STRUCTURE

NCSEA | CASE | SEI DECEMBER 2024

Structural Engineering

Excellence
Awards

INSIDE: Software Trends Q&A 38

Thermal Bridging 14
SE2050 Commitment to Net Zero 23
Empire State Building Observation Deck 41
 Lead Engineer | Michael Veegh
Company | Construction Technologies
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STRUCTURE ®

CIRCULATION
Computers & Structures, Inc........................ Back Cover Paragon.........................................................................19
[email protected]
CTS Cement.....................................................................3 Portland Cement Association......................................4
DEWALT.........................................................................35 RISA............................................ Inside Front Cover
EDITORIAL BOARD
Chair John A. Dal Pino, SE
ENERCALC......................................................................8 SAFI....................................................................................6
Claremont Engineers Inc., Oakland, CA
IDEA Statica..................................................................44 Simpson Strong-Tie..............................................12-13 [email protected]

MAX USA Corp...........................................................20 Subsurface Contractors................Inside Back Cover Marshall Carman, PE, SE
Nucor............................................................................. 17 Schaefer, Cincinnati, Ohio

Erin Conaway, PE
On the Cover: The 2024 Structure of the Year Winner is the Perelman Performing Arts AISC, Littleton, CO
Center, which was announced at the NCSEA Summit in November.
Sarah Evans, PE
Image by Iwan Baan and courtesy of the Perelman Performing Arts Center. Walter P Moore, Houston, TX

Linda M. Kaplan, PE
Pennoni, Pittsburgh, PA

Nicholas Lang, PE
Vice President Engineering & Advocacy, Masonry
Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA)

Jessica Mandrick, PE, SE, LEED AP

Gilsanz Murray Steficek, LLP, New York, NY

Brian W. Miller
Cast Connex Corporation, Davis, CA

Evans Mountzouris, PE
Retired, Milford, CT

Kenneth Ogorzalek, PE, SE

KPFF Consulting Engineers, San Francisco, CA (WI)

John “Buddy” Showalter, PE

International Code Council, Washington, DC

Eytan Solomon, PE, LEED AP

Silman, New York, NY

Jeannette M. Torrents, PE, SE, LEED AP

JVA, Inc., Boulder, CO
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DECEMBER 2024 3
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Contents
D E C E M B E R 2 0 24

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
By STRUCTURE Magazine

28
The National Council
of Structural Engineers
Associations is pleased to share
winners of the 2024 Excellence in Structural
Engineering Awards

F E A T U R E S
38
Q &A ?
OPPORTUNITY AWAITS: SOFTWARE TRENDS TO WATCH
FOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE
By STRUCTURE Magazine

Leaders from structural engineering software firms share their thoughts and analysis
regarding the trends in software.

41 ACCESS AND PROTECTION AT 1,250 FEET

By Robert Belardi, PE
A collaborative means and methods design brought efficiency and safety to the reclad of
the Empire State Building Floor 102 Observation deck.

46 ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST CONCRETE FACADE

By Alexander Stephani, PE, Kevin Poulin, and Filippo Masetti

The coordination between design and construction professionals stands as a cornerstone of

successful facade design and construction at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

D E C E M B E R 2 024 5
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10

9 Editorial
Thank You for Impacting the Next Generation of Structural Engineers!
By Linda Kaplan, PE, F.SEI, M,ASCE

10 Structural Influencers
Aimee Corn

14 Structural Design
Structural Thermal Bridging in Facades
By Jim D’Aloisio, PE, and Ivan Lee, P.Eng.

18 Sustainable Design
Navigating Sustainable Concrete
By James Mack, Erika Winters-Downey, Mike Hernandez, and Kyle Kammer

23 Sustainable Design
Data Insights From Over 500 Building Projects for Low-Carbon Structures
By Jim D’Aloisio, PE, and Ivan Lee, P.Eng.
14

26 Structural Design
Challenges of Glass Design
By Ted Kraemer, PE

58 Business Practices
The Arizona Board of Technical Registration Sunset Debacle
By Carl Josephson, PE, SE
18

50

In Every Issue
3 Advertiser Index
50 SE News
51 Software Resource Guide
52 NCSEA News
54 SEI Update
56 CASE in Point

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.

D E C E M B E R 2 024 7
 EDITORIAL
Thank You for Impacting the Next
Generation of Structural Engineers!
By Linda Kaplan, PE, F.SEI, M,ASCE

T he only way to start off an update about

the SEI Futures Fund is to say THANK
YOU! Thank you to SEI Futures Fund
structural engineering.
• Efforts to finalize, publish, and distribute
an ASCE/SEI 7 Student Primer specifically
engineers. How can we support those at all
levels of the structural engineering career path
to build the best future possible? From educat-
Donors, and especially Ashraf Habibullah and for students, or early career professionals, ing elementary students on what a structural
Computers & Structures, Inc. for the 3-to-1 to serve as an introduction to the loading engineer does, to showing undergraduate
donation match in 2023! The campaign raised provisions of the ASCE/SEI 7-22 standard. students why this is a worthy profession,
more than $330,000 and increased the number to supporting graduate students and young
of donors investing in the next generation of professionals looking to make changes and
structural engineering! Does It Really Work? improve processes, all the way to helping sea-
soned professionals give back and pass on
Yes! The SEI Futures Fund’s goals center their knowledge—the SEI Futures Fund is
Where Does the Money Go? around getting the next generation of struc- here to support not only the profession, but
tural engineers engaged with and involved in the people who make it great. We invest not
This year the SEI Futures Fund approved the our profession, as well as providing resources only in what people are doing now, but what
largest grant amount in our 11 year history. to help practicing engineers design with the they can and will do in the future.
With more than $400,000 in committed funds future in mind. We also hope to continue growing. The
for the coming year, we will be supporting: The SEI Futures Fund vision is to support generosity of Habibullah and Computers &
• A record number of student and young the art, science, and practice of structural Structures, Inc., allowed us to support more
professional scholarships to both the SEI engineering for a better and brighter future projects in the coming year than we have
Structures Congress in Phoenix and the of our profession. Our specific goals as follows, before. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t do
Electrical and Transmission and Substation include supporting programs that: even more. Every year we turn away deserving
Structures Conference in Dallas. • Invest in the future of the structural engi- proposals and excellent scholarship appli-
• A Performance-Based Design Roadmap neering profession. cants. We are actively looking for new match
Development Workshop to bring together • Promote student interest in structural opportunities and welcome new donors. With
SEI leaders and subject matter experts, engineering. your support we will continue to advance and
as well as allied partners working to • Support younger member involvement in strengthen our profession.
advance performance-based design into SEI. As a reminder the SEI Futures Fund operates
the profession; as well as underwrite the • Provide opportunities for professional in collaboration with the ASCE Foundation
publishing of the ASCE/SEI Pre-standard development! so that 100% of your gifts goes directly to
for Calculation Methodology for Structural Past funding also supported well known profession-building activities authorized by
Systems in Whole-Building Life Cycle efforts including SEI SE 2050 Commitment the SEI Futures Fund Board. Donors may be
Assessment, so this guidance document Program, performance based design devel- individuals, companies, or other organizations.
can be provided to the profession for free. opment and life-cycle assessment methods This year’s SEI Futures Fund Board members
• The subsequent SEI Towards Zero Carbon which are all becoming more mainstream. are me,Linda Kaplan, PE, F.SEI, M.ASCE; Jim
Bootcamp to train and educate the Student design workshops and outreach efforts Harris, Ph.D., PE, NAE, F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE;
profession, and provide travel funding for have reached the next batch of structural Dan Linzell, Ph.D., PE, F.SEI, F.ASCE;
SEI young professional members, on the engineers. Additionally, past SEIFF schol- Otto Lynch, PE, F.SEI, F.ASCE; and Erleen
current LCA practices and the many tools, arship winners are now serving on the SEI Hatfield, PE, F.ASCE. Please reach out to any
documents, and resources available to help Board of Governors, ASCE/SEI 7 Standard of us if you have questions. We also want to
structural engineers achieve embodied Committees, and one is even the chair of the thank Joe Burns for his excellent leadership
carbon reductions. SEI Futures Fund Board this year (hint: its of the SEI Futures Fund over the past year.
• Continued Young Professional Travel ME, who was among the first group of SEIFF Learn more and give at www.asce.org/
Support for SEI Standards Committees to scholarship winners in 2012!). SEIFuturesFund. Thank you! ■
ensure that young professionals are able to
participate meaningfully with development
of SEI standards and codes. What’s Next?
• SEI Chapter Innovative Programs for Student
and Professional Involvement to provide The future champions of our profession may
local and student chapters small grant not even know it yet. The SEI Futures Fund Linda Kaplan, P.E., F.SEI is a Senior Structural Engineer
money to help with outreach, networking, would love to fund more projects targeted with Pennoni in Pittsburgh, PA and the Chair of the SEI
and other events to encourage the growth through local SEI chapters at K-12 outreach Futures Fund for FY 2024-25.
of students and young professionals in and engaging the next generation of structural

STRUCTURE magazine DECEMBER 2024 9

 structural INFLUENCERS
Aimee Corn
Aimee Corn, PE, the youngest member to serve on SEI’s
national board of governors, is a dam engineer in Gannett
Fleming’s Denver office. Highly involved in ASCE, she has won
the Edmund Friedman Young Engineer award, co-chaired
the Mentoring Committee, enabled student conference
scholarships with the Student Initiatives Committee, and
has served as the secretary, vice president, and president of
Colorado’s chapter of ASCE SEI. Outside of ASCE/SEI, Corn
chairs Gannett Fleming’s Employee Resource Group (ERG),
Connected Women, serves as the chair of the United States
Society on Dams’ (USSD) Young Professionals Committee,
and recently chaired the Conference Planning Committee for
the 2024 USSD Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.
If you’d like to be a dam engineer. Please reach out to Corn,
and she’ll teach you a thing or two!

STRUCTURE: What led you into dam engineering?

Corn: Like many in the industry, I fell into it. I had a family friend
who introduced me to Guy Lund, PE, F.SEI, a leader in the evalu-
ation of concrete dams, as I was starting my master’s degree. Guy
began mentoring me, and while completing an internship under his
guidance, I switched to a thesis-based master’s degree focusing on
modeling potential failure modes of post-tensioned anchors in con-
crete gravity dams. Most civil engineering students are not provided
an opportunity to learn about dams, even though they are a vital
part of modern society’s infrastructure. Since joining the industry,
I have made it a point to get out there and talk more about dams.

STRUCTURE: How does structural engineering for dams differ

from structural engineering for buildings or bridges? much SEI was doing. Awesome things. And I worked with and
Corn: The most significant difference is that in dam engineering learned from amazing people. SE2050 and the commitment to net
there are no codes, only guidelines produced by the federal govern- zero erupted. The SEI structure was completely reorganized from
ment. This is a strength and a weakness in the industry. It’s a strength a five-division organization into a Technical Community and a
as the dam engineer needs to understand the parameters and justify Professional Community. We also rewrote the by-laws of the Board
every decision that they make when analyzing a dam, as there is no to create a permanent young professional seat and began CROSS-US
code to fall back on. From an innovation perspective, reliance on to increase the safety of structures.
the federal government can slow things down. Some projects are
still using guidelines that date to the 1990s and early 2000s. More STRUCTURE: You have been involved in several professional
recently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made society committees that focus on people. What led you to these
updates to their Part 12D program following the 2017 Oroville committees and can you speak about the role they serve?
Spillway Incident, particularly related to the frequency and depth Corn: The lack of committees within ASCE and SEI related to
of inspections. dam engineering has caused me to lean more towards the commit-
tees centered on people. That said, I have been a huge supporter and
STRUCTURE: How did you get involved in SEI? cheerleader for fellow engineers. I enjoy mentoring and connecting
Corn: I was a student scholarship recipient, which allowed me to par- people. Involvement in professional societies has helped me build my
ticipate in and present my senior design project at the 2013 Structures network early on in my career. SEI introduced me to many leaders in
Congress. After my first Structures Congress, I began attending our the industry. I was able to reach out to one of them, Ron Klemencic,
local SEI meetings, eventually getting into local leadership roles. In to fill the role of plenary speaker at the USSD Annual Conference. As
2017, when the Structures Congress was held in Denver, I participated one of the few dam engineers actively involved in SEI, I get to show
on the Local Planning Committee. students and young engineers that there are structural career paths
beyond bridges and vertical construction and advocate for dams.
STRUCTURE: You served on the SEI Board from 2018 to 2022.
What was the experience like and what did the board accomplish? STRUCTURE: What have been highlights of your work so far
Corn: Serving on the board gave me the opportunity to see how as a dam engineer?

