a “C-,” Dams after the 1970s.

Gravity Dams

Gravity dams rely on their self-weight to maintain stability and retain the reservoir they impound. Gravity dams have been around for
thousands of years. Many older gravity dams were constructed with large masonry blocks. Current construction practices utilize mass con-
crete, which relies on the material properties of the concrete; steel reinforcement is generally not used.

Fig. 1. Dam Hazard Potential Classification adapted from the National Inventory of Dams

SEPTEMBER 2024 33
 Arch Dams

Arch dams significantly cut back on concrete material and rely on the compressive strength of concrete. Due to arch action, the arch
efficiently transfers loads into the abutments and foundation utilizing its unique shape and geometry. Arch dams can be thin or thick, and
some are double curvature, meaning they have curvature in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Slab and Buttress Dam

In a slab and buttress dam, an inclined reinforced concrete deck slab holds back the reservoir load. A series of corbels and buttresses on
the downstream side support the upstream sloped slabs. Slab and buttress dams are often referred to as Ambursen dams. Neil Ambursen
patented a reinforced concrete design for this system in the early 1900s. This technique was used to construct more than 100 slab and but-
tress dams in North America.

TRIVIA
What state has the most dams? What state has the fewest What state produces the most
#1 Texas (7,374) number of dams? hydropower?
#2 Kansas (6,427) #50 Delaware (83) #1 Washington
#3 Mississippi (6,114) #49 Alaska (110) #2 Oregon
#4 Georgia (5,457) #48 Hawaii (128) #3 New York
#5 Missouri (5,366) #47 Rhode Island (235) #4 California
#46 Vermont (371) #5 Tennessee

34 STRUCTURE magazine
Embankment Dam

Embankment dams are typically comprised of compacted earthen material. Most have a central core composed of an impermeable mate-
rial to stop water from seeping through the dam. This type of dam is well suited for sites with wide valleys and can be built on hard rock
or softer soils.

How and For What Are Dams Analyzed? sees. This includes the weight of the concrete, the load of the reservoir
and tailwater, and sediment. Some evaluations also include thermal
When thinking of structural engineering, the various codes and stan- evaluations that look at how the ambient and reservoir temperatures
dards that typically come to mind include ASCE 7, the International impact the overall behavior of the concrete. Another usual load
Building Code, AASHTO, the AISC steel manual, American Concrete combination may include the addition of an ice load for reservoirs
Institute (ACI), as well as wood and timber standards. Concrete dam in areas where the reservoir freezes.
analysis relies on guidelines developed by the Bureau of Reclamation, The unusual load combination evaluates the same conditions as
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and U.S. Army the usual load case, with an increase in the reservoir level to reflect
Corps of Engineers. These guidelines rely on fundamental engineering the flood load. For high hazard dams, this is typically the Probable
principles and place a significant emphasis on engineering judgment Maximum Flood (PMF). The PMF is the worst-case scenario flood
when evaluating these structures. and may be anywhere between a 10,000-year event to a million-year
The Bureau of Reclamation has Design of Small Dams as well event. For dams having a low hazard potential, the project should be
as Best Practices and several engineering monographs. The FERC stable for floods up to and including the 100-year flood.
produces chapters pertaining to several types of dams and associ- The extreme load combination evaluates the seismic event. For
ated features and appurtenant structures, such as Chapter 3 which high hazard dams, this is the maximum credible earthquake and is
covers Gravity Dams and Chapter 11 which covers Arch Dams. typically around a 10,000-year event. Advancements in earthquake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also publishes a variety of understanding over the last few decades have shown engineers that
engineer manuals for the design and evaluation of dams. These seismic hazards may be higher than originally thought when many
guidelines lay out recommended factors of safety associated with of the dams in the U.S. were designed. Current seismic loads can be
key failure modes. double or even triple what the dam was designed for.
The post-earthquake load case is the usual load case accounting for
the damage that occurs during the earthquake.
Loads and Load Combinations
The gravity method of analysis is used to analyze concrete dams. Basic Concrete Dam Failure Modes
This method assumes that the dam is a two-dimensional rigid block,
and the sum of the forces and the sum of the moments equal zero. Potential failure modes or PFMs are the hypothetical chain of events
The foundation pressure distribution is assumed to be linear. The that could lead to unsatisfactory performance of the dam and are a
gravity method of analysis should be completed before proceeding crucial step in understanding the behavior of a concrete dam. The
on to more rigorous studies since it provides good estimates at low analyses structural engineers perform parallel the potential failure
computational costs. In most cases, if the gravity method of analysis modes; think of the failure mode event tree as an outline for the
indicates that the dam is stable, no further analysis is necessary. The evaluation of the problem.
drawback to the gravity method of analysis is that the analysis does In concrete dams, concrete overstressing and rotational and sliding
not consider dynamic behavior characteristics which can magnify the stability are the basic failure mechanisms typically evaluated.
effects of earthquake ground motions in the upper section of the dam. In mass concrete, when evaluating for concrete overstressing,
The usual load combination is the normal, everyday load the dam the evaluation compares the computed stresses from the analysis

SEPTEMBER 2024 35
 against the allowable strength of
the material. If the computed
stress exceeds the capacity, then
the concrete is assumed to crack
or crush.
Rotational and sliding stability
evaluates sliding stability of the
dam along analysis planes based
on minimum allowable factors
of safety. Evaluations along the
dam/foundation interface are Figs. 2-3. This arch dam in Oklahoma was constructed in 1936. A 3D finite element model of the dam was developed using ANSYS.
often referred to as global sta-
bility. Analysis of sliding planes
within the dam section evaluate internal stability. Depending on and the complexity of the modeling software. These simpler methods
the foundation material, sliding planes within the foundation may can serve as a quality check for more sophisticated studies.
also be evaluated. The more sophisticated analysis options include two-dimensional
Developing a potential failure mode consists of three specific parts: and three-dimensional finite element analyses using software
1) The first is the initiating event. This can be normal operations, such as ANSYS or Abaqus. Finite element models allow for more
a defect in the material, a flood, or earthquake. complex studies, such as thermal and dynamic loading combined
2) The next part of the PFM is the progression. This is the devel- with static loads to better simulate actual behavior of the dam
opment of steps that define the process leading to failure. and understand the load paths associated with the entire dam-
3) For failure, there needs to be a quantitative result. This may be foundation-reservoir system. The need for 2D or 3D depends
failure of the structure or an uncontrolled release of the reservoir. on a variety of things, such as changes in geometry or capturing
During a potential failure modes analysis (PFMA) workshop, material changes in the dam or foundation. A two-dimensional
a group of people, including the dam owner and subject matter finite element model may be sufficient to capture the behavior of
experts, brainstorm and identify all the PFMs for a dam. Once a gravity dam with no changes in geometry throughout its length,
the team identifies the PFMs, the progression is developed for all while a three-dimensional model may be required to accurately
relevant failure modes. Through this exercise, all participants gain represent an arch dam which relies on its shape to achieve stability.
a better understanding of how the dam functions and could fail.
Dam owners can use the lessons learned to help shape their dam
safety program. Examples
Through the PFMA process, risk reduction measures are identified
that can be implemented to help prevent the full progression of the As discussed previously, the hazard classification of a dam can
failure mode. The PFMA process is set up to help identify unknown change over its lifetime.
flaws in the dam. Surveillance and monitoring measures should be The arch dam in Oklahoma in Figure 2 is located within the bound-
in place to prevent these failure modes from occurring. There is ary of a wildlife refuge. When it was designed and constructed in
not a set number of failure modes one should identify on a project. 1936, there was no population downstream of the dam and it was
Ideally, enough PFMs are identified to provide a full understanding designed for minimal seismic loading.
of the threats to the safety of the project. The owner completed a hazard classification study of seven dams in
the refuge, which involved developing inundation mapping of the
flood waters if the dams were to fail. This study showed a population
Analysis Options of about 1,000 was at risk directly south of the dam. This raised
the hazard classification to high, now requiring the most stringent
Several analysis options are
available; the proper method of
analysis depends on the problem
at hand and the level of complex-
ity needed.
It is good practice to start
simple and increase complexity
as needed. Typically, the initial
step is hand calculations, utilizing
spreadsheet or Mathcad analyses,
which lend themselves well to the
gravity method of analysis. It is
important to understand the gen-
eral behavior of the dam before
delving into more sophisticated
analysis options. With more com-
plex analyses, it is easy to get lost
in the multitude of parameters Fig. 4. This dam in Colorado was originally designed and built as a gravity dam in the 1930s. The arch dam was added on top in 1959,
raising the dam's height to over 200 feet.

36 STRUCTURE magazine
 Fig. 5. A slab
and buttress dam
built in the 1930s
required repair
and rehabilitation
measures due
to deterioration
concerns.

safety standards. The understanding of seismicity has also improved Final Thoughts
in this area, resulting in the need for an updated analysis of record,
as the maximum credible earthquake at this site is quite high. The From the geology of the foundation, the hydrology of the reservoir
engineering team performed a structural stability analysis of the and the hydraulics of the spillway to the mechanics of the dam’s
dam using a 3D finite element model to evaluate the safety of the behavior, a structural dam engineer utilizes the full civil engineering
dam for the increased loads (Fig. 3). degree. Every dam project is a new and exciting puzzle to solve. While
The arch dam in Colorado in Figure 4 was originally constructed the design of new dams is not as common as it once was, extending
as a gravity dam in the late 1930s. An arch dam was constructed on the life of America’s critical infrastructure and improving dam safety
top in 1959, raising the dam to over 200 feet tall. In this example, is a crucial need and provides a rewarding career path.
the foundation is the focus. The geology and the foundation are
crucial for the performance of a concrete dam, especially an arch Aimee Corn, PE, M.ASCE, is Sr. Project Structural Engineer at Gannett Fleming
dam. For arch dams, one of the failure modes evaluated is rock specializing in the analysis of existing concrete dams. Corn served on the SEI
block stability. Engineers must evaluate the stability of potential Board of Governors from 2018 to 2022 and was the 2023 recipient of the
rock blocks in the abutment formed by the intersection of founda- ASCE Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement.
tion discontinuities. This failure mode has the potential to develop
during normal, flood, and earthquake loading conditions. In the
development of the PFM, the thrust load from the dam and uplift
pressures could dislodge a rock block resulting in a loss of arch
support and failure of the dam.
Rock anchors were placed in the foundation in the late 1980s.
The role of the structural engineer on this project was to model the
dam with a three-dimensional finite element model and evaluate the
magnitude and directionality of the thrust loads on the abutment
for the various loading conditions to determine if this failure mode
was viable or could be ruled out.
For the third example in Figure 5, a slab and buttress dam built in the

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1930s had concern of corrosion of the steel reinforcement. Localized
deterioration had routinely been observed during regular inspections,
so the quality of the concrete was in question. Core samples were
taken, and the concrete strengths and reinforcement conditions were
evaluated.
Several failure
TRIVIA modes associated
with structural
capacity of the
What year was the oldest dam
reinforced con-
(still standing) in the U.S.
crete slabs and
completed? corbels were
evaluated. Hand
1640 calculations were
used to analyze
the loads on the
structure and
calculate the nominal capacities of the individual members account-
ing for various degrees of deterioration. These results were used to
determine a proper plan to address deterioration concerns and how
to prioritize what regions to focus on first for repair and rehabilita-
tion measures and enhance the service life of the dam.

SEPTEMBER 2024 37
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 ONE RIVER
NORTH:
Where City and
Nature Take Form
Coordination, collaboration, and creativity were required to meet the
structural engineering challenges created by the building's
unique canyon feature.
By Austin Reese, PE

D
enver, Colorado, is known as a city where residents enjoy access to the parking garage below. The three below-ground parking
a connection to the outdoor lifestyle due to the city’s levels provide approximately 175 parking spaces for building resi-
proximity to the Rocky Mountains. One River North, dents. Levels two through sixteen are residential units, totaling over
one of Denver’s newest buildings, was designed to reflect 180 units. The building boasts thousands of square feet of outdoor
that connection and give residents a place to call home amenity spaces, most of which are found on levels six through eight
with the convenience of the city and feel of the mountains. World- where residents enjoy the sprawling canyon landscape with seating
renowned architecture firm MAD Architects based in Beijing, China, areas, fire pits, a walking path and waterfall. An additional outdoor
dreamed up a building design that would provide a mountain-like amenity space on the roof provides residents with a rooftop pool, hot
feel in luxury urban housing. tub, seating areas and views of the mountains to the west.
The building stands out as unique due to the prominent canyon-like
features that meander across the building face and are meant to resemble
a structure that has been overtaken by nature. The canyon features make Structural Systems
the design unlike any other, which forced the construction and design
teams to come up with collaborative and creative solutions for the The building foundations, structural walls, columns, and slabs are
unique geometry. The design team consisted of MAD Architects, who cast-in-place concrete. The building foundation system is made up of
provided the overall architectural design, Davis Partnership Architects 76 drilled piers that extend from the basement level into the bedrock
who served as local Architect of Record and who also provided the inte- below with a typical total length of 35-45 feet. The piers range in
rior and landscape design, Jirsa Hedrick who performed the structural diameter from 24 inches to 60 inches at the heaviest loaded columns.
design, KHSS who provided the design of the canyon plaster system, The pier cap below the building core walls has nine piers that provide
and many others. Saunders Construction Inc. served as the project the lateral resistance at the foundation, these piers are 48 inches in
general contractor and provided pre-construction design assist services. diameter with almost 2% vertical reinforcing.
Due to the unique geometry, the building has irregular column spacing,
but an approximate 28 feet by 28 feet column grid is used where pos-
Building Description sible. The columns come in 19 different shapes, and some of the largest
sections used include 36-inch diameter round columns and 26-inch
One River North is 16 stories above grade with three stories of below- by 48- inch rectangular columns. Round columns were preferred for
grade parking beneath. The ground level consists of retail space, the aesthetics at outdoor spaces, but square and rectangular columns were
main resident entry lobby, resident amenities such as bike storage and preferred at interior applications. The columns that pass vertically
pet wash, some mechanical rooms, as well as the porte cochere and through the canyon space had to be coordinated in many locations to

40 STRUCTURE magazine
SEPTEMBER 2024 41
 The canyon features were modeled by architects using Rhino 3D software (left). The production model (right) was used as a contract document to produce
the desired shapes and curves.

account for the change in shape from rectangular to round and back. the existing site down three levels to the basement elevation and erec-
Columns were constructed with high strength 8000 psi concrete. The tion of the tower crane. Installation of the drilled piers and basement
floors of the building are typically two-way, post tensioned slabs that structure took approximately six months, with construction of the
are 8 inches or 9 inches thick in residential areas. The slab thickness ground level slab in spring of 2022. The building was topped out just
is increased in areas with large column spacing or heavy landscape nine months later in December 2022. The building elevation was vis-
loads, with corresponding increased reinforcing. Slabs were placed ibly different from a typical project during construction, but it wasn’t
with 6000-psi concrete. The building lateral system is provided by until the installation of the CHIPS system that the general public
the single, box-shaped elevator core at the center of the building. The realized how unique the building was going to be. Installation of the
elevator core walls are 18 inches thick and utilize the 8000-psi concrete CHIPS system began in fall of 2022 and wasn’t fully completed until
mix. The canyons that make the building look so unique are a special late 2023 at which point the project began attracting increased local
panelized plaster and mesh system, referred to as the CHIPS system, media attention. After just three years of fast-paced construction, the
that mounts to steel tabs fastened to the structural slabs. The building building was completed and opened to the public in April of 2024.
cladding is a combination of stucco panels in the back and curtainwall
system on the front facade.
CHIPS
Construction The CHIPS system that adorns the building uses the same tech-
nology used to build man-made mountains at theme parks and is
The construction of the project began in 2021 with excavation of designed and fabricated by a third-party specialty company. The

The architectural slab edge plan at balcony is shown.

One River North is 16 stories above grade with three stories of below grade parking.
Levels two through 16 are residential units. The building also has thousands of square feet of
outdoor amenity spaces, most of which are on levels six through eight, that features seating
areas, fire pits, waterfall, and walking path.

42 STRUCTURE magazine
 Multiple levels of
reshoring were required
at the canyon area of the
building.

system gets its name from its resemblance to a potato chip. Each of while on site and verify if the curved formwork aligned with the
the CHIPS segments came out in hundreds of prefabricated mesh design. Many of the curved areas were heavily reinforced to support
panels, typically 48 inches by 48 inches in size. The CHIPS panels the landscape loads, and thus a substantial amount of reinforcing
were mounted to steel columns and braces that were fixed to embed would had to be field-trimmed to fit into the various corners and
plates cast into the structural slabs and columns. Once all panels are curves.
installed and tied together, they are coated with several applications
of plaster and paint. The support system required the placement of
thousands of embed plates prior to pouring the concrete slabs and Shoring
columns, and there were zero missed embed plates through the entire
course of construction. Ensuring all embed plates were placed and Another challenge in construction was the coordination of the con-
located correctly was achieved by TEKLA laser scanning technology crete floor shoring and reshoring operations. In general, the structural
and integration into the project Navisworks model. Missing or mis- team required a minimum of two floors of reshores in addition to one
placed embed plates were flagged and corrected prior to placement floor of formwork, requiring three floors total of support for each slab
of the concrete. The CHIPS unique geometry was modeled by the pour. The reveals in various parts of the canyon created conditions
MAD Architects team in Rhino 3D software, and the Rhino BIM at some levels where there may not be a slab below for three levels
model was a contract document used by the CHIPS fabricator to and required the shoring in these areas be supported by slabs five or
produce the desired shapes and curves. more levels below. The shoring coordination added another hurdle
for the construction team to coordinate activities in the areas that
would be blocked by shoring far longer than typical. In an effort to
Curves keep glass installation on schedule the structural team provided a
loading allowance for limited construction activities in reshore zones.
Simply attaching the CHIPS system to a flat-faced structure would
not achieve the full desired slot canyon effect. Therefore, in many
locations the curves of the canyon CHIPS geometry match up with Post-Tensioned Slab Design
the structure below to make a gash in the face of the building and
create a penetrating reveal into the structure behind the cladding. A crack running through the structure is usually the last thing a
Many of the final curves were modeled using Rhino splines—curves structural team wants to hear about; in this case, the crack in the
without definable geometry in 2D documentation. The edges of the face of the structure was the defining element and couldn’t be glossed
structural slabs are defined in the structural drawings for typical loca- over. The building’s unique gash feature is accomplished by carefully
tions but the structural team deferred curving the slab edges to mold to the
the curved areas to the architecture shape of the canyon. The levels with
team to convey due to the complex- canyon features, levels six through the
ity. The architectural team plotted roof, all have unique geometry and
the curves on an X-Y grid system to require unique reinforcing. The side of
document the unique geometry. The the building facing the alley—referred
slab edges were then surveyed exten- to as the backbar—was the same for
sively to ensure the curved formwork levels three through 17. The building
aligned with the BIM models before floors were constructed in two separate
placing the concrete. The general con- concrete pours, typically spaced a week
tractor utilized TEKLA’s Augmented apart allowing for a completed level
Reality goggles which allowed the user The curved floor geometry was exported from Revit for each level to every two weeks. Due to the complex-
to see an overlay of the BIM model properly analyze the slab edges and landscaping load geometry. ity of the reinforcing and demanding

SEPTEMBER 2024 43
 overall project schedule the structural team was on site to review the
reinforcing for almost every concrete pour which included weekend,
sunrise, and sunset site visits throughout the course of construction.
Floor slabs were designed using RAM ConcePT post-tensioned slab
analysis software. The floor geometry was exported from Revit for
each level to properly analyze the slab edges and landscaping load
geometry. In most instances the landscape loads were located near the
edges of the floor slabs in cantilever zones so additional post tensioned
reinforcing had to be placed to reduce slab edge deflection and pro-
vide the required capacity. While typical interior slab areas may only
have 150 psi of precompression, the heavily-loaded landscape areas
The lower levels of the building with larger openings exceeded the shear stresses allowed often have over 400 psi of precompression. The cantilevered western
by code with typical reinforced sections, so an embedded steel flange beam with welded slab edge was also cambered as much as one inch in some locations
reinforcement was incorporated at levels three, four, and five.

The building's canyon-like features required close collaboration from the design team, including the architect, structural engineer, and general contractor.

44 STRUCTURE magazine
to account for anticipated deflections from the cladding, landscape, The construction of the transfer slab was also challenging because it
and CHIPS weight (approximately 15-psf ). Locations with extensive required the rebar installers to crawl fully inside the rebar cage and
heavy landscaping, such as the level 6 waterfall feature, are thickened lay horizontally to place the cross ties. Despite the large balanced
to 12 inches with additional heavy mild reinforcing. load, enough mild reinforcing was provided to resist initial stresses
One of the design challenges for the post-tensioned slab system and avoid having to use staged stressing.
included a three discontinuous columns that supported several levels
above level 1 but did not continue to the basement below and had
to be supported by a thickened transfer slab at level 1. The columns Lateral System Design
stop at level 1 and are supported by the 40-inch-thick PT slab below,
with over 100 PT tendons in each direction and reinforcing mats One River North is located directly next to a large trainyard and
and ties at 9-inches on center. The 24 inch by 36 inch discontinu- several large parking lots which all contribute to a C exposure clas-
ous column has a design load of over 2000 kips that is transferred sification. The building is classified as Seismic Design Category B, so
via the post tensioned slab to the columns over 10 feet away below. the wind loading controlled the lateral design over seismic effects. The
building was studied with a wind tunnel analysis by local wind tunnel
expert Cermak Peterka Peterson (CPP Wind) who provided the design
team with MWFRS and components and cladding design loads. The
building lateral analysis was performed using RAM Structural System
with a lateral model calibrated to correlate with the wind tunnel
criteria. The design team considered building drift, backstay effects,
and system ultimate capacity with multiple RAM models that were
used to envelope the various possible conditions.
The building lateral system is provided by the concrete elevator core
walls which make up a 30 feet by 30 feet square at the center of the
building. The core walls are 18-inches thick and have varying levels of
reinforcing. A corridor passes through the elevator lobby and openings
for the corridor are required on each side of the core. The link beams
above the corridor openings at most levels are typically lightly loaded
and easily designed with reinforced concrete sections. However, the
lower levels with larger openings have shear stresses exceeding what
is allowed by code with normally reinforced sections and required the
design team to resort to an embedded W24x131 wide flange beam
across the corridor openings at levels three through five. Embedding a
steel beam with welded reinforcement inside the link beam formwork
required extensive coordination with the construction team to ensure
the beam could fit in the wall reinforcing mats. The first beams were
placed at level three with minimal issues and the beams at levels four
and five went in without any further coordination required.
At one time, One River North seemed like another project that
would be doomed by the Covid 19 economic chaos and a prohibitive
price tag. The design team was excited to take part in the project,
but post-Covid economic uncertainty and fluctuating costs of con-
struction meant a higher risk of project delay or budget constraint.
Now the building is complete, and it is an undeniable example of
Denver’s special architecture. One River North stands as a source
of pride and accomplishment for all who worked on the project.
For the structural team at Jirsa Hedrick, the project represented one
of the most complicated ever undertaken as this project required a
high level of collaboration, coordination, and creativity. By relying
on expertise in BIM modeling and structural analysis software, the
design team was able to navigate the difficult design and construction
journey and successfully produce a design that blends nature with
downtown Denver. ■

Austin Reese, PE, is a project manager for Jirsa Hedrick. He has 10 years
of experience in structural design and analysis. He has completed work on
multiple projects including senior living, multi-family residential, commercial,
and public structures.