10 STRUCTURE magazine
 Corn: I’ve really enjoyed working on a project in Montana—Basin keep society moving by providing drinking water, flood protection,
Creek Dam—as this is the first project I have worked on from start power, and recreation.
to finish, beginning with the initial site inspection documenting
severe freeze-thaw damage, to the analysis and design of alterna- STRUCTURE: What advice do you offer to young engineers?
tives, and finally through the construction of repairs. The dam was Corn: Young people don’t need to know what they want to be
originally a granite masonry gravity dam constructed in the 1890s when they grow up. As an undergraduate I honestly did not enjoy my
which was raised using mass concrete in the 1910s. A photograph reinforced concrete and H&H classes, and now I work on concrete
of me sounding the face of the dam even ended up on the front page dams. In your career, you are allowed to change your mind. Also,
of the Montana Standard newspaper. embrace your failures. I thought that the PE would be a breeze, even
though in the dam industry I had not used the codes and standards
STRUCTURE: You have been involved in planning for the test is based on since grad school. I had to retake the PE twice.
Structures Congress and the USSD Annual Conference. How Failure doesn’t define you, and we should all talk more about our
have you approached your role? own failures, it’s how we learn and grow. (Speaking of failures,
Corn: I want people to leave a conference feeling excited and damfailures.org is one site that provides case studies and lessons
energized about the work they do and I try to channel that into the learned from dam incidents. Check it out.)
program. I was impressed when I attended my first USSD confer-
ence by how much fun everyone had. As engineers we don’t need STRUCTURE: Have you felt supported in your work for
to be serious all of the time. We do need to be serious about life professional organizations?
safety, but presentations don’t need to go so far into the weeds that Corn: Involvement in professional society work comes from the
they lose the attention of the audience. David Odeh has said that top down at Gannet Fleming, so I have always been encouraged and
Structures Congress feels like homecoming. It’s an opportunity to supported in my participation. Professional organizations help us to
connect and grow our skills socially and technically. For USSD, I keep a pulse on the industry, have our work recognized, and network
wanted people to leave the conference advocating for dams. There with a variety of stakeholders. That said, it’s important to strike a
are some people who want all dams taken out, so it’s important for balance between your professional society involvement and your
us as engineers to speak to the important role that dams serve to day-to-day work! ■

DECEMBER 2024 11
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 structural DESIGN
Structural Thermal Bridging
in Facades
This Part 2 of a three-part series explores thermal bridging of building facade systems, how it relates to
structural engineers, and mitigation strategies. Part 1 ran in the November issue of STRUCTURE.
By Jim D’Aloisio, PE, and Ivan Lee, P.Eng.

T hermal bridging in buildings has been

gaining more and more attention in
recent years not only as a potential cause
of condensation and moisture related dete-
rioration but also for its role in degrading
the thermal performance of the building
enclosure. As we strive to reach low and
ultimately net-zero carbon goals, mitigat-
ing thermal bridging to enhance building
energy performance is critical. While many
believe thermal bridging and thermal per-
formance of the building envelope is within Vertical Z-Girts Horizontal Z-Girts Mixed Z-Girts Intermittent Brackets/ Clips
the domain of architects and building 48% R-value derating 39% R-value derating 29% R-value derating 25% R-value derating
enclosure consultants, structural engineers
also have an important role in mitigating
thermal bridging since many of these details have a structural it minimizes components penetrating the exterior insulation.
component. Many bracket and clip designs include thermal break pads or
thermal breaks within the bracket, while others use low thermal
conductivity materials such as stainless steel or fiberglass.
Building Facade Systems At first glance, choosing a cladding support system made with
low thermal conductivity materials may seem appropriate for opti-
The building facade often refers to the components and systems mizing the thermal performance of the building facade. However,
that enclose the vertical surfaces of a building including exterior other factors should be considered when selecting the right system
walls and windows. Its primary functions are to control heat, air, including structural capacity, fire resistance, and cost. A fiberglass
and moisture flow, as well as provide structural support against clip may provide low thermal conductive performance compared
lateral wind loads and occasionally gravity loads for load bearing to an aluminum clip but have less structural capacity. As a result,
walls. Facades also contribute to the aesthetics of the building more fiberglass clips may be required to carry cladding dead load
since it is a recognizable exterior component. and wind loads than an aluminum clip system. This increases
The opaque sections of the building facade can be composed of the amount of penetrations through the insulation as well as
many different types of systems that include glazed wall systems attachments to the exterior wall, which could drive up material
such as curtain wall and window wall systems and precast insu- and construction costs since more components are needed. An
lated concrete panels. Steel-framed exterior wall assemblies are aluminum clip system may be able to achieve the same thermal
commonly found in many low to mid-rise commercial buildings. performance but with greater clip spacing.
Increasingly, these wall assemblies are fitted with more and more Rail penetration depth into the insulation and orientation impact
insulation. Although many designers and contractors have added the thermal performance of many clip systems. Because the clips are
insulation between the studs in the past, many building energy intermittent, rails are added to help support the cladding and cladding
codes and standards are asking for a continuous layer of insulation attachment components. Rails penetrate through the insulation in
that often is placed outboard of the steel studs to help mitigate many North American clip systems. As a result, the rails act as fins
thermal bridging. This presents challenges of how to securely that draw heat from the insulation. This effect is greater for clips
attach exterior cladding to these walls such that wind loads can that are much smaller than the insulation depth since the rails are
be transferred back to the structure. The solution many designers fitted deeper in the insulation. The orientation of the rails also has an
have posed is to add exterior cladding support systems to these impact on thermal performance. Systems that include rails running
assemblies along with the exterior continuous insulation. Common horizontally often have shorter overall rail length than vertical rail
solutions that we have seen include: vertical Z-girts, horizontal systems and therefore better thermal performance. Many cladding
Z-girts, mixed Z-girts, and intermittent brackets or clips. support systems have vertical clip spacing greater than the horizontal
Of these four types of cladding support systems, intermittent spacing, resulting in fewer horizontal rails because the spacing between
brackets/clips system offers the best thermal performance since the rails is dictated by the clip spacing.

14 STRUCTURE magazine
 16 x 42 inches Vertical Layout 32 x 24 inches Horizontal Layout

Clear Field Effective Effective R-value Percent

Rail Orientation Bracket Spacing Total Rail Length Number of Brackets
R-value Difference
16 x 42 inches 425 feet (129.5 m) 196 R-24.1 (RSI-4.24) -
Vertical

16 x 48 inches 161 feet (49.1 m) 134 R-25.4 (RSI-4.47) 6%

Horizontal
32 x 24 inches 279 feet (85.0 m) 141 R-25.1 (RSI-4.42) 4%

Recent building energy codes have not only begun to recognize which are much smaller than typical cladding support clip systems.
thermal bridging of cladding support systems, but some have Although these anchors may have good thermal performance,
also provided prescriptive derating values. Energy codes such as they are only part of the masonry support system. Shelf angles
the Massachusetts Stretch Code have provided derating values are often needed at regular intervals to support the weight of
that can range from 27% to over 63% for most typical exterior the masonry cladding. These angles are commonly structural
insulation ranges. With good design that balances both structural steel and attached to the primary structure of the building at
and thermal performance, many clip systems are able to achieve intermediate floors. Because of the loads these shelf angles must
higher thermal efficiencies and lower derating values than these carry they can be hefty and significant thermal bridges in brick
prescribed values. A holistic approach, with close collaboration and masonry facades.
between architect, structural engineer, and building enclosure Most shelf angles are directly attached to the intermediate floor
consultant, is often required to find the optimal design. Many which interrupts the exterior wall continuous insulation and
cladding support system manufacturers provide engineering forms a large linear thermal bridge. The solution to mitigating
reports of 3D thermal simulations, span charts, and load tables thermal bridging at this detail is to use shelf angles that are offset
for their systems to help aid in the design. Some will provide from the intermediate floor with discrete supports. This reduces
engineering services to ensure their system is fully optimized for the amount of steel penetrating through the insulation as well
the building. as direct contact with the primary structure of the building. An
offset shelf angle can be 59% to 80% more thermally efficient
than a direct anchor shelf angle for exterior insulation ranges
Shelf Angles at Intermediate Floors between R-5 and R-25.
In cases where offset shelf angles are not feasible, adding low
Brick veneer and masonry panels are common cladding types conductivity thermal shims between the shelf angle and inter-
used in buildings. Many types of masonry cladding systems are mediate floor may help reduce heat flow by thermally separating
connected to exterior wall assemblies using intermittent anchors the metal angle from the primary structure.

Window to Wall Junction Details

Window to wall junction facade details are often over-
looked in terms of thermal bridging. Windows are often
installed directly on the interior steel-frame, wood-
frame, or concrete back up wall for structural support
of the window. Although this is effective structurally,
a significant thermal bridge may be created when the
exterior wall insulation and the thermal resistive parts
of the window are not aligned. For mid-rise and high-
Direct Anchor Shelf Angle Offset Shelf Angle rise buildings with punched windows, the window to
wall interface length may be several thousand feet long,

DECEMBER 2024 15
 Window Aligned with Steel-Framing Window Aligned with Edge of Exterior Insulation Window Aligned with Insulation

Window Position Window Sill Linear Transmittance Ψinstall Percent Difference

Window Aligned with Steel-Framing 0.095 Btu/h ft°F (0.164 W/mK) -

Window Aligned with Edge of Exterior Insulation 0.067 Btu/h ft°F (0.116 W/mK) 29%

Window Aligned with Insulation 0.036 Btu/h ft°F (0.062 W/mK) 62%

meaning any small reduction in thermal bridging can significantly

improve the facade thermal performance.
To reduce thermal bridging at window to wall junction details,
the window should be aligned with the mid-point of the wall’s
insulation. For framed wall assemblies with insulation in the stud
cavity and exterior continuous insulation, the optimal location
is over the exterior insulation.
This installation position poses a problem of how to adequately
support the window. One solution is to install an angle beneath the
windowsill to support the cantilevered window. Another approach
is to use intermittent cladding support clips to carry the window,
such as the Akira Window Connection detail. Compared to the
conventional window installation detail where the window is
directly supported over the steel-frame wall, the angle supported
windowsill reduces the heat flow by 64% and the intermittent
clip supported window sill reduces heat flow by 95%.
Although both of these window support configurations may seem
unconventional, both can carry significant loads when designed
properly by a structural engineer. Depending on the structural
Compared to a window directly supported over a steel-frame wall, an angle-supported
windowsill (above) reduces heat flow 64% and the intermittent clip supported windowsill
capacity of the clips and its spacing, the intermittent clip sup-
(below) reduces heat flow by 95%. ported window can support triple-glazed windows as tall as 6 feet.
As shown in the examples mentioned in this article, structural
engineers have many opportunities to help improve the thermal
performance of facade systems through mitigating thermal bridg-
ing. The next article of this three-part series will cover thermal
bridging at roof and foundation details. ■

Jim D’Aloisio, P.E., LEED AP is a Principal with Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt of East Syracuse,
NY, focusing on structural engineering and building envelope consulting services.

Ivan Lee, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., LEED APBD+C, WbLCA AP, is a Building Science Engineer
and Team Lead in the Building Performance Analysis department with a focus on
thermal analysis, hygrothermal analysis, and Life Cycle Assessment. Lee has worked
at Morrison Hershfield now Stantec for over 14 years and has been involved with
various projects including 3D thermal modelling to assess thermal bridging details
for the Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide (BETB Guide).

16 STRUCTURE magazine
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can help you make fast,

accurate estimates
and calculations.
DES
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EN
GIN
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 sustainable DESIGN
Navigating Sustainable Concrete
Successful implementation of aggressive low-carbon goals happens with clear, early communication between
all parties.
By James Mack, Erika Winters-Downey, Mike Hernandez, and Kyle Kammer

W ith increased awareness of the influence of materials on global

carbon emissions and initiatives like the SE2050 Commitment,
structural engineers are adapting traditional workflows to incorporate
Use Supplementary Cementitious Materials

SCMs include industrial waste materials such as Fly Ash (FA), Blast
embodied carbon reduction goals. In today’s environment of material Furnace Slag (GGBFS or slag), silica fume and other pozzolans that
innovation, practicalities can be lost in translation. This article promotes have long been used in concrete to reduce the amount of cement.
a nuanced approach to working with low-carbon concrete from the While these materials have historically been used to reduce costs,
perspective of the supplier and contractor—advocating for increased they also improve the concrete by:
collaboration, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace innovative • Increasing long term strength.
solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. • Increasing material durability against distresses such as Alkali-
The authors’ collective experience spans the breadth of the industry— silica reaction (ASR).
from traditional structural design, construction project management, • Reducing heat of hydration.
material engineering, field crew operations and logistics, and concrete • Improving workability, though water demand can be an issue
placement techniques. Many aspects should be considered when imple- with some SCMs.
menting novel materials on a project, so authors' recommendations are • Lowering CO2 emissions by replacing cement in the mix.
distilled here into three categories: materials, placement, and design Fly ash, slag, and silica fume are already in use, but are not used to
documents to highlight how to start. However, one major theme that maximum effectiveness in most cases. For example, many specifica-
will be consistent throughout is the need for open discussion between tions limit FA to 15 to 20% but many applications can go higher.
the Owner, Engineer of Record (EOR), Contractor and Ready-mix Several alternative SCMs are also in development, and in most cases,
Supplier about the project’s sustainability goals. they perform well. The issue is typically “scalability” and having a
consistent, long-term supply of material available to make the effort
of dedicating bin space, adding hoppers and developing the new mix
Materials designs with the alternative SCM worthwhile.

In any concrete mix, it’s the cement that dominates the Global
Warming Potential (GWP) due to the manufacturing process. While
Glass Pozzolans
aggregates and cement make up about 70% and 10% of the volume An emerging alternative SCM gaining attention for Ready Mix
respectively, in a traditional mix, the cement accounts for somewhere Concrete operations is ground glass pozzolans. However, its
between 75 to 90% of the concrete’s GWP (Fig. 1, Reference Cemex) local market availability might not lead to widespread use due
As such, to reduce a concrete’s CO2 from a materials perspective, to the limited volume of material. For example, we know of some
one needs to reduce the impact of the cement. Two of the primary plants that have been offered a supply of 40 tons of ground
levers to reduce cement’s CO2 are: glass per month. Unfortunately, that amount of glass SCM would
1. Use Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). only produce around 65 truckloads of concrete—less than 1/4 the
2. Switch to Portland-Limestone Cement (Type IL cement) or quantity required every month to have a dedicated silo.
other Blended Cements.

Fig. 1. Comparison of cement and aggregates portion of a concrete mix's volume and embodied CO2.

18 STRUCTURE magazine
 One downside is that SCMs may impact early age strength gain Performance and
because they typically react with the byproducts of cement hydration Transitioning to Use
and therefore are slower to gain strength. However, the end concrete is
a denser, stronger, and more durable material that has lower embodied Long term usage in Europe,
carbon. SCMs may also affect other plastic properties, but these can be Canada, and elsewhere, as well
typically addressed by the engineer, contractor, and supplier working as our own experience has shown
together to evaluate the impacts to the overall project. that using 1L cement does make
good concrete (e.g. it is concrete).
Switch to Blended Cements However, the material can behave
differently and while this is usually
Blended cements are cements where part of the clinker is substituted not a problem, isolated issues related
with other materials such as limestone, slag, FA, silica fume, calcined to specific placements or conditions
clays, and other manmade or natural pozzolans at the cement plant (vs have occurred.
the Ready-mix plant as above). Blended cements must conform to the This re-emphasizes the important Fig. 2. A portable batch plant
requirements of ASTM C595 (or AASHTO
M 240) and are used in all aspects of con-
crete construction in the same manner as
portland cements. Generally, there are four
main categories:
• Type IL, portland-limestone cement.
• Type IP, portland-pozzolan cement.
• Type IS, portland blast-furnace slag
cement.
• Type IT, Ternary blended cement.
The advantage of all blended cements
is that they reduce the amount of clin-
ker in the final product and that lowers
CO2. Because of this, we are in a blended
cement revolution. Currently, about
53% of all cements sold in the U.S.
are blended cement, with 1L cements
making up approximately 97% of those

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cement sales. Still, the use of the other
ASTM C595 blended cements (e.g. Ty
1P, 1S, and IT) is also expanding and
they make up 15% or more of blended
cements usage in states such as New
Jersey, Nebraska, Delaware, and parts of
New York, (Source: USGS April 2024
Cement Statistics and Information
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/
national-minerals-information-center/
cement-statistics-and-information).
Compared to portland cements and for
the same cementitious quantities, blended
cements tend to have lower early strength
and lower heat of hydration, but they also
tend to have comparable 28-day strength
and higher ultimate strengths. However, it
is important to understand that in addition
to meeting the engineering requirements
for an application, cement content is also
based on other project specific issues such
as environmental conditions and con-
tractor placement requirements. As such,
while early strength may be reduced, the
mix could still meet the early opening
requirements. Early discussions between
the engineer, contractor, and producer, and
working together can address most project
specific requirements and applications.

DECEMBER 2024 19
 point that in transitioning to all types of blended cements, it is NOT
always a 1:1 replacement for straight cement mix. While the total
amount of cementitious material will most likely be similar to the
mix of ordinary portland cement with different amounts of SCMs,
performance will vary, and adjustments may need to be made.
To minimize issues, as cement manufacturers move to all types of
blended cements into the marketplace, it is critical that they have open
dialog, coordination, and communication with the ready-mix suppliers,
contractors, engineers, and other customers about their plans. Some
specific items that need to be shared include:
1. When will the cement supplier switch to 1L and other Blended
Cements and when is the cutoff date?
2. Results of test data to educate contractors, ready mix suppliers,
and specifiers on the concrete material’s behavior.
3. Incorporate mockups and other placement testing into budgets,
especially with flat work.
While it may be argued that using SCM replacement at the cement Fig. 3. A large slab-on-grade placement in progress.
plant or the ready-mix plant results in the same overall CO2 reduction;
the primary advantage to having the blending occur at the cement
plant is the ability optimize the blending so that the final cement has Execution
higher consistency, optimum fineness, and improved chemical control
so that it behaves better. Using a blended cement product also helps From a contractor’s perspective the goal is to provide the owner with
smaller producers who have only limited silos and space to produce the best combination of schedule, quality, safety, and cost that will make
low carbon concrete. the project a success and enhance a relationship based on mutual trust.
However, no matter what cement type is used, specifications should Going forward, embodied carbon will also be weighted in the balance
always allow for ready mix suppliers to add additional SCMs at the of project characteristics. Each project type and location will present
plants. Because the local producers will know their local materials a unique combination of challenges that can be modified related to
best and can dial in the mix for most given project specific needs, this sustainability and would be nearly impossible for an engineering firm
will help ensure a low carbon concrete can be obtained. Still, care and to know unless and until there is open communication with the owner,
appropriate and adequate testing are needed to ensure performance. design team, contractors, and local ready mixed producers.

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20 STRUCTURE magazine
 Table 1. Example Early Carbon Expectations and Reductions Calculation
Global Global Global "Total
Warming Warming Warming GWP
28 day Potential Potential Potential (Actual
Design Normal Mix Notes (GWP): (GWP): (GWP): "Total GWP carbon = GWP
% of Strength, Weight or (Cement NRMCA Product- Product- (Baseline) quantity x Savings Reduction
Concrete Total f’c (per Lightweight Type, Regional Specific Specific (metric actual mix (metric from
Quantity Conc spec) Concrete? SCM%) Baseline EPD EPD tons)" GWP)" tons) Baseline
Structural yd3 % psi (NWC or - kgCO2e/ kgCO2e/ kgCO2e/ tCO2e tCO2e tCO2e %
Element LWC) yd3 m3 yd3
Foundations & 2,500 15% 4,500 NWC 40% fly ash 294 255 195 735 487 -248 -34%
Footings
Slab on Grade 5,000 31% 3,500 NWC 20% slag 245 215 164 1,225 822 -403 -33%

Tilt Up Wall 3,000 19% 5,000 NWC 5% slag 321 305 233 964 700 -265 -27%
Panels
Slab on Metal 800 5% 4,500 NWC 5% slag 294 298 228 235 182 -53 -23%
Deck
Retaining Walls 350 2% 5,000 NWC Proprietary 321 185 141 112 50 -63 -56%