SEPTEMBER 2024 45
 Intuit Dome is powered by 2 MW of photovoltaic solar panels that provide 11 MW of power to batteries
and related equipment located within a central utility plant. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers

Intuit Dome Is
Nothing But Net
Los Angeles Clippers’ new carbon neutral arena crosses over into
an all-encompassing facility.
By Ryan Anderson, SE, DBIA, and Sam Bass, PE

46 STRUCTURE magazine
T
he new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Club and Plaza Level elevated slabs. The east
California, is more than a basket- side of the Plaza Level includes concrete slab
ball arena to the NBA’s Los Angeles over steel deck supported by steel trusses in
Clippers, it is the team’s home away the loading dock area. The lower bowl also
from home. The visually striking utilizes precast concrete seating units sup-
1.1 million-square-foot arena used exclusively ported by steel framing.
for basketball and concerts opened in August The steel superstructure contains the
2024 and is the new benchmark for global structural steel elevated floor framing
arena design and engineering. above the Plaza Level, which is supported
Intuit Dome’s oblong shape is due to the by the concrete substructure below. The
Clippers’ desire to have an all-encompassing Suite, Mezzanine, Mechanical, and Terrace
facility—the arena’s seating bowl and basket- Levels are supported by composite concrete
ball court, administrative offices, practice over steel decks slabs with steel beams and
Steel rakers support the lightweight precast concrete seating
and training facilities as well as the critical columns. bowl. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers
infrastructure to ensure the arena is carbon- Additionally, steel rakers sup-
neutral are all located within the structure’s port precast concrete seating while
footprint. the concession areas and electrical
The LEED Platinum structure is completely control rooms have bare steel deck
powered by 2 MW of photovoltaic solar roofs and are supported on top
panels on the roof that provide 11 MW of of the Terrace Level. The conces-
power to batteries and related equipment sion areas are steel frame structures
housed in a central utility plant inside the comprised of wide flange beams,
structure. There is enough on-site energy HSS columns, and cold formed
storage to power a basketball game or con- steel shear walls as the seismic force
cert while generating no new greenhouse resisting system.
gas emissions. Finally, the shell structure contains
Because Intuit Dome is designed to exclu- both the typical bare steel deck
sively host basketball games and concerts, it roof over the top of the arena and
provides an intimate seating bowl for more a polytetrafluoroethylene and eth-
than 18,000 fans and positions them up to ylene tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/
45 feet closer to the action on the court or the ETFE) shell enveloping the rest of Section through the south stands. The long span truss
stage compared to traditional multi-use—i.e., the roof and wraps around the structure on supports the primary roof. The diagrid wraps down the side
hockey included—arena design. all sides. The shell structure utilizes circular of the arena. Image Courtesy of AECOM
Intuit Dome has eight distinct levels: two hollow structural steel members in a diagrid
below grade, five levels above grade, and the shell—formed from a series of diamond-
main concourse at grade. The arena event shaped panels that reflect the geometry Building Team
level is founded at 32 feet below natural of a basketball net—to support the build-
grade, and the top of the shell structure is ing enclosure made up of PTFE or ETFE Owner: Los Angeles Clippers
121 feet above natural grade. membranes. The shell structure is vertically Owner Representative: CAA ICON
In total, Intuit Dome is approximately supported by traditional columns and “tree Architect of Record: AECOM
1,250,000 gross square feet and includes columns” with horizontal outriggers at the Design Architect: AECOM
965,000 square feet of elevated floor structure Suite and Terrace Levels. A 12-in. vertical gap Landscape Architect: Hood Design
as well as 277,000 square feet of roof shell was provided between the Plaza Level and the Studio
surface area, much larger than the typical bottom of the shell and is not base supported Structural Engineer: Walter P Moore
arenas previously constructed. at any location. It is supported laterally at Civil Engineer: D & D Engineering
the gutter—the interface between the arena’s Enclosure Engineer: AECOM
traditional roof and diagrid shell—as well as Electrical Engineer: AECOM
Construction Typologies at the Terrace Level (radial only) and Suite Mechanical Engineer: Henderson
Level (radial only) utilizing toggle braces. Engineers
Three primary structural construction Plumbing Engineer: AECOM
typologies were instituted for the Intuit Erection Engineer: Walter P Moore
Dome—concrete substructure, steel super- Seating Areas Construction Manager: AECOM Hunt
structure, and the steel shell. & Turner Construction
The concrete substructure contains the The seating bowl is broken into five different Facade Contractor: Crown Corr/ETS
cast-in-place structure and shallow and mat areas—upper bowl, mid bowl, lower bowl, Steel Fabricator: Schuff Steel
foundations at or below grade. This includes the dugout suite area, and the Wall. Steel Erector: Schuff Steel
the arena’s foundations, perimeter retaining On the east side of the arena and comprised Concrete Contractor: Largo Concrete
walls, the slab on grade Event Level, and of over 50 rows of uninterrupted seating for

SEPTEMBER 2024 47
 over 4,500 fans is the Wall. This seating bowl a column-free space for the trucks in the load-
builds on what other athletic teams, such ing dock as well as the entire area on the east
as Providence Park, home of the Portland side of the arena, which is where the modular
Timbers, have done: putting the loudest and central utility plant battery storage is located.
most passionate fans into a designated area. The central utility plant includes over 180,000
The resulting sound from this area is designed pounds of batteries and related equipment,
to funnel down to the court. drive aisles, and storage yards on an elevated
Due to vibration, and aesthetic considerations, structure. Intuit Dome was engineered to be
the west side of the seating bowl required a self-sustaining and allow the incorporation of
sophisticated and unique structural design due ever-changing technology and sustainable prac-
to the massive indoor event space located under tices even throughout construction.
the seating area at the Terrace Level.
The west upper concourse is a propped
cantilever with the seating bowl serving to Lobby Areas & Concession
counterbalance the cantilevered floor plate. Design
This results in vibrations from the west seating
bowl translating to the upper concourse floor. The upper concourse on the west side of Intuit
Careful finite element analysis (FEM) of this Dome is a massive indoor-outdoor space at
seating and floor area with many iterations and the Terrace Level. The structural design of the
studies for the west side of the seating bowl was 35-foot cantilevered terrace used steel kickers
required to ensure patron comfort. for support. The very top of the west side of
Lightweight concrete precast seating units are the arena on the Terrace Level features four
used throughout the seating bowl. The west side The shell structure utilizes circular hollow structural steel basketball hoops with netting on the side, an
members in a diagrid shell—formed from a series of
of the seating bowl is supported by steel rakers. diamond-shaped panels that reflect the geometry of a auto-return system to get the ball back to the
The lateral loads are collected and delivered to basketball net. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers shooter, and an electronic scoring system for the
the floor diaphragms with under-bowl bracing team’s Shoot 360 interactive experience where
or buckling-restrained braces at the bottom fans can play. Several shade trellises were added
section of the lower bowl. The rakers are not connected to different for the outdoor concession areas.
floor levels to prevent them from acting like building braces. The lower On the east side of Intuit Dome, the glazing was designed for blast
bowl is connected to the Plaza Level, Club Level, and Event Level to loads and engineered to ensure the safety of the patrons and the struc-
eliminate seismic joints, as discussed later in the article, at the premium ture. The back up steel for the glazing consists of W24x columns and
suites. Connections to the club level were designed for seismic inelastic a cable system behind the glass to prevent any glass from entering too
drift compatibility forces. The high stiffness of the concrete shear wall far into the interior space.
system allowed for the design forces to be reasonable. Also on the east side of the arena is a promotional basketball court
Both floors at the Plaza Level and Club Level are in the lower bowl, that has a 60 feet ceiling space from the main deck all the way up to
consisting of concrete flat slabs supported by concrete columns. The the upper concourse. A series of 95 feet long trusses support the con-
floors were designed as two-way slabs and analyzed under gravity loads. course above this area. Structurally, the challenge centered upon the
Flexural reinforcing was placed as top and bottom base layers of reinforc- very large façade attached to the HSS cladding girts between the steel
ing bars in both directions with additional reinforcing where flexural columns. The four-story steel columns are supported by concrete beams
demands exceed the capacity of base layers. Punching shear resistance under the southern section and steel beams and trusses supporting the
at slab-to-column connection was provided using headed stud-rails. northern portion, resulting in differential deflections and complications
Concrete beams were added where necessary to provide additional to the glazing design. The steel columns and framing at the concourse
stiffness to the slab at long span conditions or around large openings are designed for blast loads. Additionally, the trusses in this area were
such as elevator pits. Forty-two-inch deep concrete beams were also designed to minimize the vibration felt on the terrace level above.
used to transfer loads at discontinuous columns from the Club Level Structural design for the arena’s closure wall above the concession
and above to the columns below. structure also took on special considerations due to the proximity to the
Furthermore, the structural design of the seating bowl took a different roof shell and the differential movements. The walls were cantilevered
approach to luxury suites than other arenas to keep fans close to the from the top of concessions to allow for differential movement of the
action. Over 40 suite spaces in a horseshoe formation are located toward shell. The shape of each concession area is engineered with a curvature
the back of the middle section of the bowl—allowing fans to sit in a along the backside wall so it would avoid contact with the exterior shell
regular bowl seat that is exclusive to the suite. Finally, 14 court-level but maximize interior space. This curved design of the concession areas
suites, including four dugout suites with privacy glass, line the player is unique compared to traditional arenas with concession areas typically
tunnel. The 10 suites opposite the player benches also include access built as masonry boxes. Concession structures utilized sure board, light
to seats in the lower bowl. gauge steel panel shear walls for the lateral system and bare metal deck
supported by steel framing for the roof gravity system.

Loading Dock and Central Utility Plant

Roof Shell Design
Intuit Dome has a substantial basement that measures 1,300 feet
and includes a 300-foot-long loading dock ramp. Coordination of the Intuit Dome’s PTFE/ETFE roof shell rides along with the structure;
transfer trusses over the loading dock was critical because they support however, it is not the primary structural seismic system. The 2,800-ton

48 STRUCTURE magazine
diagrid shell frame roof is supported by seven trusses over the main Additionally, the PTFE/ETFE diagrid roof shell that makes up
arena weighing approximately 120 tons apiece and is comparable to the exterior of the arena covers the entire structure. The decision to
a “hoopskirt” where it is rigid in its own way but then tied back to use both PTFE and ETFE ensured the material could stretch over
each successive floor with a toggle brace. multiple panels because the diagrid roof shell has several different
Because Intuit Dome is located approximately a mile from the configurations. The dual roof material is watertight in the critical
Newport-Inglewood fault, the toggle braces can rotate in two direc- sections of the structure and a woven mesh in other areas to allow
tions in case of a seismic event. The toggle braces allow the shell to ample natural light and airflow, while also providing a horizontal and
be laterally supported by primary structural floors at Levels 4 and 7 vertical decorative aspect.
so the shell frame roof does not cantilever over 100 feet. However, One unique aspect of the roof is how it is used—or not used—
because the toggle braces can rotate using universal pins, the shell over Intuit Dome’s indoor-outdoor lobby. The partially covered
can move freely during a seismic event and not experience high loads lobby, which includes the main entry and ticketing areas, measures
due to drift compatibility that would otherwise rip apart the shell. 25,000-square feet and reaches 115 feet upward to the roof shell. The
In this way, the roof shell acts as a façade element and not a primary indoor-outdoor lobby is unique in that most venues have lobbies that
structural element. are completely enclosed or completely outside. Different sections

Intuit Dome's halo scoreboard was suspended from above at the points where it intersects the primary roof truss panels. The entire halo was included in the analysis of the roof structure to
account for load redistribution and reinforcement effects. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers

Above: An isometric view of the loading dock trusses. Image courtesy of

AECOM

Left: The double-sided Halo 4K scoreboard includes over 233 million LEDs—
the largest double-sided halo display ever installed in an arena. Image
courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers

SEPTEMBER 2024 49
 The 2,800-ton diagrid shell frame roof is supported by seven trusses spanning the main arena, each weighing about 120 tons. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers

and portions of the roof are open to allow light and air in to provide The shell ties together all the different structures—from the arena
the aesthetic design qualities required by the Clippers. The roof is to the admin buildings—under the entire roof. As a result, the lateral
waterproof over the court, seating bowl, upper concourse, and one system of the admin building was tuned to prevent significant force
bay beyond the concession buildings at Level 7. Beyond the enclosure transfer via the overhead shell.
line, the shell acts as a shading and architectural element. Furthermore, the administrative building has vibration sensitive
The lobby's indoor/outdoor nature allows the structure to use the criteria that is exacerbated by supporting four floors on top of it in a
Southern California climate for natural heating and cooling. There staggered manner. In addition to keeping the floors level and accept-
is no need to heat or cool a massive volume unnecessarily, resulting able for vibration, the trusses could not be increased in depth without
in a much more sustainable approach to traditional arena heating impacting the practice court below. The discontinuous nature of this
and cooling. area forced the buckling-restrained brace lateral system to the extreme
ends of the floor where columns connected all the way to the plaza
level. This put significant seismic forces—up to 1,200 kips—on these
Administrative Offices & Practice Facility floors and the buckling-restrained braces but allowed the transfer
trusses to be designed without amplified seismic forces that would
The team’s 71,000-square-foot, four-floor administrative building be required if braces landed on the trusses.
houses the team offices and is located above the practice facility and Contrasting the structural system layout used for the braces in the
training center. A portion of the administrative building is above- administrative building, within the arena the braces are spaced much
grade and visible to fans inside and outside of the arena, but the closer together—70 to 80 feet apart compared to 140 feet apart within
86,000-square-foot, two-level practice facility and training center that the administrative building.
includes two basketball courts, training, medical, and player spaces
is primarily located below grade. The areas below-grade required a
series of transfer trusses to ensure column-free spaces for the two Intuit Engineering Challenges
practice courts and outlying areas. These steel trusses, which span
145 feet, play a critical role because they support the four floors of Unique to Intuit Dome is its double-sided halo 4K scoreboard that
the administrative building above. features more than 233 million LEDs—the largest ever double-sided
Above-grade, the exterior space around Intuit Dome includes a halo display in an arena setting—and similar in design to the Infinity
sunken garden on the west side, which is a private outdoor space for Screen at nearby SoFi Stadium.
the team that includes a swimming pool, infrared sauna, outdoor Most, if not all arenas, have a center hung scoreboard. Walter P
track, lounge, and eating area. The sunken garden allows natural Moore provided design and detailing to accommodate the unique
light into the training facility and practice courts while also providing shape and design that is well outside the norm for traditional center-
privacy for the team. hung scoreboards. The halo scoreboard’s scale is significant, with a

50 STRUCTURE magazine
The Clipper’s 71,000-square-foot administrative building (located at right in this image), The shell structure features a conventional bare steel deck roof over the arena, along with a
spans four floors, contains the team offices, and is situated above the practice facility and PTFE/ETFE shell that covers the remaining sections of the roof and wraps around the entire
training center. Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers structure. Image courtesy of Walter P Moore

continuous perimeter that encircles an area larger than the basketball The steel superstructure utilizes a buckling restrained brace lateral
court and a height that allows the upper-level seating a generous view system at the occupied floors above grade. The system stacks vertically
of the 30-foot-tall continuous screen. and uses a single diagonal approach. The arena and administrative
Due to the complexity of size, shape, and weight, the halo scoreboard offices do not connect to the floor diaphragms from the architectural
consists of vertical and horizontal trusses curved in plan to multiple layout at Levels 5-7 and through a seismic joint at Level 4. However,
segmented radii. It is a continuous structure with discontinuity only at the arena shell structure is supported above Level 7.
two ends where there is a retractable segment for use during specialty Buckling-restrained brace frames were analyzed with continuous
shows and events. The halo scoreboard is hung from above where it columns and fixed or pinned connections at beam ends correspond-
crosses primary roof truss panel points. Because of this, the entirety ing to the details used. Buckling-restrained brace frame column
of the halo was incorporated in the analysis of the roof structure to bases were modeled as pinned to maximize the design forces in the
account for load redistribution and stiffening effects. Walter P Moore braces and detailed accordingly to minimize rotational strength and
was also contracted to work in direct coordination with the erector stiffness at the base.
and fabricator to provide construction and erection engineering ser- For the concrete substructure, a special frame concrete shear wall
vices to facilitate speed and erection sequencing of the halo structure. utilizing the basement retaining walls and interior shear walls also
The halo scoreboard optimizes sightlines from all seats and places a support the buckling-restrained brace system above. Special shear
priority on the viewing experience of fans seated in the upper bowls wall detailing, and provisions utilize ACI 318-14 (Building Code
of the arena. Requirement for Structural Concrete) with the exception of Grade
Comparable to the complexity of the structural design for the 80 reinforcement. The diaphragm was cast-in-place reinforced con-
scoreboard is the internal rigging system used for concerts. The upper crete slabs with the east side of the Plaza Level utilizing concrete over
echelon rigging capacity is designed to handle the increasingly large steel deck diaphragm over the loading dock. A static linear approach
loads for modern concert tours. Each individual rigging beam can with equivalent lateral force procedure was used for the concrete
support 5,000 pounds vertically or in a bridled configuration. From superstructure design.
there, several different configurations were evaluated where a series of
5,000-pound loads could be placed throughout the arena, allowing for
a maximum of 75,000 pounds on an individual truss but not more A Future Design Template
than 525,000 pounds using the seven total trusses inside the arena. The
significant rigging capacity allows the arena to be a premier concert The construction of Intuit Dome is a landmark for the Clippers
venue in addition to a tremendous basketball viewing experience. franchise, which has never owned its own arena. The eyes of the
world will be on Intuit Dome this fall as a series of concerts will be
held prior to the Clippers opening of the 2024-25 NBA season. In
Seismic Considerations addition, the arena is slated to host the 75th NBA All-Star Game in
2026 as well as events for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The seismic base for Intuit Dome is 32 feet below the arena's natural Intuit Dome’s concept of a fan-first arena that includes ample public
grade. Seismic resistance is provided by a continuous perimeter con- spaces and recreational facilities is a design engineering marvel that
crete retaining wall and interior concrete shear walls. Above grade, the may jump-start an exciting new era of arena construction around
steel superstructure is utilized for gravity and seismic support with a the globe. ■
buckling-restrained brace lateral system that provides lateral resistance
and is transferred to the concrete shear walls below.
Comprising the roof and exterior envelope of the building is the Ryan Anderson, SE, DBIA, is a Principal and Managing Director in Walter P
iconic shell structure. It is part of the steel superstructure; however, Moore’s San Diego office ([email protected]). Sam Bass, PE, is
due to its unique shape and configuration, all shell elements—gener- a Project Manager in Walter P Moore’s Los Angeles office (sbass@walterp-
ally above terrace—were treated as a diaphragm with overstrength moore.com).
loading design forces.

SEPTEMBER 2024 51
 On a tight, urban site,
LPA’s West Hollywood
Aquatics and
Recreation Center
(ARC) uses inventive
structural engineering
to create space for
community
and well-being.
By Bryan Seamer, SE and John Wilson, SE

The ARC &

52 STRUCTURE magazine
the PARK
SEPTEMBER 2024 53
 The West Hollywood Aquatics and Recreation Center project incorporates a long-span rooftop pool deck suspended over basketball courts, a new multistory building on top of an existing
parking structure, a sky bridge over a public road and a three-story grand stair descending into West Hollywood Park.

54 STRUCTURE magazine
 Designers went to great lengths

S ituated on a challenging site in a dense, urban area, West

Hollywood Aquatics and Recreation Center (ARC) embod-
ies many of the technical and constructability challenges
common to urban infill projects. Designers were challenged
to create space where there was very little, bending the program around
existing structures, over a roadway, onto rooftops, and into a public
park. The result is a unique, vertically stacked building that meets the
needs of a diverse community and creates a new center for social and
recreational life in West Hollywood. Designed by LPA Design Studios
and completed in 2021, the project involved a host of innovative
structural engineering strategies, including a long-span rooftop pool
deck suspended over basketball courts, a new multistory building on
top of an existing parking structure, a sky bridge over a public road
and a three-story grand stair that cascades into West Hollywood Park.
The ARC comprises three separate structures totaling 138,000
square feet, each with its own set of structural engineering challenges.
A four-level Recreation Center—which includes indoor and outdoor
community recreation and wellness spaces, a multi-purpose gymnasium,
and two pools (competition and recreational)—occupies an area tightly
constrained by roadways and an existing building. On its roof, aquatic

to create a community
facilities are supported above a 100 foot by 160 foot column-free gym
by a two-way trussed steel space frame system. Across El Tovar Lane,
a public roadway that runs through the project site, a new two-story
Project Team Community Center sits on top of an existing concrete parking structure.
Bridging the two buildings, a multi-level sky bridge spans across El Tovar
SER: LPA Design Studios, Irvine, CA Lane to connect the new rooftop pools and an existing tennis complex to
Architect: LPA Design Studios a raised observation and recreation deck on the roof of the Community
Landscape Architect: LPA Design Studios Center. These interconnected outdoor environments and the ARC’s
MEP: LPA Design Studios main entrance are linked to the open space of West Hollywood Park
Lighting Designer: LPA Design Studios by a three-story outdoor Grand Stair.
Owner: City of West Hollywood, California Central to the design was the city’s desire for an inclusive amenity that
Contractors (primary and specialty): Sinanian reflected the diverse West Hollywood community. Designers went to
Development, Los Angeles, CA great lengths to create a facility “for everyone.” Community engagement
Steel fabricator: ADF Group, Inc., Laval, Canada, was an impassioned, years-long process with more than 16 user groups
Steel erector: DCCI, Santa Fe Springs, CA and many arts organizations and neighborhood associations engaged.
Aquatic consultant: Aquatic Design Group, Carlsbad, CA Meeting the diverse, competing needs of the community motivated
Structural software used: ETABS the design team to explore innovative solutions and do more with less.
LPA’s integrated design process was critical throughout, with structural
engineers playing a leadership role in the creative process. The firm’s
multi-discipline approach enabled the integrated team to develop
collaborative solutions that may not have emerged if architecture and
engineering had worked independently.

facility "for everyone."

SEPTEMBER 2024 55
 The support system for the pools consists of two main elements: a 100-foot x 100-foot two- Chord and web segments of perpendicular trusses are welded in the field to complete the
way steel trussed space frame, which spans to exterior concrete bearing and shear walls , two-way truss system. By strategically cambering the two-way space truss at four control
and a 15-foot-deep x 4-foot-wide box truss tucked into the 100-foot-long slot between the points, the structural steel, when fully loaded, will not encroach into the clear height required
two large pools. for club, high school and college basketball in the courts below.

Heavy Water the general contractor, Groupe ADF, the steel fabricator, and DCCI, the
steel erector, to develop details for the two-way, steel-trussed space frame
Aquatics have long been a part of West Hollywood’s identity. The previous and optimize the fabrication and erection process. It was important to
“aquatic park” was a cultural and recreational hub of the community and an work closely with the contractor team to find creative solutions to reduce
anchor to West Hollywood Park. The need to accommodate aquatics on the field welding of the two-way truss system. Further complicating the
tight site led to the most significant structural engineering challenge of the erection was the limited laydown space and tight access to the site. As
project: suspending a rooftop pool deck above a column-free gymnasium. such, shipping an entire length of a truss line was not feasible, Therefore,
Designers envisioned a structural system capable of suspending an two shorter, parallel truss lines of the two-way truss system were shop-
Olympic-sized swimming pool and a second, large recreation pool above assembled, including the chord and web members of the perpendicular
a 100-foot x 160-foot gym without the aid of columns. Adding to this truss. This allowed for a significant reduction of onsite welding. These
weighty challenge, the support structure had to fit a strictly limited depth, truss pairs were then lifted into place and welded together to create one
bounded by the mandatory clear height of the basketball and volleyball direction of the two-way truss span. The chord and web segments of
courts below and the height of existing adjacent rooftop tennis courts the perpendicular trusses were then welded in the field, completing the
that are accessible from the pool deck. two-way truss system.
Every available inch of depth is utilized below and between the pools
to support 400,000 gallons of water, a the pool deck amenities and an
unreducible, 100 pounds per square foot live load. Two elements make Connecting Outdoor Environments
up the support system for the pool: a 100-foot x 100-foot two-way
steel trussed space frame, which spans to exterior concrete bearing and Providing pedestrian access from the ARC to the adjacent West
shear walls, and a 15-foot-deep x 4-foot-wide box truss tucked into the Hollywood Park, across a public roadway, was a key programmatic and
100-foot-long slot between the two large pools. The bi-directional space user-experience challenge of the project. A popular gathering space that
truss creates a 5-foot, 3-inch deep geometric web of steel that minimizes has served as home base for many large-scale community events and
deflection as the pools are filled and drained. festivals, including celebrity affairs hosted by Vanity Fair and the Elton
Structural design considerations included vertical deflection and related John AIDS Foundation, the park was conceived as part of the cohesive
horizontal deformations associated with varying volumes of pool water recreational experience of the ARC.
as well as the effects of the large volume of liquid mass on the structure Designers wanted community members to be able to walk directly
during seismic events. The steel rooftop structure supporting the two pools from the newly renovated West Hollywood Park, up the Grand Stair, to
was structurally continuous, with most of the connections of individual the rooftop above the Community Center, across the wide, multi-level
members fully welded. To understand the deformation of the structural skybridge and into the pool deck and sports courts on the fifth-floor roof.
framing, designers studied various loading conditions representing dif- This relied on the flawless execution of two distinct structural innovations.
ferent combinations of water levels in the pools. This included scenarios First, the three-story sculptural Grand Stair connects the Park and the
where both pools were full, only the Olympic pool was full, only the Community Center rooftop while creating a new gathering spot and
recreation pool was full, and both pools were empty. Each condition was icon for the city. The 70-foot-long structure bears on the top deck of the
also checked with and without live loading at the pool deck. The design Community Center but is seismically independent, relying on a large,
team used the results of these analyses to determine that strategically horizontally cantilevered steel truss to anchor the base of the grand stair
cambering the two-way space truss at four control points would ensure to an elevated, structural concrete plinth founded in the park. While the
that, when fully loaded, the structural steel would not encroach into the top of the grand stair structure receives vertical support where it connects
clear height required for club, high school and college basketball in the to the rooftop deck of the Community Center building, it is designed to
courts below. Designers used ETABS, by Computers and Structures Inc., allow up to 9 inches of horizontal movement in any direction.
as the primary analysis tool for both gravity and seismic analysis. Second, a multi-level skybridge over El Tovar Road completes the rise
LPA’s structural engineers worked closely with Sinanian Development, from the park to the pool deck, cantilevering 30 feet from the Recreation

56 STRUCTURE magazine
The compact, stacked nature of the multi-level facility provides minimal
spatial impact on the tight sight while maximizing the programmed spaces
and the creation of the largest continuous piece of open land in the city.