Stair Pans 85 1% 4,000 NWC Proprietary 267 125 96 23 8 -15 -64%

Misc (pads, etc) 2,700 17% 4,500 NWC 40% fly ash 294 255 195 794 526 -267 -34%

Site 1,700 11% 4,500 NWC 20% fly ash 294 277 212 500 360 -140 -28%

4,588 3,135 -1,453 -32%

The construction team can provide feedback on which elements of sustainability goals can be successfully applied to the project, and specifi-
the project may have less critical strength needs. The earlier in the cally how the structural AND non-structural items, such as sidewalks
construction process the team members are identified and this discus- and duct-banks, inform the full picture of the project’s embodied
sion takes place, the more effective the team will be in addressing the carbon footprint.
project sustainability goals with minimal or no construction schedule Ensure you are given access to the client’s Basis of Design (BOD)
impact. If the closest ready mixed producers do not have enough and Division 001 specifications. These hold the key to understanding
SCM silos or aggregate capacity to provide low embodied carbon big picture goals.
concrete which meets the owners goals, the team will need to be more Balance areas where you can be aggressive with areas where you can’t.
creative and explore alternate blended cements or different suppliers. For example, mixes made to achieve high-early strength have propor-
Admixture advances have provided the option of longer hauls in remote tionally higher cement content. By knowing this, we can balance these
locations or congested metropolitan areas to use hydration stabilizers mixes with areas like foundations, which traditionally can accommodate
to extend set times beyond the traditional 90 minutes while maintain- a longer curing duration.
ing workability and overall quality. While not an ideal sustainability Bring non-structural concrete providers into the discussion, such as
solution because of the additional hauling, it does open the range of those providing concrete for hardscape, equipment pads, or duct-bank
potential producers if material availability, experience, or the timeline concrete in the case of data centers.
to produce Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) may stop all Come prepared to meetings with an approximate “Carbon Budget”
sustainability efforts. to outline your path to success. Table 1 is an example demonstrating a
Finishability and pumpability will need to be tested on novel slab quick calculation done via spreadsheet to map out early carbon expecta-
mixes, particularly non-air entrained, troweled mixes with high flatness tions and reductions. Tools like this provide clear communication to
standards. Many contractors have reported differences or issues with clients, designers, and trade partners.
placement of low carbon concrete. Additional lab testing and field Boilerplate specifications which don’t directly apply to (or even worse
mockups large enough for project appropriate equipment testing will contradict) project goals are a frequent source of confusion for concrete
reduce the risks. Starting with mixes the team has successful history contractors.
with and making incremental adjustments is one strategy. The authors recommend the following best practices for adapting
The testing laboratory technicians also will need support for the team contract documents for novel mix use:
to succeed. Many of the blended cements or mixes with higher SCM • Ensure your specification lists the cement product in use in your
contents are more sensitive to extreme temperatures, so to maintain the area. As noted earlier, more than 50% of the U.S. has transitioned
cylinders within the ASTM C31 curing range, adequate preparation to Type 1L cement. Specifying ASTM C150 Type I/II cement
and jobsite logistics are needed. High or low initial curing temperatures where it is not in use will trigger an unnecessary RFI.
will yield low breaks, according to multiple studies. • Type 1L cement is an ASTM C595 blended cement—ensure
your specification reflects and allows this.
• Understand that ready-mix suppliers need leeway to adjust water/
Structural Contract Documents cement ratios for novel mixes. Some alternative SCMs require
more water than traditional cements and additional testing may
When presented with a specific project opportunity, it is incumbent be needed to verify compliance with project requirements. This
upon the structural engineer to understand how the client’s overall should be discussed as early as possible to determine the feasibility

DECEMBER 2024 21
 Fig. 4. The temporary dry batch plant shown here has the capacity for one cement, one SCM, three aggregate sizes, and sand.

of project sustainability goals. specificity of knowing a GWP parameter to stay under, but this
• Remove notes requiring minimum cement content. could lead to annual specification updates. Showing embodied
• Remove notes limiting SCM content to 20% or less. carbon reduction as a percentage leads to more legwork on the
• Add notes regarding minimum cement replacement. contractor’s end but may result in a specification that needs less
• Consider adding a dedicated page to your drawing sets with updating.
specific embodied carbon reduction guidance (similar to a page • Approve backup mixes in case regional supply constraints arise.
that was added for special inspection requirements). • Assure qualified reviewers examine novel mix design submittals.
• Be specific about ready-mix baseline benchmarks when asked Even the savviest younger engineers may not know what to look
to achieve a verifiable carbon reduction. Become familiar with for when regarding mix test data or SCM content.
NRMCA and Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) ready-mix base-
lines, their various iterations, and how they continue to evolve.
• Consider whether your specification will note required reductions Conclusion
as a percentage vs. baseline or with a specific Global Warming
Parameter (GWP) number. Concrete contractors appreciate the Start proactively communicating now to your clients that you, as
the EOR, need to be involved early to guide this process. A successful
implementation of aggressive goals can only happen with clear com-
Sustainable Concrete Communication munication early and often between all parties. This is your chance to
Recommendations show why your firm is invaluable in early project planning. Reach out
to your area ready mix suppliers and concrete contractors for a plant
• Don’t approach your project with a boilerplate spec. tour or stay after a project meeting to understand their workflow and
Examine your general notes. current supply chain. Attend an area ACI Chapter event, Concrete
• Get to know and keep open communication with local Contractor Society meeting, Structural Engineers’ Association, Carbon
contractors and suppliers. Leadership Forum Meeting, or U.S. Green Building Council local
• Let the materials engineering happen and consider the chapter event—these are great places to broaden your network and
full picture! Strength is great, but other properties like
understanding of local capabilities. Be willing to share your successes
pumpability, workability, and finishability need to be
and failures—everyone will benefit, and you will be a sought-after
considered. Blended cements and some SCMs have high
water demand. Even with a higher water-cementitious ratio resource on future projects. ■
they can still have adequate permeability. Do you need 28
day strength? Can the schedule allow for 56 day strengths? Erika Winters-Downey, SE, LEED AP BD+C, is a structural engineer and Director of
This can really open up options. Material Innovation & Impact for the Clayco/Lamar Johnson Collaborative enterprise.
• If you want to use a novel mix without much test data, Mike Hernandez, PE, FACI, LEED AP BD+C, is Technical Director for the American
allocate time and potential budget for testing, both in the lab
Society of Concrete Contractors. He has over 25 years of construction operations
and in the field.
experience constructing concrete buildings and bridges.
• Be open to new materials and products.
• Submittal reviews matter—the person on the EOR side of Kyle Kammer, PE, is the Director of Quality for Concrete Strategies. He has over
things needs to have enough experience and knowledge to 15 years of experience in concrete construction and leads Concrete Strategies’
know and understand what they are looking at. sustainability efforts in conjunction with the Clayco Enterprise team.
• Ensure that proper initial curing is being done in the field.
Jim Mack joined CEMEX in September 2007 and is currently Director, Market
ASTM C31 is frequently violated. Low carbon concrete is being
Development – Infrastructure and Sustainability. In this position, he works with
reported as more sensitive to high temperature early curing.
agencies, contractors, and other professionals to identify and develop sustainable
• Carbon budget the overall structure. This will make it easier
to maintain the schedule goals. concrete and cement-based solutions for pavement and building applications.

22 STRUCTURE magazine
sustainable DESIGN
Data Insights From Over 500 Building
Projects for Low-Carbon Structures
Since 2020, the SE 2050 Commitment Program has collected emissions data of over 500 building projects
with corresponding structural design characteristics. Key takeaways from the inaugural analysis of the
database are shared here.
By Jonathan Broyles, Mel Chafart, Martín Torres, Demi Fang

I n 2022, building operations and material production were responsible for

37% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Of these emissions,
about three-quarters were from the direct and indirect emissions from energy
CO2e). As of November 1, 2023, the SE 2050 Database had 522 project
submissions. The SE 2050 Data Science Team (DST) was formed as
an internal working group within the SE 2050 Committee to perform
use in buildings (i.e., operational carbon), and a quarter was from build- a preliminary analysis of the data. As more data is collected, the col-
ing materials and construction (i.e., embodied carbon). Efforts to reduce lection and analysis will be refined to continue to inform the SE 2050
embodied carbon in both research and practice have lagged behind efforts Commitment Program. This analysis identifies relationships between
for reducing operational emissions. As such, there is an urgent and critical the embodied carbon of structural systems and building characteristics.
need to understand and reduce embodied carbon in the built environment These insights are meant to inform structural engineers, building prac-
to mitigate impacts of the climate crisis. titioners, and policymakers to facilitate widespread embodied carbon
To help address this issue, the Structural Engineers (SE) 2050 reduction in the structural systems of buildings.
Commitment Program, supported by the Structural Engineering Institute
(SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) was formed
to catalyze the building design industry’s alignment with the SE 2050 Methodology: Data Filtering and Analysis
Challenge, in which firms pledge to “understand, reduce, and ultimately
eliminate embodied carbon emissions in structural systems by 2050.” A brief overview of the methodology for data filtering and analysis
Signatory firms, the structural engineering firms who have committed to is summarized here. For more details, the reader is referred to the SE
the pledge, are required to submit project data to an anonymized database 2050 Commitment Program 2023 Data Analysis and Findings Report.
hosted by the SE 2050 Committee. While individual signatory firms Before analyzing the data, the SE 2050 Database was processed to filter
might be limited to collecting data on their own projects, the SE 2050 out project entries deemed out-of-scope. The filtered project data was
Database (currently in beta version) allows simple and secure collection categorized into two datasets according to the life-cycle stages reported:
of many relevant project characteristics for hundreds of diverse projects stage A with 241 entries; and stages A to C with 100 data entries, referred
across different firms, locations, and building types. to as Upfront Carbon and A to C, respectively. After reviewing the fil-
The SE 2050 Database contains a diverse set of project data with a tered data, the Upfront Carbon subset was chosen as the primary dataset
range of building characteristics, structural engineering design features, to be analyzed because it contained the largest number of projects and
and structural system embodied carbon emissions, measured as Global represented the life cycle stages where structural engineers have the largest
Warming Potential (GWP) (kilogram of carbon dioxide equivalent, kg influence on structural embodied carbon emissions.

Definitions
Embodied Carbon: The carbon emissions associated with the pro- in plan, taken to the outer edge of the exterior envelope. The gross floor
duction life-cycle of building materials, including material extraction, area is consistent with the architectural information of the building project.
transportation, production, manufacturing, use, maintenance, replace- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A method of environmental account-
ment, and end-of-life. ing in accordance with International Organization for Standardization
Global Warming Potential (GWP, in kg CO2e): A measure of (ISO) 14040 and ISO 14044 that tracks the inputs from nature (e.g.,
how much energy the emissions of 1 kg of a greenhouse gas will absorb materials and resources) and outputs to nature (e.g., waste, carbon
over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 kg of carbon dioxide, and methane) considering all of the processes that take place
dioxide (CO2). This metric enables a common unit of measure of the during the manufacture, use, and disposal of a product or system. An
global warming impacts of different greenhouse gasses. The larger the LCA can assess several outputs, referred to as mid-point indicators,
GWP, the more that a given gas warms the earth compared to CO2 including GWP.
over a time period (typically 100 years). Life Cycle Stage: A temporal subdivision of a product or system’s
Global Warming Potential Intensity (GWP Intensity, in kg life cycle. In the context of a building product, these modules are the
CO2e/meter2): A measure of GWP normalized by the Gross Floor Product stage (modules A1-A3), Construction stage (modules A4-A5),
Area of a building. Note that biogenic carbon is excluded in this metric Use stage (modules B1-B7), and End-of-life stage (modules C1 to C4).
due to data limitations. This article focuses on the GWP results in the Product and Construction
Gross Floor Area: A measure of the total horizontal area, measured (modules A1-A5) life cycle stages.

DECEMBER 2024 23
 Fig. 1. Distribution of GWP Intensity Excluding Biogenic Carbon for projects in the Upfront Carbon dataset.