SEPTEMBER 2024 57
 Center structure. Multiple structural levels share the cantilevered load to above a multi-sport gym, the design makes highly efficient use of
maintain necessary vehicular clearances below. The upper two framed the limited buildable space in the dense, urban site area. By making
levels rely on W30 and W40 cantilevered beams to support the skybridge use of the rooftop and cantilevering structures to create connections
from the ARC building, with no physical connection to the adjacent between them, the design creates new spaces for West Hollywood’s
Community Center building with which it is functionally contiguous. vibrant social, arts, and culture scenes to thrive. And by connecting
To allow for future flexibility in its use, the Community Center relies on the ARC to the park, the project essentially adds square footage and
special steel moment frames for seismic resistance, while the recreation program area to the only significant public green space in the city.
center’s main seismic force-resisting system is the special concrete shear Overall, the project shows what can be accomplished on a tight
walls that surround the gymnasium. To achieve this, the more flexible urban site when structural engineering has a seat at the table as an
moment-frame structure needed to be isolated from the rigid concrete integral part of the design team. ■
shear wall building to ensure regular, predictable behavior in strong
earthquakes. This isolation was achieved by adding seismic joints between
the two buildings at each floor level. Seismic joints are located at the south
side of the Community Center where the ARC building skybridge extends Bryan Seamer is Director of Structural Engineering at LPA Design Studios. With
over El Tovar Road. Over 15 inches of seismic drift can be accommodated more than 25 years of experience in new construction, seismic assessment and
between the skybridge and the Community Center with seismic drift rehabilitation of existing buildings, he uses emerging technologies and innovative
joints in floors, walls and ceilings. Close collaboration between structural design strategies to create safe, high-performing, cost-effective structural systems
engineers, interior designers, and architects was needed to ensure that the that are long-lasting, durable and resilient.
drift joint detailing carried through all building systems.
John Wilson is a Structural Engineering Managing Director at LPA Design Studios.
From the earliest design phases through completion, John works closely with
Community Impact engineers and architects to achieve a unique blend of structure and architecture that
will provide safe, efficient and unique designs for clients.
The ARC is an example of structural design going above and
beyond to accommodate a community. By suspending two pools

The three-story sculptural Grand Stair connects the West Hollywood Park and the Community Center rooftop. The 70-foot-long structure bears on the top deck of the Community Center but
is seismically independent, relying on a large, horizontally cantilevered steel truss to anchor the base of the grand stair to an elevated, structural concrete plinth founded in the park. While the
top of the grand stair structure receives vertical support where it connects to the rooftop deck of the Community Center building, it is designed to allow up to 9 inches of horizontal movement in
any direction.

58 STRUCTURE magazine
Total Conformity Assessment Solutions ®

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 codes & UPDATES
2024 International
Existing Building
Code and Snow
Load Damage
Repairs
New clarifications focus on repairs when there is
substantial structural damage (SSD) or less than SSD
due to snow load. By Michael Fillion, PE

A fter many roofs were damaged from the 2011 and 2015 New
England winters, The Structural Advisory Committee (SAC) to
the Massachusetts State Building Code made an emergency amend-
ment to its code to cover repairs to snow damaged roof components
when there was less than substantial damage. Also of concern to This Massachusetts High School roof shows the effect of drifting and accumulatng
snow from the winter of 2015.
the committee was when there was snow damage to more than
one component in an area of similar construction such as a snow
drift area, whether the other undamaged components of the same
similar construction should be evaluated for compliance with the
International Building Code (IBC). Through the Structural Engineers
Association of Massachusetts, the SAC expressed their concerns to
the Existing Buildings Sub-Committee (EBC) of the NCSEA Code
Advisory Committee. The EBC listened, reviewed, and submitted
International Existing Building Code (IEBC) code change proposals
to be heard at the International Code Council (ICC) code hearings.
The code change proposals introduced snow damaged components
to the definition of substantial structural damage (SSD), repairs to
snow damaged components when there is SSD as well as less than
SSD. The code change proposals were successfully accepted into the
2018 IEBC.

IEBC Snow Damage Timeline

2015 IEBC The definition of SSD is clarified stating that vertically
oriented components such as columns and walls apply, not horizontally
oriented components such as snow damaged roof framing. Chapter
34, Existing Buildings, is deleted from the IBC.
2018 IEBC Snow damaged components are added to the definition
of SSD, repair provisions are added to address SSD snow damage,
the repair of less than SSD was modified to address snow damage,
and a drifting snow reference was added to Chapter 3.
2021 IEBC Snow load is added for the repair of gravity load-carrying
components that have sustained SSD.
2024 IEBC Code confusion is discovered when addressing repairs to
components that have sustained SSD from snow loads. Code changes
to the 2027 IEBC are being proposed at the next ICC code hearings.

60 STRUCTURE magazine
 IEBC History Fig. 2. On the lower roof of this New
Hampshire warehouse building,
workers remove drifting snow from the
The first edition of the IEBC was issued in 2003 and included the Winter of 2015.
Work Area Method and the Performance Method. In anticipation
of Chapter 34 (Existing Buildings) of the IBC being deleted, the
Prescriptive method was added in 2006. By 2015, Chapter 34 of
the IBC had been deleted. In 2012, Repairs became a stand-alone
chapter. Along the way, the NCSEA EBC continuously worked on
reconciling the IEBC structural provisions of the Work Area and
Prescriptive Methods achieving their goal by 2018.
From 2009-2012, many jurisdictions started adopting the IEBC 1. The vertical elements of the lateral force-resisting system have
with the introduction of the term "Substantial Structural Damage." suffered damage such that the lateral load-carrying capacity
At first, there was confusion about what building elements or com- of any story in any horizontal direction has been reduced by
ponents should be considered for SSD. Intuitively, some engineers more than 33 percent from its predamage condition.
considered any structural element, component, or member with 2. The capacity of any vertical component carrying gravity load,
significant damage to be SSD. or any group of such components, that has a tributary area
During the 2011 and 2015 New England winters, prolonged cold more than 30 percent of the total area of the structure’s floor(s)
periods of sub-freezing temperatures and successive snowstorms and roof(s) has been reduced more than 20 percent from its
resulted in near-code level snow loads with hundreds of damaged predamage condition, and the remaining capacity of such
roofs and some partial and total building collapses. In 2011, snow affected elements, with respect to all dead and live loads,
loads collapsed all the wood roof trusses of a one-story building; is less than 75 percent of that required by the International
the exterior load bearing/shear walls however were all intact. The Building Code for new buildings of similar structure, purpose
structural engineer for the project determined that the building and location.
had sustained SSD. This interpretation was not unusual then. As 3. The capacity of any horizontal structural component car-
a clarifying response to this confusion, the definition of SSD was rying snow load, or any group of such components, that
revised in 2015 to clearly state that damage to elements of the supports more than 30 percent of the roof area of similar
lateral force-resisting system (Item 1) and components carrying construction has been reduced by or related to snow load
gravity load (Item 2) applied only to vertically orientated elements effects more than 20 percent from its predamage condition,
and components such as the columns and walls as highlighted in and the remaining capacity with respect to dead, live and
red of the building model in Figure 1. The newly revised inter- snow loads is less than 75 percent of that required by the
pretation of the 2011 event is that the collapsed roof trusses did International Building Code for new buildings of similar
not qualify for SSD because there was no damage to the vertical structure, purpose and location.
elements of the lateral force-resisting system nor the vertical For purposes of this definition, work done to implement repairs
components carrying gravity load when using the 2015 IEBC. shall not be considered damage that reduces structural capacity.
Excerpted below is the current 2024 IEBC definition of substantial Clarifying Language Reason Statement: For the definition of SSD
structural damage. Item 3 was added in 2018. The light blue text Item 3, it is clarified that only horizontal roof framing damaged
was added in 2024 as clarifying language. Clearly when evaluating by snow of a certain magnitude will need to comply with section
a building for damage, the amount is determined before repairs are 405.2.5. As written, this third trigger might be interpreted by some
specified. The underlined text in red is clarifying language suggested to require compliance with 405.2.4 and 405.2.4.1.
by the NCSEA EBC for the 2027 IEBC.
SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A condition where
any of the following apply: Repairs for Snow Damage
During the winter of 2015, The Massachusetts Structural
Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Board of Regulations
and Standards reacted to how components damaged by snow
were repaired. Since most of the damaged components were
horizontally orientated roof rafters and beams, they were con-
sidered less than SSD and were permitted to be restored to their
pre-damage condition.
Some causes of snow damage were related to deterioration,
construction defects, missing stability bracing, added dead load
and commonly, the effects of drifting snow, for which the IEBC
allowed these components to be replaced without consideration
for the load that damaged them. Light framed metal buildings
Fig. 1. The definition of SSD was revised in 2015 to clearly state that were also vulnerable, in some cases stability bracing was absent
damage to elements of the lateral force-resisting system (Item 1) and and particularly in the cases where taller buildings were con-
the components carrying gravity load (Item 2) applied only to the structed adjacent to them creating a drifting snow condition for
vertically orientated elements and components such as the columns and which they were not designed. As a reminder to design profes-
walls as highlighted in red. sionals when this condition occurs, section 304.2 was added to
the IEBC in 2018.

SEPTEMBER 2024 61
 304.2 Snow loads on adjacent buildings. materials shall not be used where the code for new construction
Where an alteration or addition changes the potential snow drift would not permit their use in buildings of similar occupancy,
effects on an adjacent building, the code official is authorized to purpose and location.
enforce Section 7.12 of ASCE 7. 302.4.1 New structural members and connections.
New structural members and connections shall comply with the
detailing provisions of the International Building Code for new
Repairs for Less Than SSD buildings of similar structure, purpose, and location.
Exception: Where alternative design criteria are specifically
Massachusetts made an emergency amendment to its State permitted.
Building Code requiring framing components damaged by snow,
to be repaired to comply with current IBC snow load criteria.
Otherwise, damaged components as depicted in Figures 3 and SSD to Gravity Load-carrying Components
4 would have been allowed to be restored to their pre-damage
condition. Through Massachusetts’s relationship with the NCSEA Following the 2011 and 2015 New England winters, concern
EBC, code language was proposed at the ICC code hearings was also placed on when damage occurred to more than one com-
resulting in the following 2018 changes for repairs for less than ponent of similar construction due to snow load. Are the other
SSD when there is snow damage: components of similar construction at risk of damage or collapse
405.2.1 Repairs for less than substantial structural damage. if they become similarly loaded? This can occur with drifting or
Unless otherwise required by this section, for damage less than unbalanced snow patterns that can change with wind direction
substantial structural damage, the damaged elements shall be from event to event, year to year. The NCSEA EBC reviewed
permitted to be restored to their predamage condition. these concerns and proposed language that was accepted and
405.2.1.1 Snow damage. adopted into the 2018 IEBC. For SSD, Item 3 was added. The
Structural components whose damage was caused by or related to roof framing components depicted in red and green in Figure 4
snow load effects shall be repaired, replaced or altered to satisfy the are the ones that apply.
requirements of Section 1608 of the International Building Code. When using the 2018 IEBC, the following repair provision
When navigating the IEBC, the practitioner should always review applies to SSD Items 2 and 3.
Chapter 3, Provisions for all Compliance Methods, to see what 405.2.4 Substantial structural damage to gravity load-carrying
may apply. For less than SSD, components not damaged by snow components. (2018 IEBC)
loads are permitted to be restored to their predamage condition in Gravity load-carrying components that have sustained substan-
accordance with 302.4 and all new structural members and con- tial structural damage shall be rehabilitated to comply with the
nections for SSD and less than SSD, shall conform with 302.4.1. applicable provisions for dead and live loads in the International
302.4 New and replacement materials. Building Code. Snow loads shall be considered if the substantial
Except as otherwise required or permitted by this code, materi- structural damage was caused by or related to snow load effects.
als permitted by the applicable code for new construction shall Undamaged gravity load-carrying components that receive dead,
be used. Like materials shall be permitted for repairs and altera- live or snow loads from rehabilitated components shall also be
tions, provided that unsafe conditions are not created. Hazardous rehabilitated if required to comply with the design loads of the
rehabilitation design.
Moving into the next 2021 code cycle, The Structural Engineers
Association of Colorado proposed that snow load be included in
the repair of gravity load-carrying components that have sustained
SSD, and the change to section 405.2.4 was accepted into the
2021 IEBC. This made good sense for the case of a column that
has sustained SSD whose dominant loading condition is snow,
otherwise the repair would likely consider the minimum roof live
load of 20 psf and perhaps not the controlling effect such as a 40
psf minimum regional roof snow load that may apply.
As a result, section 405.2.4 was modified, and section 405.2.5
was added in the 2021 IEBC (excerpted below). There have been
some slight changes to the 2024 IEBC shown in light blue. With
the changes to the 2018 & 2021 IEBC, there has been unintended
code confusion when addressing SSD. The NCSEA EBC has
suggested striking some of the language and adding language in
red clarifying the intent for which they were written. The EBC
has also included their clarifying language reason statements.
These revisions are being developed as proposed changes to the
2027 IEBC.
405.2.4 Substantial structural damage to gravity load-carrying
components.
Fig. 3. During the winter of 2015, all the rafters on one side of this gable roof in Vertical components carrying gravity load-carrying components
Massachusetts were damaged from the effects of unbalanced snow load. This kind of that have sustained substantial structural damage shall be ret-
damage is what led to including snow damage and repair for SSD. rofitted to comply with the applicable provisions for dead, live

62 STRUCTURE magazine
 Fig. 5. The roof framing components in red and green apply for SSD
according to the 2018 & 2024 IEBC.

if they are not IBC compliant, since they would be considered

Fig. 4. During the winter of 2015, the low roof bay of this Massachusetts industrial building one area of similar construction. If more than 30% of the green
collapsed due to the effects of drifting snow. girders of similar size are damaged, then they would have to be
replaced or strengthened if they are not IBC compliant, since
and snow loads in the International Building Code. Undamaged they would be considered other areas of similar construction.
vertical components carrying gravity load-carrying components, The same applies to the rafters shown in red in Figure 5, which
including undamaged foundation components, that receive dead, support a uniform flat roof snow load. If 30% of the red rafters
live or snow loads from retrofitted components shall also be ret- are damaged, the remaining 70% of the undamaged red ones
rofitted if required to comply with these design loads. would have to be replaced or strengthened if they are not IBC
405.2.4.1 Lateral force-resisting elements. compliant since they would be considered another area of similar
Regardless of the level of damage to vertical elements of the construction. Similarly, if more than 30% of the red girders of
lateral force-resisting system, if substantial structural damage to similar size are damaged, then they would have to be replaced or
vertical components carrying gravity load-carrying components strengthened if they are not IBC compliant since they would be
was caused primarily by wind or seismic effects, then the building considered yet other areas of similar construction. For the gird-
shall be evaluated in accordance with Section 405.2.3.1 and, if ers in both areas, those carrying loads from two sides could be
noncompliant, retrofitted in accordance with Section 405.2.3.3. considered an area of similar construction while those carrying
405.2.5 Substantial structural damage to snow load-carrying only load from one side would be considered different areas of
components. similar construction. On this basis, the practitioner should use
Where substantial structural damage to any horizontal compo- their discretion for determining areas of similar construction
nents carrying snow load-carrying components is caused by or based on the simplicity or complexity of the roof being assessed.
related to snow load effects, any components required to carry
snow loads on roof framing of similar construction shall be
repaired, replaced or retrofitted to satisfy the requirements of Conclusion
Section 1608 of the International Building Code.
Clarifying Language Reason Statement: For 405.2.4 and The IEBC is a relatively new code and new to many practitio-
405.2.4.1, reference to vertical components are added to be ners. The code, written as a national standard, has seen many
consistent with the SSD definition. Otherwise, it might be inter- changes in its short history addressing concerns from local juris-
preted that this provision applies when there is damage only to dictions throughout the country. With the changes may come
horizontal components. For 405.2.5, reference to horizontal confusion in the short three-year code cycle. Code confusion
components are added to be consistent with the SSD definition. regarding SSD and less than SSD was brought to the attention
Otherwise, it might be interpreted that this provision applies when of the NCSEA EBC from practicing structural engineers from
there is damage only to vertical components. In the code change around the country. The NCSEA EBC who initially introduced
process, undamaged components carrying load from retrofitted SSD for snow damage and how to address repairs when there is
components was not introduced in section 405.2.5. snow damage for less than SSD, took a deep dive into reviewing
these provisions. This article addresses the code confusion and
introduces clarifying language addressing the intent for which
Similar Construction these provisions were written.

Some have questioned the term “of similar construction” and how
it applies. Two distinct framing conditions are shown in Figure 5.
Michael Fillion, PE, M. ASCE is President of Fillion Group, Inc. Structural Engineers and
The area in green is at a drifting snow zone where the rafters are
is Past Chair of NCSEA’s Existing Buildings Sub-Committee, a member of the Structural
more closely spaced, and the supporting girders are larger than
Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts State Building Code, a participant at the
at other roof areas. This would be considered an area of similar
ICC Code hearings and a committee member of ASCE 11-28 Structural Condition
construction and within that area, two components of similar
Assessment of Existing Buildings. He is also Chair of the SEAMass Structural Engineering
construction would be the rafters and the girders. If more than
Emergency Response Committee and a Cal OES SAP & ICC When Disaster Strikes
30% of the green rafters are damaged, the remaining 70% of the
Trainer. ([email protected])
undamaged green ones would have to be replaced or strengthened

SEPTEMBER 2024 63
 SE NEWS
NCEES Signs Historic Mutual
Recognition Agreement With the
Engineering Council–UK
T o kick off its 103rd annual
meeting in Chicago, NCEES
hosted a ceremonial event to cel-
ebrate the signing of its mutual
recognition agreement (MRA) with
the Engineering Council–UK.
NCEES President Laura Sievers,
PE, and Chief Executive Officer
David Cox joined Engineering
Council–UK Chair John
Chudley and International Affairs
Manager Dave Clark to formally
sign the agreement, which pro-
vides a more direct path for
licensed engineers to practice in
each country without compro-
mising professional standards.
Almost 30 NCEES member
licensing boards were present to Benefits include a simplified and collaborate more with our United States who would like to
signify their intent to participate path for professional engineers international counterparts,” become licensed in the United
in the agreement. in participating states to more explained NCEES CEO Cox. Kingdom through this agreement
Built upon the framework of easily obtain the CEng title and “The MRA and its increased must be a member of the NCEES
the International Professional expanded professional mobility opportunities for licensed engi- International Registry for
Engineers Agreement (IPEA), to work in the United Kingdom. neers to practice in the United Professional Engineers (IRPE).
the MRA upholds discipline- “The world is shrinking every Kingdom, much like the mobil- This program assists U.S.-based
specific and jurisdictional day, and advancements in ity we have between the states, is professional engineers who are
requirements for those seek- technology have made it pos- a great example of that.” seeking recognition to practice
ing to practice internationally. sible for us to communicate Professional engineers in the in another country.

ODOT Taps Woolpert for Bridge

Replacement, Maintenance Contracts
The Ohio Department of County and State Route 138 near support maintenance repairs well-positioned for the future,
Transportation has hired Clarksburg, Ohio. Woolpert will on 11 bridges along U.S. Route and these contracts will help
Woolpert for two separate engi- provide hydrology and hydrau- 422 in Cuyahoga and Geauga support that mission,” Less said.
neering contracts to support lics analyses, bridge structure type counties. “While Woolpert has expanded
bridge maintenance, repair, and studies, conceptual maintenance Woolpert Bridge Engineer and its presence and services through-
replacement projects throughout of traffic (MOT) planning, and Project Manager Tom Less said out the U.S. and world, we are
the state. floodplain notification services. these projects are proactive to pre- always incredibly proud to con-
The first contract supports Under the second contract, vent aging bridges from reaching tinue our support for such a
ODOT District 9’s bridge Woolpert will provide field con- a hazardous state. long-term, valued client and state
replacement projects on State dition surveys, testing, MOT “ODOT is committed to that many of us here at Woolpert
Route 772 in a rural area of planning, and condition evalu- ensuring that Ohio’s infrastruc- call home.”
Huntington Township in Ross ation reports for District 12 to ture is safe, maintained, and The contracts are underway.

64 STRUCTURE magazine
Salas O’Brien Recognized for Excellence in
Cold-Formed Steel Design
S alas O’Brien is excited to
announce that its structural
engineering team was recog-
nized by the Cold-Formed Steel
Engineers Institute (CFSEI) with
two honorable mentions at its
Design Excellence Awards for the
cold-formed steel (CFS) designs
of the Colorado Convention
Center Expansion and Denver
International Airport (DIA)
Concourse B & C Expansions,
both in Denver, Colorado. Salas
O’Brien received the awards
during CFSEI’s annual expo and
conference in Tucson, Arizona.
CFSEI is a national organization
comprised of structural engineers
and other design professionals. Its
annual Design Excellence Awards
program recognizes outstanding
achievement in creative design,
technical innovation, and over-
all project excellence in the use The rooftop expansion at the Colorado Convention Center added 135,000 square feet of venue space.
of CFS, according to the CFSEI
website. framing engineering for the large expansion project for two off-site due to space constraints
80,000-square-foot column- of its three concourses, increasing at the project location.
Colorado Convention free Bluebird Ballroom and Concourses B and C by 126,000 The off-site fabrication com-
Center Expansion 35,000-square-foot wrap- square feet and 530,000 square ponent also had challenges,
around pre-function concourse. feet, respectively. The Salas including coordinating the
Already one of the largest These areas included challeng- O’Brien project team, led by structural steel within the CFS
buildings in Denver, the roof- ing elements requiring extensive Senior Principal Russ Leffler, PE, panels to allow for reasonable
top expansion of the Colorado engineering, including large, SE, and Vice President Daniel panel sizes and execution and
Convention Center added sloped ceiling elements in the Stadig, PE, undertook the chal- designing the panels with spe-
135,000 square feet to this pre- pre-function concourse area to lenge of designing various CFS cial structural considerations
mier venue. The Salas O’Brien match the blade roof and soffits and CFS/steel hybrid panels and for loads incurred during trans-
project team, led by Senior that supported 30-foot span ceil- incorporating the two systems portation to and installation at
Principal Russ Leffler, PE, SE, ing joists. into one panelization process. The the project site. Salas O’Brien’s
and Vice President Daniel hybrid panel design allowed the expertise, combined with the
Stadig, PE, provided exterior DIA Concourse B & C client to receive the steel mem- firm’s extensive DIA project his-
structural CFS framing engi- Expansions bers directly from the supplier tory, minimized the impact on
neering and panelized exterior for insertion into the panels and airport operations and allowed
walls for the 20,000-square-foot In 2019, DIA undertook a for panel construction to occur for faster enclosure.
outdoor rooftop terrace. They
are up to 50 feet tall, including
an eight-foot-tall parapet over a
40-foot-long clear span hang-
ing from a new structure above
the existing roof. They were also
carefully designed to meet the
tight restrictions of the construc-
tion schedule and downtown site
location.
The team also provided inte-
rior CFS wall and ceiling The Denver International Airport expanded two of its three concourses.

SEPTEMBER 2024 65
 Concert
Hall Being
Constructed
in Czech
Republic
The reconstruction of the heritage-protected House of
Culture of the city of Ostrava and the extension of the
concert hall continue in the Czech Republic community. The
use of natural light, glass walls, and skylights will provide
sufficient daylight to the building, reducing its reliance on
non-renewable energy. The design by Steven Holl Architects
from New York and Architecture Acts from Prague won the
international architectural competition organized by the city
of Ostrava. Steven Holl drew inspiration for the concert hall
from the work of composer Leoš Janáček. Symbolic laying of
the foundation stone for this unique construction took place
July 19.