GWP Intensity Excluding Biogenic Carbon was selected as the per- overlaid with a strip plot showing all design data points in the Upfront
formance objective (i.e., the primary metric studied), herein referred to Carbon dataset. The median GWP Intensity (gray number) is 234 kg
as GWP Intensity. An exploratory data analysis was first conducted on CO2e/m2 and the mean (dark blue number marked with an X) GWP
the Upfront Carbon dataset, which involved creating a series of plots Intensity is 270 kg CO2e/m2.
that demonstrate the relationships (or lack thereof ) between GWP The data exhibits a wide spread of GWP Intensities. The 80th
Intensity and project features. This included building and structural percentile value from this Upfront Carbon dataset is proposed as a
features such as gross floor area, stories above grade, typical floor live recommended limit for upfront (A1-A5) structural embodied carbon:
load, and primary horizontal gravity system (refer to the full report 350 kgCO2e/m2. A GWP Intensity (excluding biogenic carbon) larger
for the full list of building and structural features). The exploratory than this proposed threshold might warrant further design intervention
data analysis was followed by more detailed statistical analyses to to reduce its high embodied carbon.
clarify the importance of relationships in the data. These analyses Although not all plots from the analysis are shown in this article, the
included linear regressions and machine learning regressions with strongest relationship identified is shown in Figure 2, between Total
feature importance to confirm the trends between GWP Intensity GWP and gross floor area. The linear regression demonstrated an R2
and salient building features identified in the exploratory data analysis. value of 0.84 (R2=1 indicates a perfect linear relationship; R is the
Pearson correlation coefficient, which is a measure of the strength and
direction of the linear relationship between two variables.) This result
Key Results indicates that the size of building projects is a critical design consider-
ation when aiming to reduce embodied carbon emissions.
The analysis of the Upfront Carbon dataset revealed a broad distribu- Another important result from the data analysis is the importance of
tion of GWP Intensities, indicative of the spread of building projects system selection (including the structural material of the system) on
and building characteristics. Figure 1 shows the box-and-whisker plot embodied carbon emissions of structures in buildings. As seen in Figure
3, concrete and steel systems tend to have higher GWP intensities,
which are seen across all three structural system features (i.e., primary
horizontal gravity system, primary vertical gravity system, and primary
lateral system).
Lastly, machine learning regression models were trained on different
subsets of the Upfront Carbon dataset to distill potentially multivariate
relationships into a hierarchy of building features with the largest influ-
ence on structural embodied carbon. For more details on these findings,
the reader is referred to the full report. In short, the linear regressions
and feature importance from the machine learning models showed the
following design features to have relatively stronger correlations with
GWP Intensity when compared to other design features:
• Gross Floor Area
• Mean Roof Height
• Typical Floor Live Load
• Primary Horizontal Gravity System
• Primary Vertical Gravity System
• LCA Tool
• Building Use Type

Implications to Designers
Fig. 2. Scatter plot of GWP against gross floor area for Upfront Carbon projects. The strongest correlation was found between Total GWP and gross

24 STRUCTURE magazine
floor area. The machine learning feature
importance found gross floor area, typical
floor live load, and mean roof height to be
the strongest predictors of GWP Intensity.
Additional influential features identified
with this analysis include the building use
type, primary horizontal gravity system, and
primary vertical gravity system. These key
findings suggest that structural engineers
and building designers should consider these
building features to more effectively reduce
structural embodied carbon emissions.
The wide distribution of GWP Intensity
in the current database can be explained
by a variety of factors and therefore should
not be used to establish benchmarks. With
a higher quantity, quality, and granularity
of data, a clearer understanding of building
Fig. 3. Distribution of GWP Intensities by primary horizontal gravity system in the Upfront Carbon dataset.
projects can emerge to establish meaning-
ful benchmarks. While more data is needed
to confidently establish program- or system-specific benchmarks, a Concluding Remarks
recommended threshold for upfront carbon is proposed. Using the
80th percentile GWP Intensity limit for Upfront Carbon (A1-A5) This first analysis of the SE 2050 Database identifies important design
dataset, the recommended threshold for structural embodied carbon considerations for structural engineers to better reduce embodied carbon
emissions is 350 kgCO2e/m2. Structural engineers and building emissions in buildings. First, designers should consider how much floor
designers should use this value to determine if the structural design area is needed for a project, as gross floor area was found to have the
would have poor embodied carbon performance. highest correlation to GWP. Structural engineers should pay special
As the SE 2050 Database grows, these results will be regularly updated attention to the type of structural system selected, as concrete and steel
to ensure that the industry is supplied with the most up-to-date, sci- systems trended with higher embodied carbon emissions. These findings
ence-based recommendations to support embodied carbon emission may already be intuitive for those designing with embodied carbon in
reduction. Furthermore, future iterations of the analysis may be able mind but are now quantitatively validated with empirical data from the
to make more definitive conclusions, including program- and system- industry. The quality of such insights will only be improved with future
specific benchmarks. improvements in the database. Importantly, this report highlights that
there are different pathways and design choices that can reduce carbon
emissions; therefore, it would be beneficial for all building stakeholders
Current Limitations and Call to Action to collaborate early and throughout the building design process.
The analyses used in this study can be improved upon with more complete
The data analysis revealed limitations and opportunities to and verifiable data to better understand which building characteristics, and
improve the SE 2050 Database. The underlying LCA tools to combination of building characteristics, are most important to consider
obtain embodied carbon performances for design projects have for embodied carbon emission reduction. Future iterations of this study
different embodied carbon coefficients and assumptions, inhibit- can inform data-driven policy and guidelines through feature-importance
ing comparability. Furthermore, due to the database’s anonymity, hierarchies and feature-specific embodied carbon benchmarking. ■
the SE 2050 team is unable to clarify unusual or unexpected data
entries with the signatory firms, so potentially incorrect data are Full references are included in the online version of the article
left uncorrected. Thus, the Sustainability Committee under the at STRUCTUREmag.org.
Structural Engineering Institute has written a pre-standard docu-
ment to help signatory firms correctly calculate and report the Jonathan Broyles, Ph.D, is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer at
embodied carbon emissions of structural systems. Despite these the University of Colorado Boulder, where he researches at the intersection of
limitations, this analysis and corresponding results reveal useful structural engineering, sustainability, computational design, and acoustics.
trends to inform better project data collection and produce more Manuel Chafart, PE, is a Research Engineer at the Life Cycle Lab at the University
robust embodied carbon benchmarks. of Washington and a Research Affiliate at the Carbon Leadership Forum.
More high-quality project data entries can improve the findings of this His work focuses on providing more access to data on low carbon design of
inaugural analysis. Practicing structural engineers are strongly encour- buildings in North America.
aged to submit their project information to the SE 2050 Database to
contribute to this effort to illuminate features important to structural Martín Torres, PE, is a Ph.D student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where
embodied carbon. Furthermore, recommendations from this analysis he is researching novel methods of uncertainty modeling for whole-building life
related to improving data collection will be included in future updates cycle assessment.
to the SE 2050 Database, such as requiring the submission of structural Demi Fang, Ph.D, is incoming Assistant Professor at Northeastern University
material quantities with each project, requiring embodied carbon emis- School of Architecture, with an affiliate appointment in Civil and Environmental
sions to be separated by LCA stages, and providing further guidance Engineering. Her research includes data-driven approaches to mitigating the
on biogenic carbon emissions reporting. environmental impacts of structural systems in design.

DECEMBER 2024 25
 structural DESIGN

Challenges of Glass Design

Structural glass design requires a unique approach in the absence of robust codified standards.
By Ted Kraemer, PE

M ost materials used for building construction utilize well-estab-

lished design standards which are adopted by the building code
and have evolved over time. Steel, concrete, wood, and aluminum
microscopic surface flaws which when loaded will propagate to full
fracture without a yielding transition. The unpredictable nature of
surface flaws necessitates that a statistical model is used to determine
all have codified documents which offer thorough and robust guid- the load resistance of in-service glass. The industry standard for accept-
ance to structural designers. Unfortunately, no such standard exists able probabilities of breakage will vary depending on the application,
for glass when it is used in a structural capacity. In the absence of with common probabilities of breakage being 1/1000 and 8/1000.
adopted standards, structural glass engineers rely on a collection of Tempering is a common thermal treatment which effectively strength-
industry best-practices and alternative design standards to fill in the ens a glass surface against crack propagation. The tempering process
gaps. The design of glass presents unique challenges which require increases load resistance by imparting a residual compressive surface
special consideration. The best practices for structural glass design stress to the glass. A conceptually similar method of strengthening is
can be classified into 6 Rs, resistance, redundancy, residual capacity, observed in post-tensioned concrete slabs, another brittle construc-
retention, replacement, and regulation: tion material.

Resistance Redundancy
Glass has unique properties in comparison to most modern con- Redundancy is an important concept for all structural design. A
struction materials. Perhaps the most challenging from a structural redundant structure ensures there are multiple ways for a structure
designer’s perspective is that it is brittle, not ductile. Material ductility to distribute and transfer any applied loads. This is crucial to ensure
is desirable because it provides a predictable onset of yielding which that if any individual component fails, the applied loads may be
gradually transitions to an ultimate failure. Most traditional building redistributed to other components without a progressive collapse. One
materials either inherently exhibit ductility (e.g. steel) in their load of the primary methods by which redundancy is imparted to glass is
resistance behavior or have incorporated construction techniques via lamination of two or more lites of glass with a binding interlayer.
which impart ductile qualities to a composite (e.g. concrete rebar). Laminated glass is used in a multitude of applications in which
As a brittle material, glass strength is controlled by the presence of glass failure could result in severe injury or fatalities. For example,

26 STRUCTURE magazine
 production can vary widely depending on the complexity of the
Who Is a Glass Consultant? application. A simple insulated glass window panel may be able
to be ordered and replaced within a week. More complex, custom
A glass consultant is a specialist typically contracted by an applications such as point-supported glass, or oversized units which
architect, building engineer, or contractor to provide design are produced overseas, may require months of lead time to replace.
services specific to glass. Typically, they will have a structural These delays can significantly hinder the building’s use. Glass con-
engineering background and undertake additional professional nection details can and should be designed to ensure replacement is
training from seasoned designers familiar with the intricacies achievable without compromising other building finishes whenever
and nuances of glass. Glass consultants need to understand possible. Careful planning is an important design step to ensure an
their structural glass system on both a macro and micro scale, efficient and swift replacement plan is in place if glass were to be
as properly detailing connections is every bit as important as compromised during service.
understanding the system’s structural load path and stability. To
accomplish this, they rely on a strong fundamental understanding
of material mechanics, with robust knowledge of the various Regulation
strengths and weaknesses of glass as well as the many other
different building materials with which they interface. The IBC devotes Chapter 24 to glass and glazing. Topics
addressed include a wide range of applications including sloped
glazing, safety glazing, and specific use cases like handrails, guards,
lamination is used for modern automobile windshields for the added walkways, and elevators. However, many glass applications in
safety and redundancy it provides to passengers. In buildings, glass modern building design, such as point-supported glazing and
redundancy via lamination can be observed in modern guard and beam-columns (glass fins) are not addressed by the IBC. The
handrail design and sloped overhead applications, such as canopies. IBC has historically updated language in Chapter 24 with each
iteration, but additional guidance from outside references remains
essential. The IBC also references documents in Chapter 35 which
Residual Capacity are relevant to glass design, including notable ASTM standards
E1300, E2751, and E2358.
Glass breakage can occur during service even with proper design. Existing documents from other agencies are also very helpful tools
Accidental or unintended loads from building occupants could stress to a modern designer. NGA’s GANA Glazing Manual, NCSEA’s
glass in unanticipated ways. Spontaneous breakage may occur due Engineering Structural Glass Design Guide, and Eurocode’s BS
to virtually indetectable imperfections, such as nickel-sulfide inclu- EN 16612 are excellent resources for understanding and design-
sions, created during the manufacturing process. A glass designer ing modern glass structures. While the IBC does not adopt these
must consider glass’ remaining load capacity requirements follow- documents, they are widely recognized and referenced within the
ing a fracture. It may be acceptable for window glass to have little structural glass community. Additional anticipated documents from
to no residual capacity, but sloped glass or walkways which may ASTM and other groups aim to increase the available guidance for
be supporting occupants at the time of fracture must be able to structural glass designers moving forward.
accommodate the breakage and still carry the load until occupants
can safely relocate.
Conclusion
Retention Glass design is a complex discipline which requires nuanced thought
and care to safeguard building occupants. Until the adopted building
Accepting that glass will fracture during service also means consider- code offers more specific guidance, glass designers and engineers must
ing what will happen to the glass afterwards. What would happen if rely upon best-practices and industry standards to do their work.
glass fractured? Would the glass remain entirely secured to the build- Determining the level of safety required for a particular application
ing structure or is falling debris likely? Would falling debris create a requires careful consideration of the risks associated with fracture.
significant hazard for occupants? Each glass component’s retention It is the responsibility of a glass designer to work with a project’s
must be considered during design. For example, the designer may design team to communicate risks and discuss design decisions
decide that it is acceptable for a monolithic window to fracture if associated with these risks as they are made. A knowledgeable and
the hazard created by falling glass fragments is minimal. Conversely, experienced glass design professional will be able to facilitate a
a laminated canopy (which could fall on occupants directly below) smooth and efficient design process. ■
has a relatively higher risk of great bodily harm if not retained to the
main building structure. Chapter 24 of the International Building
Code (IBC) requires designers to consider the effects of building
movement on intact vertical glazing to ensure glass panels in curtain
walls and storefronts will not disengage and become a falling hazard.