New Parking Structure at

Galveston Ferry Landing Unveiled
L ockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) announces the
completion of the new parking structure at the Galveston Ferry
Landing. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place June 27, marking
The new facility now accommodates 120 passenger cars and 11
motorcycles and will be fully operational just in time for peak tour-
ist season.
an important milestone in enhancing transportation infrastructure Construction of the parking deck began in October 2022, follow-
and community convenience in Galveston, Texas, in partnership with ing the issuance of bid and construction documents in May 2022.
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). "We are excited to see this project come to fruition," said Steve
The need for this new parking structure arose from persistent park- Gilbreath, PE, chief operating officer and vice president at LAN.
ing congestion during peak summer months. The influx of visitors "The new parking structure addresses parking issues and demon-
enjoying the ferry crossing between Galveston Island and the Bolivar strates our commitment to supporting Galveston’s infrastructure
Peninsula increased the demand for parking spaces. development."

66 STRUCTURE magazine
DeSimone Consulting Engineering-led
Team Wins Blind Prediction Competition
G lobal engineering services leader DeSimone
Consulting Engineering announced that a
team led by Associate Dr. Jeffrey Dragovich, PhD,
More broadly, this competition helps promote a
more robust building stock and strengthen com-
munity resilience internationally.
PE, SE, F.ACI, Director of the company’s Applied Dr. Dragovich led a team that included Dr.
Technology and Research group, has won the Beyazit Aydin, Dr. Bulent N. Alemdar, and Seth
Belgium-based UCLouvain 2023 Blind Prediction Guthrie from software development company
Competition. Bentley Systems Inc.; Prof. Kristijan Kolozvari
The team received recognition for their win- from California State University at Fullerton; Prof.
ning entry at the 18th World Conference on Andrés Lepage from The University of Kansas,
Earthquake Engineering in Milan, Italy, where and; Dr. Saman Abdullah from University of
4,000 members of the world’s international sci- Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The engineers
entific and engineering communities gathered last used two different software programs to predict
month to share research, technology, and risk miti- how a 40-ton reinforced concrete (RC) U-shaped
gation commitments. The DeSimone-led team Jeffrey Dragovich wall would respond in a simulated earthquake. The
presented their modeling and analysis approach tests were conducted at LNEC using a dynamic
during the session, “Reinforced Concrete (RC) Structural Walls: shake table, also known as an earthquake simulator.
Advances and Future Challenges for Design, Modelling, Testing, “We are thrilled to see our team’s work in the field of seismic engi-
and Construction.” neering and software development gain international recognition,”
“As we strive towards progressively more reliable analytical methods said Stephen DeSimone, President and CEO of DeSimone Consulting
to predict earthquake response of structures, our work shows clear Engineering. “Over the past decade, significant advancements have
progress is being made,” said Dr. Dragovich. “In exploring new materi- been made in modeling approaches that predict how concrete walls
als and methods that can improve wall performance and advance the will respond under different conditions. The work of our applied
state-of-practice, competitions such as this help us better understand technology and research group is ensuring that DeSimone contin-
and simulate the behavior of concrete walls using large-scale testing.” ues to stand at the forefront of designing structures that can better
The UCLouvain 2023 Blind Prediction Competition was open to withstand extreme wind forces and earthquakes.”
three categories of participants: practicing engineers, researchers, and Team DeSimone used the ADINA and OpenSees nonlinear finite
students. The results of the blind prediction competition will promote element analysis programs for their analytical predictions. While both
good seismic design practices for RC walls. The shake table tests and models were effective at predicting the response, the ADINA model
participant predictions can help improve the assessment of RC wall prepared by their team partners at Bentley Systems was the winning
buildings and provide directions for future building code revisions. entry in the competition.

IN BRIEF
NRMCA Selected for EPA of reaching net zero emissions in procure- to the advancement of the deep foundations
Grant Aimed at Reducing ment by the year 2050, the EPA initiated industry. The award is being presented at
this new grant program through the Inflation the DFI 49th Annual Conference on Deep
Embodied Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2022. This project will Foundations, being held October 7–10 in
Emissions help NRMCA accelerate its goal to cut Aurora, Colorado.
the carbon footprint of concrete in half by
The National Ready Mixed Concrete 2028, using 2014 as a baseline, and to With nearly 40 years in the industry, Frizzi
Association (NRMCA) announce that the attain carbon neutrality by 2045, five years has interacted on projects located in practi-
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ahead of its original goal. cally every continent worldwide, and has
has selected the association for a $9.63 performed geotechnical investigations and
million grant aimed at “Reducing Embodied designs, prepared plans and technical spec-
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Construction Rudolph Frizzi Named ifications, and observed field testing and
Materials and Products.” The grant will fund 2024 DFI Distinguished Service construction as geotechnical “engineer of
a five-year project managed by NRMCA record” on countless projects. In addition,
and supported by its Build With Strength
Award Recipient Frizzi has provided expert geotechnical
initiative which includes a team of concrete Rudolph P. Frizzi, PE, G.E., BC.GE, manag- consultation and trial testimony on over 100
experts to educate the architectural and ing principal, LANGAN, is the recipient of excavation and foundation litigation cases.
engineering communities on designing and DFI’s highest award bestowed to an individ- He has also prepared and presented over
specifying low carbon concrete. ual, the Distinguished Service Award (DSA). 50 technical presentations at universities,
This award recognizes individuals who have conferences and seminars.
To support the federal government’s goal made exceptionally valuable contributions

SEPTEMBER 2024 67
 SEI Update
Steps to 2050
The SE 2050 initiative is advancing structural engineering towards Luke Lombardi, A.M. ASCE highlights the importance of such efforts,
sustainability through three essential components: a comprehensive noting, “In order to drive a shift in policy, we need industry leaders
database, proactive policy advocacy, and the ECaps framework to show that we can already do this.”
—Embodied Carbon Action Plans. At the heart of this effort is The ECaps framework guides signatories in setting ambitious carbon
the SE 2050 database, currently in its beta phase, where indus- reduction targets informed by data insights from the SE 2050 data-
try signatories contribute project data. This repository serves as a base. These plans empower participants to optimize material use and
foundational resource for understanding and advancing embodied lifecycle assessments, fostering transparency and accountability in their
carbon reduction strategies. Accessible exclusively to SE 2050 sig- sustainability efforts. SE 2050’s influence is exemplified in initiatives
natories, the database facilitates collective learning and informed like California’s Green Embodied Carbon Policy, the first statewide
decision-making, enabling stakeholders to benchmark performance policy tackling embodied carbon with holistic building lifecycle
and drive continuous improvement. Vice chair Frances Yang, S.E., analysis. Such policies validate and accelerate SE 2050’s mission,
emphasizes the significance of this resource, stating, “With the demonstrating the feasibility and impact of integrating sustainability
additional feature of collecting structural material quantities, we’ll into structural engineering practices.
start to evaluate projects for not just the total embodied carbon, With multitudes of projects logged and growing industry engage-
but also the efficient use of materials.” ment, SE 2050 sets a precedent for sustainable structural engineering
Policy advocacy forms another cornerstone of SE 2050’s strategy, practices that ensure a resilient and environmentally responsible built
influencing regulatory frameworks to embed embodied carbon con- environment for future generations. Through pioneering data-driven
siderations into global building codes and standards. By collaborating solutions and advocating for transformative policy changes, SE 2050
with policymakers, industry groups, and advocacy organizations, SE is driving a systemic shift towards net-zero structures by 2050, ensur-
2050 seeks to create an environment that incentivizes sustainable ing a sustainable legacy for generations to come.
design practices and accelerates their adoption across the industry. Learn more at SE2050.org

ASCE 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings
and Other Structures and Supplement 1 Errata Ready for Free Download
The errata is in effect as of July 2024. Visit ascelibrary.org to review changes to the standard and Supplement 1 for accurate interpreta-
tion and application.

Toward Zero Carbon Workshop

In July, SEI hosted leaders including materials experts, design and construction professionals, educators, and
policy advocates for a two-day workshop to develop a roadmap towards zero carbon. SEI President Jerry
Hajjar and Managing Director Jennifer Goupil co-chaired the event, leading the conversation toward the
current state of the art and how to drive carbon reductions in the profession.

68 STRUCTURE magazine
 News of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

Goupil Receives 2024 ANSI Apply or Nominate by Nov. 1

Leadership and Service Award • Advance and be recognized as an SEI Fellow - Must be
current SEI member, actively involved in SEI, 10 years
The American National Standards Institute recently announced responsible charge (typically post P.E./S.E.) www.asce.org/
Jennifer Goupil, SEI managing director, as the recipient of SEIMembership
the 2024 Leadership and Service Award for her tireless efforts • O.H. Ammann Research Fellowship in Structural Design
and leadership on standards including ASCE 7 and ASCE 41. and Construction
Congratulations to Goupil on this well-deserved recognition! • SEI and ASCE Structural Awards www.asce.org/SEIAwards.

Announcing Structures Congress Keynotes

• April 10—The Future of Design: Panel on innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. Moderated
by Marc Hoit, with industry leaders Dave Bennink, Don Davies, and Nancy Novak.
• April 11—Building Community: Putting People First in an Era of Environmental Extremes. Professor Lori Peek on focusing on
the human impact of disasters and the importance of designing for resilience.

2024-2025 SEI Board of Governors Announced

SEI welcomes the recently elected governors, shown in italics. Terms Edwin T. Huston, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE, SEI President-elect
begin on October 1. SEI also thanks two board members who will Robin A. Kemper, P.E., LEED AP, ENV SP, F.SEI, Pres.19.ASCE
finish their terms on September 30: Donald R. Scott, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, Chad M. Schrand, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE
F.ASCE, SEI Past President, and J. Greg Soules, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng, Kenneth L. Sharpless, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE
S.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE. Stephanie L. Slocum, P.E., M.ASCE, SEI President
Hamid R. Adib, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, SEI Treasurer Elaina J. Sutley, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Michael J. Bolduc, P.E., S.E., M.ASCE James P. Wacker, P.E., M.ASCE
Maria M. Garlock, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Shuxian (Susanne) Wassenius, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE
Jennifer L. Goupil, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, SEI Secretary Jennifer Zabik, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE
Jerome F. Hajjar, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, SEI Past President

SEPTEMBER 2024 69
 CASE in Point

One of the key sessions at the CASE Summer Meeting looked at the recent Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail project.

Structural Engineers Gather for CASE

Summer Meeting: Key Sessions and
Networking Highlights
The 2024 CASE Summer Meeting at ACEC Minnesota brought Networking and Peer Connections
together structural engineers for two days of focused sessions,
committee meetings, and valuable networking opportunities. The event also included a networking cocktail reception, where
This event emphasized the importance of collaboration and attendees connected with peers and industry experts. This
knowledge-sharing in advancing the profession. informal setting was an ideal opportunity to exchange insights,
discuss projects, and build relationships that could lead to future
collaborations.
Key Sessions and Committee Work
Day one featured sub-committee meetings for the Toolkit, Programs Final Day Insights
& Communications, Contracts, and Guidelines Committees, where
members worked on refining tools and strategies crucial to the indus- The second day began with a session on Ownership and Compensation
try’s future. These sessions culminated in a collective report-out Philosophies, offering strategies for aligning business goals with owner-
during lunch, fostering transparency and collaboration across dif- ship and compensation structures. The final session on the Engineering
ferent focus areas. Joint Contracts Documents Committee (EJCDC) provided practical
A highlight of the event was the presentation on the Minnesota tips for customizing engineering agreements, emphasizing the role of
Zoo Treetop Trail, an innovative project transforming a decom- standardized practices in improving project outcomes.
missioned monorail into an elevated pedestrian walkway. Led
by Murphy Curran of MBJ Engineers and Thomas Root of the
Minnesota Zoo, the session showcased the challenges and solu- A Valuable Experience
tions involved in repurposing infrastructure while keeping zoo
operations uninterrupted. The 2024 CASE Summer Meeting provided participants with new
The CASE Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting followed, open insights, stronger professional connections, and a renewed commit-
to all committee members, providing a platform to discuss strategic ment to advancing the structural engineering profession. The event
initiatives that ensure CASE remains at the forefront of professional highlighted the benefits of collaboration and networking in driving
standards. innovation and maintaining high industry standards.