Ted Kraemer, PE, is an Associate at KPFF in Roseville, CA. His engineering

Replacement specialization focuses on structural glass and building facade.
([email protected])
When glass fractures it must be remedied for both temporary
and permanent occupation of the building. Lead times for glass

DECEMBER 2024 27
 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

AWARDS
T he National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) is pleased to share winners of the 2024 Excellence in Structural Engineering (SEE)
Awards, which were announced during NCSEA’s Structural Engineering Summit, held November 5-8,at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The winning entries
recognize the most innovative and groundbreaking work of our profession’s top talents. The winners were honored at the Summut during a special awards cel-
ebration sponsored by Atlas Tube. The winning projects can also be viewed throughout 2025 during the free, in-depth SEE Awards Webinar Series sponsored
by Atlas Tube at www.ncsea.com.

Awards were given in eight categories, with an Outstanding Project awarded in each of the following categories:
• New Buildings under $30 Million • Forensic | Renovation | Retrofit | Rehabilitation
• New Buildings $30 Million to $80 Million Structures under $20 Million
• New Buildings $80 Million to $200 Million • Forensic | Renovation | Retrofit | Rehabilitation
• New Buildings over $200 Million Structures over $20 Million
• New Bridges and Transportation Structures • Other Structures

Judging for each category was completed in two phases. The first round was completed virtually by a group of NCSEA Past Presidents and the second round
was conducted by structural engineers from the Northeast Coalition. Judges selected the winning structures based on complexity of criteria or unique problems;
creativity of structural design; innovative application of new or existing materials or techniques; commitment to sustainability through efficient use of materials,
resilience, circular economy principles, or embodied carbon reduction; and ingenuity of design for constructability challenges and efficient use of labor.
Along with each category award, an overall 2024 Structure of the Year award was selected from the eight Outstanding Projects based on votes by the
judging panel and individual attendees of the NCSEA Summit. Voters compared each project based on the complexities and ingenuity required. The winner
was announced by the 2024 Awards Committee Chair Carrie Johnson, (Wallace Design Collective, PC, Tulsa, OK).
“We introduced an exciting new voting method for this year’s award,” Johnson said during the awards ceremony. “This innovative approach allowed
both the NCSEA Awards Committee and the general audience to select this year’s winner. By combining insights and feedback from industry professionals,
we wanted to create a more inclusive and representative selection process. We believe this change reflects the collaborative spirit of our community and
enhances the significance of this prestigious award.
Congratulations to the 2024 SEE Award winners! Keep an eye out for in-depth articles on several of these winners in future issues of STRUCTURE.

By combining insights and feedback from industry professionals, we

wanted to create a more inclusive and representative selection process. We
believe this change reflects the collaborative spirit of our community and
enhances the significance of this prestigious award.—Carrie Johnson
28 STRUCTURE magazine
 STRUCTURE of the
YEAR
Perelman Performing Arts Center
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Structural Design Firm
Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Architects
REX, with Davis Brody Bond – A Page Company

General Contractor
Sciame Construction

Approximate Construction Cost

$500 million

A Design for Day to Night

T
he Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) enhances
the World Trade Center site with its unique cultural pres-
ence. By day, its marble-and-glass facade is understated,
but by night, it reveals its versatility. The PAC NYC three main
theaters and two adjoining “scene docks” transform into 11 differ-
ent theater volumes and 60-plus seating configurations, thanks to
four retractable, acoustically isolated, gigantic “guillotine” walls.
Existing foundations designed for an entirely differently sized
and oriented theater were repurposed—instead of demolished and
reconstructed—through load-path mapping. Existing foundation
information was evaluated to create a “red dot diagram,” with
each red dot identifying an existing support point and its load-
carrying capacity. This revealed no single point of support could
support the loads from the new theater configuration, and 60%
of the available capacity fell outside PAC NYC’s new footprint.
Seven unique below-grade “interventions” were designed to
combine multiple support points and connect them to seven
above-grade “super columns” (with up to 20 times more capac-
ity than typical building columns). These seven super columns
alone support the entire above-grade 6,300 ton superstructure.
The primary structure supports the heavy Zuccotti Theater floor,
which can rise 7.5 feet and lower three feet in minutes. Complex
secondary steel supports hoists, mechanisms, and platforms for
the heavy guillotine walls, lighting grids, catwalks, and scenery
rigging. The team designed 60-plus seating configuration options
for PAC NYC; the venue has already used two new configurations.
A marvel of engineering, PAC NYC combines security, blast
design, and storm resilience, establishing new standards for flexible
performance spaces. The 129,000 square-foot facility is a beacon
of cutting-edge structural design and engineering creativity.

DECEMBER 2024 29
 CATEGORY 1: NEW BUILDINGS UNDER $30 MILLION AND STRUCTURE OF THE YEAR

Fraser Mills Presentation Centre

COQUITLAM, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Structural Design Firm: StructureCraft
Architect: Patkau Architects
General Contractor: Beedie Construction

Outstanding Project

Warm Gathering Place for Community

The Presentation Centre at Fraser Mills exemplifies innovative mass timber systems through its inventive structural engineering and
community-focused design. Valued at $10M, the Centre serves as a key destination for the 96-acre Fraser Mills development in greater
Vancouver, Canada. The building features a distinctive swooping form supported by 26 unique glulam frames, spanning up to 70
feet between cantilevered glulam columns and 33-foot high splayed columns. The complex geometry of each frame required advanced
software, including Rhino, Grasshopper, and Karamba, to translate into manufacturable components from plywood and sawn purlins.
Notably, the Centre is among the first in British Columbia to use cantilevered glulam columns for lateral support. All timber elements
are crafted from locally sourced Douglas Fir, with manufacturing within 500 miles, highlighting a successful local initiative.

Oregon State University Cascades U.S. Coast Guard Academy –

Edward J. Ray Hall Maritime Center of Excellence
BEND, OR | CATENA CONSULTING ENGINEERS NEW LONDON, CT | A+F ENGINEERS

Finalist Finalist

Edward J. Ray Hall at Oregon State University is a four-story,

50,000-square-foot mass timber building featuring cross-laminated
timber (CLT) decking, glued-laminated timber columns and beams, The Maritime Center of Excellence, a 20,000 GSF LEED Gold
and a mass plywood panel (MPP) monumental stair. Constructed certified building, is situated on the USCG Academy waterfront in
on a steep slope, it required 40 feet of fill and compliance with New London, CT. Designed to reflect maritime heritage and serve
Seismic Design Category D. The design team used connectors vali- educational and operational needs, this facility features a distinctive
dated through proof-load testing for concealed timber connections, roof-oriented northward, echoing traditional navigation. The struc-
facilitating ease of placement and erection. To counteract long-term tural design integrates a hybrid system of steel frames and glulam
creep deflections, the design incorporates composite behavior using arches, each uniquely shaped, supporting a massive, cantilevered
advanced methods. The monumental stair utilizes locally sourced MPP roof. Engineered to withstand hurricane-level winds and flooding, it
for its inclined stringers, treads, and benches. Timber includes 40% employs a combination of steel and wood moment frames alongside
restoration and 14% from Native-owned forests, supporting sustain- concrete shear walls. A+F Engineers crafted this structure to merge
ability and regional economic goals. The regular form and repetitive architectural elegance with robust, functional engineering, exemplify-
framing reduce fabrication costs and enhance labor efficiency. ing practical and efficient design.

30 STRUCTURE magazine
 CATEGORY 2: NEW BUILDINGS $30 MILLION TO $80 MILLION

Outstanding Project
BCIT Tall Timber
Student Housing
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Structural Design Firm: Fast + Epp
Architect: Perkins & Will
General Contractor: Ledcor

Innovation in Mass Timber

The new Tall Timber Student Housing tower at the British Columbia Institute of Technology
(BCIT) in Burnaby, British Columbia, represents a shift forward in tall, hybrid, encapsu-
lated mass timber construction. The 12-story tower is the first of the next generation of
point-supported CLT structures, comprising of flat, two-way spanning Hem-Fir material
cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor plates, point-supported on steel columns without beams.
The use of local Hem-fir CLT at a large width of 11-feet-6-inches, supported on steel HSS
columns, and punching shear reinforcing screws to increase column line spacing, represents
a step forward in tall, hybrid structures. The lateral-resisting cores utilize concentrically braced frames, set in self-stabilizing configurations
that are shop-installed in 5- and 6-story lifts to further reduce construction time. Utilizing the latest advances in engineered wood prod-
ucts, pre-fabrication, and encapsulation strategies, this project represents significant progress in the field of hybrid-mass timber buildings.

Doug Meijer Medical Innovation University of Washington Health

Building Sciences Education Building
GRAND RAPIDS, MI | SMITHGROUP SEATTLE, WA |KPFF CONSULTING ENGINEERS

Finalist Finalist

The Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building, part of a 4-acre medi- The Health Sciences Education Building was the University of
cal research complex, features a creative structural design to support Washington’s first installation of cross-laminated timber (CLT),
advanced research and patient care. Key elements include concrete which also used a hybrid structure to create an inspirational learning
cyclotron vaults and a delay maze constructed with a “box within a environment for future generations of healthcare professionals. The
box” approach to contain radiation. A tighter column grid on the structure combined the benefits of wood and the long-span capacity
south side enhances vibration performance for sensitive equipment. of composite steel to achieve large, open spaces, while maintaining
The structure uses a 30-foot x 30-foot grid with steel and composite the health, aesthetic, and sustainability benefits of wood. KPFF
floor framing, supported by nine sloped columns. These columns, teamed with the University of Washington to perform strength and
which accommodate vehicle access and fit within the grid, have a vibration testing for the composite floors. This allowed the design
maximum 15-degree slope. The design prioritizes cost-effectiveness to push beyond the prescriptive limits of the building code and will
and low embodied carbon. improve the efficiency of future CLT projects.

DECEMBER 2024 31
 CATEGORY 3: NEW BUILDINGS $80 MILLION TO $200 MILLION

Outstanding Project
FORTH HOTEL ATLANTA, GA
Structural Design Firm: Uzun+Case, LLC
Architects: HKS and Morri Adjmi
General Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie
Striking Diagrid Design
The Fourth Ward Social Club & Hotel located in Atlanta, Georgia, is three levels
underground and 16 above ground. The hotel featured the exterior “diagrid”
column system. Other than the exposed exterior load-bearing diagrid columns,
there are only three interior columns and the shear wall. Architecturally, the diagrid
columns were to be placed forward of the slab edge to express the diagrid. The
building diagrid corners at the top and bottom “folded” inward to create a real
three-dimensional complexity to the design. Slab punching shear and diagrid
tension forces in the slab made this a project with complex detailing and close
attention to construction methods.

Alcove – 900 Church One River North

NASHVILLE, TN | DESIMONE CONSULTING ENGINEERING DENVER, CO |JIRSA HEDRICK STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Alcove’s design consists of stacked, Finalist Finalist

shifted cubes organized in pairs,
creating four alcoves that host a
variety of exterior amenities. The
offset stacking required the design
of numerous, differently sized,
post-tensioned concrete floor
plates as the alcoves create alter-
nating openings within the varying
tiers. The alternating floor stacks
created the need for cantilevered,
downturned concrete overhangs,
or “mini roofs,” at the alcove floors
to complete the transition. On
the 34th-floor rooftop, modern One River North is a 17-story tower featuring a canyon-like facade
amenities include two pools: a tra- resembling a slot canyon in Denver, Colorado. The multifamily
ditional deck and saltwater pool, project includes over 7,000 square feet of outdoor amenities, such as
and a clear acrylic-bottomed pool undulating planters, multilevel stairways, and a two-level waterfall.
that dramatically overhangs the The structure is cast-in-place concrete with post-tensioned floors.
27th-floor amenity terrace on the Unique structural challenges included each floor’s distinct geometry
west side of the building, extend- and loading requirements for the canyon features, wind loading neces-
ing eight feet beyond the structure sitating steel link beams in the core walls, and massive transfer slabs
and 34 stories above the street and beams for building offsets. Coordination with MAD Architects
below. To maximize the span of and Davis Partnership through multiple BIM models ensured design
the cantilever, DeSimone designed intent was preserved. The construction phase demanded intensive
this area of the structure with post- administration, field question resolution, and frequent site visits to
tensioned concrete. accurately implement the complex design features.

32 STRUCTURE magazine
 CATEGORY 4: NEW BUILDINGS OVER $200 MILLION

Outstanding Project
Perelman Performing Arts Center
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Structural Design Firm: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Architects: REX, with Davis Brody Bond – A Page Company
General Contractor: Sciame Construction

A Design for Day to Night

The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) enhances the
World Trade Center site with its unique cultural presence. By day,
its marble-and-glass façade is understated, but by night, it reveals
its versatility. The PAC NYC three main theaters and two adjoin-
ing “scene docks” transform into 11 different theater volumes
and 60-plus seating configurations, thanks to four retractable,
acoustically isolated, gigantic “guillotine” walls. Seven unique
below-grade “interventions” were designed to combine multiple
support points and connect them to seven above-grade “super
columns” (with up to 20 times more capacity than typical building
columns). These seven super columns alone support the entire
above-grade 6,300 ton superstructure. A marvel of engineering,
PAC NYC combines security, blast design, and storm resilience,
establishing new standards for flexible performance spaces. The
129,000 square-foot facility is a beacon of cutting-edge structural
design and engineering creativity.

Sphere Finalist Hangzhou Greenland Finalist

LAS VEGAS, NV | SEVERUD ASSOCIATES
Century Center
Sphere is a 516-foot-diameter semi-spherical building rising 366 HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG, CHINA |SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL
feet above ground with a bowl-shaped theater for 17,600 guests,
seated beneath a domed roof and suspended media plane. The
team studied several alternate configurations that would facilitate
fabrication and erection and finally arrived at a hybrid solution of
14 horizontal continuous ring members and 32 pairs of crisscross-
ing diagonal geodesic elements, continuous between the base and
a ring near the crown. The topmost framing, known as the Oculus,
is framed radially. The Exosphere, the venue’s outer latticed grid
shell, is composed of steel pipe sections and cast connecting nodes
covered with 580,000 square feet of programmable LED lighting,
which presents stunning visual displays. Although Sphere is com-
posed of distinct structural systems, they are all interconnected to
form a cohesive, balanced, efficient, and elegant superstructure.

The Greenland Hangzhou Century Center, located just outside

of Shanghai, between Hangzhou’s International Expo Center and
Olympic Sports Center, is an iconic landmark with its two 302-meter
twin towers connected by a gracefully ‘draped’ skybridge. The build-
ing’s unique enclosure on the bridge is a parametrically achieved feat
of architecture and engineering, creating a geometrically complex
curtain wall that resembles a single veil gently draping over the
soaring towers and bridge. The design process involved meticulous
selection of the bridge and roof shape, resulting in nearly flat glass
across the complex. Custom digital tools and close collaboration
between design and technical teams ensured the successful integra-
tion of geometry and structure.

DECEMBER 2024 33
 CATEGORY 5: NEW BRIDGE AND TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURES

Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge Outstanding Project

TULSA, OK
Structural Design Firm: schlaich bergermann partner
Architects: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (Landscape Architect)
General Contractor: Crossland Construction Company Inc.

Semi-Integral Pedestrian Bridge Spans Arkansas River

As part of Tulsa’s vision for the Zink Dam area, the Williams Crossing pedestrian bridge spans 1,440 feet with eleven 120-foot arch spans
and one 120-foot approach span, linking the east and west banks of the Arkansas River. The semi-integral bridge was designed with
extremely slender deck-stiffened arches built from weathering steel plate. The deck-stiffened, plate-arch structure is the first of its kind in
the U.S. and the bridge is also the first multi-span, plate arch bridge built in the country. Continuous weathering steel plate is bent at the
spandrel locations. In between the spandrels the arch plate is locally stiffened with a 2-inch thick and 24-inch wide plate to increase the
vertical bending stiffness of the arch. An efficient and optimized structural design reduced the bridge to its most minimal footprint and
contributed to the structure’s sustainable design.

Second Avenue Over I-94 Network The New Frederick Finalist

Tied Arch Bridge Douglass Memorial Bridge

DETROIT, MI | HDR Finalist WASHINGTON, DC | AECOM

The New Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge project transforms

Washington DC’s South Capitol Street corridor into a grand boule-
vard underscoring Major Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 Plan of the City of
Washington. Replacing a deteriorating structure, the bridge features a
multi-arch design over the Anacostia River, flanked by park-like transit
ovals. The bridge enhances multimodal connections for pedestrians,
cyclists, and transit users. Its innovative design includes three lighted,
parallel arches that rise above the deck and extend to the water level,
allowing the superstructure to expand and contract. With a 540-foot
center span and 450-foot flanking spans, the bridge increases navigable
waterway width and offers open space above the deck. The design
improves mobility, safety, and transit while meeting sustainability
and 100-year service life requirements.
Built between 1947 and 1959, Interstate 94 was one of Michigan’s
earliest highways, linking more than 100 auto companies to west-
ward factories in Detroit, Michigan. The Michigan Department of
Transportation envisioned a bridge without a center pier to enhance
the area visually. The Second Avenue Bridge employs innovative
accelerated construction methods to minimize traffic disruption
and introduces Michigan’s first network-tied arch design and self-
propelled modular transporter (SPMT). The new bridge retains
two driving lanes, adds sidewalks and bike lanes, and includes
native landscaping and aesthetic lighting. Constructed off-site, the
5-million-pound structure was moved and lowered over the freeway,
featuring a vertical curve and 18-degree skew.

34 STRUCTURE magazine
 CATEGORY 6: FORENSIC | RENOVATION | RETROFIT | REHABILITATION STRUCTURES UP TO $20 MILLION

U.C. San Francisco Mount Outstanding Project

Zion Faculty Housing
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Structural Design Firm: Tipping
Architects: Gelfand Partners Architects
General Contractor: Webcor Builders

Exoskeleton Strengthens 1960s Building

Constructed in 1968, this seven-story concrete building was gifted to the University of California at San Francisco. By deploying detailed
nonlinear analysis, Tipping Structural Engineers were able to devise an exoskeleton approach that strengthens the building’s existing
structure. This exterior approach limited the need for interior alterations and the subsequent costly repair of finishes. Interior columns
were wrapped with FRP for added strength, while a three-sided wrap was designed, tested, and approved to further avoid unnecessary and
expensive interior demolition in certain conditions. The design was estimated at $4.2M, reducing the original estimated retrofit cost by
roughly 75%. Through close collaboration with the architect, the exoskeleton design was detailed to enhance the aesthetics of the exist-
ing, nondescript 1968 façade. The newly articulated main façade brings the aging facility into the 21st century, while providing enhanced
seismic performance to the owner and the building’s new residents.

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DECEMBER 2024 35
 CATEGORY 7: FORENSIC | RENOVATION | RETROFIT | REHABILITATION STRUCTURES OVER $20 MILLION

The Baird Center Expansion Outstanding Project

MILWAUKEE, WI
Structural Design Firm: GRAEF
Architects: TVS Design—Conventional Center Specialist; Eppstein Uhen—
Production Architect, Architect of Record
General Contractor: Gilbane Smith

Expedited Expansion
The Baird Center located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, completed the $456 million
renovation and expansion involving complex structural challenges with concrete
and steel in May 2024. To accommodate 2024 programming needs, the project
included infilling a three-level parking structure and two-level conference rooms
beneath an existing exhibit hall. Engineers overcame challenges by lowering exist-
ing pile caps and removing a column while supporting live loads. The renovation
expanded exhibit space to 300,000 square feet, with a north-end floor extension
cantilevering over a sidewalk. Limited structural depth was addressed with a
full-story truss supporting the exhibit level’s concrete structure, visible through
exhibit hall windows. The project utilized the PS=0 joint coupler for seamless
integration and seismic compliance, and the GRAEFaccelerate® system expedited
design and detailing to prepare the center for the 2024 RNC.

651 Gateway Finalist Dallas County Finalist

Records Building Renovation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA | IMEG

IMEG and Maffei Structural DALLAS, TX | DATUM ENGINEERS

Engineering undertook a com-
prehensive seismic retrofit and The Dallas County Records Building Complex project ambitiously
renovations for 651 Gateway rejuvenated a nearly useless complex of three early 1900s historic
Boulevard, a 17-story office buildings, converting them into one unified whole, resulting in a
building in South San Francisco. connected modern workplace while preserving the historic façades.
Originally built to the 1982 The design team envisioned an ambitious plan to demolish several
Uniform Building Code (UBC), floors of the Courts and Annex building, rebuild new floors to
the building had pre-Northridge match the remaining Records floors plus a new floor on top; build
deficiencies, including weak a new central circulation spine to connect all buildings seamlessly;
beam-to-column connections and modernize all building systems. Several upper floors of two of
and inadequate column splices. the buildings were demolished while bracing and preserving the
The retrofit included installing skin, then new floors were built back with modern floor heights.
fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) to The result is a beautiful, functional, connected modern workplace
reduce story drift and improve for the County to engage and serve the public.
seismic performance. While
lower column splices were ret-
rofitted to prevent fractures, the
retrofit addressed significant
weaknesses in the building’s lat-
eral force resisting system. The
project also involved architectural
and MEP upgrades, including floor system stiffening for laboratory
use, without changing occupancy classification. IMEG, as the struc-
tural engineer of record, highlighted the retrofit’s benefits, including
enhanced seismic safety, reduced tenant downtime, and extended
building lifespan.

36 STRUCTURE magazine
 CATEGORY 8: OTHER STRUCTURES

Outstanding Project Connecting People, Nature, and Animals

Opened in July 2023, the Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo is a remark-
Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail able adaptive reuse project. It repurposes a 1970s Corten steel monorail
APPLE VALLEY, MN track into the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop. Spanning 1.25
Structural Design Firm: Buro Happold | Meyer Borgman Johnson miles, the 8-foot-wide trail navigates over wildlife exhibits, lakes, marshes,
Architects: Snow Kreilich Architects and through the forest canopy. The design addressed complex structural
General Contractor: PCL challenges by carefully matching the new lightweight steel-framed deck-
ing to the existing Corten structure.
Through intelligent strengthening,
testing, and repairs, the original steel
frame and foundations were reused.
Prefabricated in 20-foot modules,
the steel structure was installed using
a custom trolley system, allowing the
zoo to remain operational during
construction. The trail embodies the
zoo’s mission to connect people, ani-
mals, and nature while conserving
wildlife.