70 STRUCTURE magazine
 News of the Coalition of American Structural Engineers
Opportunities Available for CASE Members
to Join Coalition Committees
ACEC’s Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE) is 4. Programs and Publications Committee: Oversees the creation of
home to four active committees, each dedicated to advancing the educational programs, publications, and other resources that con-
interests and expertise of structural engineers. These committees are tribute to the professional development of structural engineers.
responsible for developing education, publications, and other valuable Committee members commit to a term of 2-4 years, with an option
content that supports ACEC’s Structural Engineering firm members. for renewal. Meetings are held monthly online, with in-person gather-
The four committees are: ings twice a year, for which travel expenses are covered. Serving on
1. Contracts Committee: Focuses on developing and updating a committee offers a unique opportunity to expand your expertise,
standardized contract documents tailored to the needs of struc- gain recognition as a thought leader, and network with esteemed
tural engineers. professionals in the field.
2. Guidelines Committee: Works on creating and refining prac- If you are a CASE member interested in contributing to the
tice guidelines that enhance the quality and consistency of advancement of the structural engineering profession, consider
structural engineering services. joining one of these committees. Your participation will not only
3. Risk Management Committee: Concentrates on strategies and benefit your career but also provide valuable resources to the
tools that help structural engineers manage and mitigate profes- broader ACEC community.
sional risks.

CASE Coalition Awards Scholarship

The CASE Coalition is committed to fostering the next generation professional development of future engineers.
of engineering leaders, which is why we are proud to announce the McGuire will be recognized for this achievement at ACEC’s Fall
awarding of a $6,500 scholarship to Allyson McGuire, a second year Conference in New Orleans this October. With the contributions
Master’s student from George Mason University. This scholarship, of students like McGuire on the horizon, CASE is confident that the
provided in partnership with the ACEC Research Institute, is future of the engineering industry is exceptionally bright. Congrats
a testament to our dedication to supporting the academic and to McGuire!

SEPTEMBER 2024 71
 NCSEA News
New Scholarship Boosts Opportunities for
Underrepresented Students
Recently, Tricia Ruby and Ruby+Associates, a Degenkolb Company, Association of Michigan (SEAMi), former Chairman of Coalition of
presented the NCSEA Foundation with a $50,000 donation to estab- American Structural Engineers (CASE), former member of the AISC
lish the David I. Ruby Endowed Scholarship, a permanent endowed Code of Standard Practice, Committee on Research, and Co-Chair
scholarship to financially support a historically underrepresented of the Blast & Impact Resistant Design Task Group. He received the
student in structural engineering who is interested in structural steel. 2011 AISC Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2022 AISC J. Lloyd
This scholarship will provide recipients with funds to help with tuition, Kimbrough Award. He is also the author of AISC Design Guide #23,
fees, and other mandatory education costs. “Constructability of Structural Steel Buildings.”
“It’s a privilege to honor my father’s legacy in structural engineering The NCSEA Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship program
and passion for steel construction through this endowed scholarship. was established by the NCSEA Foundation in 2021 to award funding
He has been a leader in the profession throughout his career with a to students who have been historically underrecognized in structural
particular love for mentoring the next generation. To be able to align engineering (including but not limited to Black/African American,
this gift with a personal mission of supporting underrepresented Native/Indigenous American, Hispanic/Latino or Spanish, Asian,
students is a dream realized,” said Tricia Ruby, NCSEA Foundation Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and other people of color, those
Board of Directors President. with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+). Multiple scholarships are
The scholarship honors the 60-year career of David I. Ruby, PE, SE presented annually to junior college students, undergraduate students,
founder of Ruby+Associates, a structural engineering firm dedicated and/or graduate students pursuing degrees in structural engineering.
to serving the steel construction industry. Dave dedicated much of his To learn more about the NCSEA Foundation or to donate, please visit
time to improving the profession. He is a past Director of NCSEA, www.ncsea.com/about/foundation/ or contact Al Spada, Executive
a founding member and past President of Structural Engineering Director, at (312) 649-4600 Ext. 201 or [email protected].

NCSEA Partners with WTW A&E to Launch Professional

Liability Claim Reduction Program
NCSEA is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with WTW and special webinars. WTW A&E will also present at upcom-
Architects & Engineers (WTW A&E) to provide the structural ing structural engineering conferences, including the NCSEA
engineering profession with tailored risk management education Structural Engineering Summit.
and training. This initiative aims to mitigate risks related to costly The goal of this partnership is to improve structural engineering
claims and client disputes, enhancing the professional practice of practices by sharing lessons learned from actual claims and near-
structural engineers across the United States. miss experiences. The education program will feature interactive
WTW A&E is dedicated exclusively to providing insurance and webinars, live presentations, and articles in STRUCTURE magazine.
risk management solutions to design professionals across North Alfred Spada, Executive Director of NCSEA, stated, “We are
America. Recognized for its leadership in delivering high-quality proud to partner with WTW A&E to provide our members with
risk management education, WTW A&E will collaborate closely invaluable resources aimed at reducing professional liability claims.
with NCSEA to develop customized risk management programs This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting
for structural engineers, including on-demand education programs structural engineers in their professional development and success.”

Become a Member of an NCSEA Committee

Ever wanted to get more involved with NCSEA? Now’s your submitted, your application will be reviewed to confirm Member
chance! Participation of SEA members in NCSEA committees is Organization/SEA membership and forwarded to the committee
highly valued. Committee chairs are always looking for additional chair(s) for consideration. You can expect a response within 30 days.
passionate volunteers to get involved. Being an NCSEA Committee Member is a fantastic opportunity
SEA members can apply for committee positions throughout the to collaborate with fellow professionals, share your knowledge, and
year using our Volunteer Application, available online at www.ncsea. make a meaningful impact in the structural engineering commu-
com/engage/committees. Most committees welcome new members nity. To qualify, you must be a member of an SEA or an NCSEA
on a rolling basis, while others add members once per year. Once Corporate Member company.

72 STRUCTURE magazine
 News from the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

Elevate Your Professional Risk-Taking Skills with Henna

Pryor at the NCSEA Summit
In an era of rapid technological advancements and reduced human Johnson, and her insights
interaction, learning to take smart risks is more crucial than ever. At have been featured in
this year’s NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit, Henna Pryor will Forbes, Real Simple, and
guide structural engineers in harnessing these essential skills. Fast Company. Pryor
Pryor, a renowned workplace performance expert and award-winning founded Pryority Group
2x TEDx speaker, will present her keynote, “Awkward and Upward! to extend her transfor-
Your Surprising Secret Weapon for Taking More Professional Risks,” on mational coaching and
Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. performance growth
Pryor’s keynote will delve into how our reliance on digital conve- workshops beyond the
niences is weakening our social muscles, making it harder to build C-Suite. Henna Pryor
trust, collaborate, and take calculated risks at work. She will share Join Henna Pryor and
strategies for overcoming the discomfort associated with risk-taking other thought-leaders at the NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit,
and using deliberate discomfort to strengthen our social and profes- taking place November 5-8, 2024. This is a prime opportunity to gain
sional skills. Attendees will leave with a customized plan to speak up, invaluable insights into the latest trends and innovations in structural
share ideas, and embrace courageous actions in their careers. engineering. Register now to secure your spot and take advantage of
Known for her dynamic, no-nonsense approach, Pryor has helped educational sessions, insightful keynotes, engaging exhibits, valuable
high achievers reach new levels of success. She has worked with top networking opportunities, and more—all specifically tailored for
organizations such as Google, Workday, FIS Global, and Johnson & structural engineers.

New Colorado Wind Speed Map in the Works from SEAC

The Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC) Wind Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding to cover up to 75%
Committee is working on a revised wind speed study to accurately of this amount. SEAC has pledged to raise the remaining $50,000,
define the Colorado Special Wind Region (SWR). The existing data with an initial $5,000 pledge from the SEAC board and the NCSEA
is based on an outdated wind study, and it lacks coverage for areas Foundation’s SEA Grant Program.
south of Castle Rock, Colo. The new study aims to update the Front “Fundraising is a challenging endeavor and having the financial
Range Wind Speed map with modern design approaches and extend support from NCSEA at start the fundraising helped show the impor-
coverage to major population centers like Colorado Springs. tance of this effort and has increased the likelihood of getting this
The estimated cost of the large and impactful study is around study fully funded,” said SEAC Vice President and Treasurer Jordan
$200,000. SEAC has applied for FEMA Building Resilient Jarrett, Ph.D, PE.

NCSEA Webinars
Visit www.ncsea.com/education for the latest news
on upcoming webinars and other virtual events.

September 19 Significant Changes to ASCE 7-22 Supplement #2:

Chapter 5-Flood Loads
September 26 Forensic/Renovation/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Structures <$20 Million:
Sandi Simon Center for Dance at Chapman University

Purchase an NCSEA webinar subscription and get access to all the educational
content you’ll ever need! Subscribers receive access to a full year’s worth of
live NCSEA education webinars (25+) and a recorded library of
past webinars (170+) – all developed by leading experts;
available whenever, wherever you need them!
Recommendations for Performing Structural Engineering Quality Assurance Reviews

SEPTEMBER 2024 73
 structural FORUM
Forming Strong
Connections With
Future Structural
Engineers •
•
•
Host an Industry Day
Serve as guest speakers at colleges/universities
Host jobsite visits for classes
While some Member Organizations (MOs) have
longstanding relationships with the Colleges and Financial
Universities within their territories, others have yet to • Sponsor NCSEA student chapters on campus
make strong connections. • Pay for students to attend state/national conferences
By Scott Francis, PE, and Chad Mitchell, PE, SE • Cover dues for students and faculty to join their local MO and/
or NCSEA

E ngineering firms are the ultimate consumer of the product that

academia produces—new graduates—and as such have a vested
interest in the effectiveness of their academic training. NCSEA Member
• Provide internships
If any of these ideas look like something that you would like to pursue,
your first question may be how do we go about setting something like
Organizations (MOs) throughout the country are in a unique position to this up? First, you can reach out directly to the college or university.
team with educators to enhance the education of structural engineering If you don’t have an established point of contact with one already, we
and architectural engineering students. Educators are often looking for suggest checking out that school’s website. Often with a little digging,
opportunities to expose students to the practice of structural engineer- it is possible to find a list of professors along with their areas of interest.
ing and to bring “real world” engineering projects into the classroom. At the APP, we usually look for professors who teach primarily struc-
What are ways that MOs can be involved with the programs that are tural courses to serve as our first point of contact. If this approach isn’t
producing these new graduates? As members of the Academia-Practice working, we note that MOs can reach out to the APP. As part of our
Partnerships (APP) Committee, we are often asked how MOs can curriculum survey, we have collected points of contact with most of the
become more involved with the colleges and universities located within over 300 ABET accredited institutions in the U.S., and we are happy
their regions. Both academia and practitioners have a vested interest to share this information with MOs looking to make connections.
in the outcome of new graduates as they transition from students to Once contact is made, discussions can begin by asking your point of
EITs and beyond. One of the APP Committee’s initiatives is to foster contact what support they need from practitioners to enhance their stu-
college student and practitioner engagement. This has included efforts dents' education experience. Remember, while you may have suggestions
to learn more about what successful interactions between academia and and ideas that you are excited about, this is about developing a long-term
practitioners look like. While many of these ideas are conventional, relationship with these programs and the needs of the program may neces-
hopefully one or two of them may spark an interest in you and/or your sitate putting your interests on hold while these first needs are addressed.
MO that can lead to increased connectivity. Another path to connection with colleges and universities is to start
During a recent poll of Member Organizations, we documented the a student chapter. Additional resources for this can be found on the
following ways that MOs throughout the country have engaged with Young Member Support Page of the NCSEA website www.ncsea.com/
students and colleges/universities: engage/committees/young-member-support/. At the bottom of the
webpage is a link to the Student Chapter Outreach Guide.
Time/Expertise Ultimately, it is in all our best interests to foster strong relationships with
the colleges and universities within our territories in order to have a positive
• Host MO-wide career fairs impact on the education of future structural/architectural engineers. One
• Hold Joint Design Competitions of the best ways to do this is to engage with schools to find out how we
• Serve as student advisors on capstone projects can enhance students’ experience and learning outcomes. These interac-
• Develop specific programs targeting students and early career tions are often very rewarding for the students as well as the practitioners.
professionals. One such program is SEAOC’s SE Pathways to the Investing time and resources into today’s students (and sometimes pizza
Profession which focuses on engagement, retention, and equity money) will lead to better student outcomes and strengthen the future
for students & early career professionals. of our profession.
• Provide speakers (and often food) for Student Chapter Meetings
Scott M. Francis, PE, is a Vice President at Lynch Mykins Structural Engineers, PC, a
• Host panel discussions on various topics in engineering
structural firm located in the Southeast ([email protected])
• Lead discussions on licensure for practicing engineers
• Provide opportunities to shadow practitioners Chad S. Mitchell, PE, SE, is an Associate Principal and Department Manager with S.A.
• Host speed mentoring sessions with students Miro Inc a civil and structural firm located in the Rocky Mountain Region.
• Participate in resume workshops for students ([email protected])

74 STRUCTURE magazine
since 1922