Downtown Cary Park Finalist Real Time Tower Finalist

CARY, NC | SIMPSON GUMPERTZ & HEGER GREENVILLE, NC | COLLINS STRUCTURAL CONSULTING, PLLC

Collins Structural Consulting,

PLLC designed an 81-foot, five-
level tower for MrBeast Studio’s
YouTube video “In 10 Minutes
This Room Will Explode!”,
which has over 105 million views.
The tower featured 1,400 square
feet of filmable space per floor,
clear exterior walls, and various
obstacle elements, including
trapeze rings and cages, with
nearly 20,000 gallons of water
on the ground level. With only
45 days and $700,000, tradi-
The Downtown Cary Park Pavilions, completed in 2023, enhance tional construction methods were
the six-acre park in Cary, North Carolina with their striking design unfeasible. Instead, recycled ship-
and functionality. The three pavilions provide shaded gathering spaces ping containers were used for the
and amenities, each crafted with carefully chosen materials that align main structural columns, secured
with their unique geometric forms. The Great Lawn Pavilion, cen- with off-the-shelf dove-tail con-
trally located, features a multi-purpose stage, concealed green room, nectors and additional steel
and ceiling-suspended AV equipment for events. It combines steel, framing. The C-shaped columns
concrete, glulam, and conventional lumber. The Academy Pavilion, supported the filming stages and
the largest, is the park’s main food and beverage hub, constructed allowed for unobstructed filming.
from concrete, steel, conventional lumber, and cold-formed joists. Efficient connections and pre-
Bark Bar, made of reinforced concrete, serves the adjacent dog play fabrication ensured the project
area. The design integrates materiality, structure, and purpose, creating was completed within 23 days.
a welcoming environment that has already delighted many visitors.

DECEMBER 2024 37
 Opportun
Opportunity
ity Awaits:
Software Trends to
Watch for in
the Near Future
Leaders from structural engineering software firms share their thoughts and analysis regarding the trends in
software and AI.
By STRUCTURE Magazine

W
idespread acceptance of any new technology or innovation comes after a period of wariness and circumspec-
tion, but that timeline from introduction to adoption is accelerating. Structural engineers are balancing how
to take advantage of new tools that could save them time and improve their work while also being careful
to ensure the integrity of the work remains intact.
With this in mind, STRUCTURE approached three experts from software companies that serve structural engineers in dif-
ferent ways to talk about developing trends in technology. They are: Matt Cooper, CEO of BQE Software, a provider of firm
management software geared toward architects and engineers; Mark Riffey, CEO of ENERCALC, which contributes structural
engineering calculation software; and Josh Taylor, Vice President of Structural Engineering at Bentley, which develops, manu-
factures, and sells engineering design software for a wide variety of infrastructure assets such as bridges, airports, skyscrapers,
and power plants. Their answers focused on the opportunities in general for structural engineers and the advancements in
technology, particularly AI. They also shared words of advice for judicious implementation of the evolving tools.

?
effectively with clients, staff projects, forecast project outcomes, improve
How will AI impact the future use and data analytics, and more. Ultimately, AI will improve business practices
and lead to more efficient and profitable firms.
development of software technology for Josh Taylor, VP of Structural Engineering, Bentley: I'm par-
ticularly excited about AI's potential to accelerate the earlier stages
SEs? In what ways will software further of the design process by reducing the "overhead" in engineering
workflows. By overhead, I mean tasks in which engineers aren't fully
utilize AI to aid structural engineers in utilizing their critical engineering judgement. This would include
things like model set up, preliminary loading and design criteria,
their work? and establishing the standards for reports and drawings. The real
ingenuity and efficiencies that structural engineers contribute to
a project come when they are able to see how all the systems in a
Matt Cooper, CEO, BQE Software: When it comes to AI, lots of structure work in unison. This only happens once they have a solid
firms are considering how it will impact the practice of structural engi- starting point that they can conduct "what if" studies on and fine
neering. However, we anticipate AI will also have a substantial impact tune. We can envision AI getting engineers to this starting point
on how SEs manage their firms overall. AI will help SEs interact more much faster than they are able to presently.

38 STRUCTURE magazine
 ?
Mark Riffey, CEO, ENERCALC: AI is already impacting the use
and development of software for SEs. Is the structural engineering community
Larger vendors have significant resources to apply to AI projects.
We are already starting to see them roll out AI-based tools in their using software technology to its fullest
software (example: Autodesk AI, an Autodesk tool to augment creative
exploration, automate tedious tasks, and analyze data to provide extent? Which areas of the profession hold
predictive insights).
Even starting from a blank screen, you can provide AI with a verbal the greatest opportunity for improvement
description of what you want (faster than typing), and even with less
than perfect speech recognition, you can get pretty close. You might through the adoption of available software?
say, "Pretty close isn't perfect"—and you're right, but that isn't the
point. We use these tools because they get to 60-80% of the desired
outcome much faster than we do when doing the work without them.
Imagine a programming task that normally takes 3 hours from start
to finish, starting from a blank screen. For some types of work, you Cooper: Our purview is firm management software, and within
can get these tools to get you to 80% in 2 minutes. Maybe it takes you that domain, the SE community is not using software technology
another 30 minutes to polish it to where you wanted it, but you're still to the fullest. More than 50% of small-to-midsized firms continue
ahead by almost 2.5 hours. to use Excel, Quickbooks, or one-off point solutions rather than
AI isn't about replacing engineers. It's about empowering engineers firm management-software purpose-built for the industry. Most
by accelerating the mundane work they do, so that they can expend of the firms that are using dedicated firm management software
their mental energy on the most important engineering tasks and make are still on antiquated/legacy platforms and are well past due for
better decisions on the things that require engineering judgment. a replacement.
In fairness, the software industry has underdelivered in this domain

?
for SE firms in the past. However, there is now easier-to-use soft-
ware with better functionality that enables firms to drive more
efficiencies and insights to run firms more effectively and keep
In what ways will software further employees happier.
Taylor: One aspect of engineering software that continues to
utilize AI to aid structural engineers in grow in popularity, but I believe is still underutilized, is the use of
programming interfaces (APIs) available in the software. APIs allow
their work? users with some coding know-how to automate routines that would
otherwise take lots of button clicks and manual operation, as well
as push and pull data to and from the application to other digital
tools. What users are doing with these APIs has grown tremendously
in sophistication. Entire digital ecosystems are being built off com-
mercial software by utilizing them. As you might expect, engineers
Riffey: It's important to focus on what these tools do better and are starting to inject AI into these workflows. In fact, the winner
faster than we do. People are pretty good at finding patterns in of 2023 Bentley Going Digital Awards for Structural Engineering
visual data. AI is great at finding patterns in high volumes of visual, was Hyundai Engineering, who paired STAAD.Pro with an AI
written, or binary data that would overwhelm us. algorithm for optimizing the geometry and framing configurations
AI might also tell you who is more efficient at designing this type for mechanical shed structures.
of structure vs. that kind. Riffey: Some great structural engineering software is available
These tools can be merged into existing systems so they can analyze via open-source and from independent software vendors. Even so,
existing data that's difficult for us to assess quickly. "For this beam, there are significant gaps in functionality, workflow, and interoper-
tell me what section sizes we typically use for (your use case) over ability—collectively. For example, software A might talk to software
the last 20 years." B, but only via a 1990s style import/export of a CSV file. Software
Vendors like Qnect already have software to analyze constructability C might talk to software A but not to software B—or engineers are
of a designed structure, work that's related to steel connections. forced to cut and paste, or worse.
Imagine the types of analysis AI can do across an entire project Other structural engineering software might use more advanced
build with a global analysis tool. methods (like APIs) to communicate with certain other software.
AI can look at project data for something you designed years ago Despite that, there's no end-to-end solution for engineering firms.
that is now being expanded or upgraded. When you do this work, As a result, they're forced to cobble together a solution from multiple
you have to dig around to figure out what changes are going to be high-quality software packages that fill a specific, necessary purpose,
required to meet updated governing codes and design standards. augmented by manual processing.
AI could do this in the time it takes to open your analysis and Engineering firms need full-spectrum holistic solutions. AI is a
design software. part of that solution, but is not the sole cure.

DECEMBER 2024 39
 ?
your spreadsheets, your databases, descriptions of future products, etc.
Software is a powerful tool but like any Cooper: We see three common pitfalls. First, software implemen-
tations require BOTH leadership support and an internal owner
tool, misusage can be damaging. What are responsible for the project. Second, these implementations take time,
and so adequate capacity needs to be allocated. Finally, firms often
some pitfalls to be avoided when it comes try to force-fit the software 100% to their existing internal processes,
rather than take the opportunity to refine those processes.
to employing software? Do you have It’s worth noting: any time there is a major project requiring change
management, the initial excitement often gives way to temporary
words of advice or general guidance you dip in sentiment due to the time and effort involved. This dip often
occurs right before seeing that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
tell customers when they are implementing It’s important that firms recognize that they are on a journey and
commit to completing the implementation so that they can achieve
a new tool or product into their systems? the anticipated benefits.
Taylor: Fortunately, structural engineering is governed by some
immutable principles, among them the field of engineering mechanics.
Regardless of what an engineer uses as an aid (a calculator, spreadsheet,
finite element software, or a machine learning tool), the results can be
Riffey: Just like with analysis software, when using an AI tool, it's assessed using these principles. Whenever employing any type of new
important to approach it with a clear expectation of the desired out- tool, very well understood benchmarks should be employed to gain
come—you shouldn't simply follow it blindly. AI tools aren’t designed trust in the tool. Use a past project or a simple verification problem
to think for you. Using them effectively is a skill we can all develop to that you understand well. There are design examples available in the
better leverage their capabilities. public domain. We also ship verification examples with our products
Public large language models (LLMs) like those used by OpenAI's that can be used for this purpose.
ChatGPT were in large part built on public-facing websites and data As AI/ML is concerned, there are many lessons we can take from
on the internet. No matter how you feel about this, I'm quite sure the emergence of desktop software in structural engineering circa the
how you would feel if your project data was used while working with early 1990s. There was similar skepticism, and I would say healthy
a vendor's LLM chat interface and that data ended up as part of the skepticism, about the possibility for overreliance on what it produces.
LLM vendor's training database. For example, the emergence of auto-design functionality required an
What that means is that your data would become public. Imagine investment of time for designers to evaluate if they were comfortable
that you asked an LLM to analyze your sales, or a new product you're with what the software produced. They accordingly made decisions on
building, or some valuable new technology that you're working on. Now where they were willing to employ these algorithms and where they
imagine that the LLM uses that data for training and your competition felt manual design methods were more appropriate. The game plan for
runs a ChatGPT type query to assess the competitive issues in your getting confident with AI's possibilities and limitations will be similar.
market. The data about the new technology you built could become

?
part of the response your competition gets when they run their query.
This is why it's essential to make absolutely sure that your proprietary
data is not exposed to public facing systems. This includes your code,
Do you have any other thoughts on the

current and future trends in software for

A GPT for Structural Engineers and
structural engineers that you would like to
STRUCTURE Readers
share?
NCSEA launched a free and unique AI tool in October that
relies on a library of structural engineering resources—including
STRUCTURE articles—to help users find the information they are
looking for. When a user prompts SE GPT to answer a structural Taylor: There are an enormous number of possible applications of AI
engineering-related question or provide information on a topic, to structural engineering. As a provider of software solutions, conversa-
the system automatically generates a response based on a tions with our users are indispensable in learning how we best support
closed GPT database administered by NCSEA. This database the evolution of their AI/ML processes—particularly, what the common
includes only structural engineering-specific content written needs are across the industry. AI/ML is a means, with the ultimate goal
or produced by professionals and organizations that support of making our users more productive than they are now while retaining
structural engineering. SE GPT-generated answers are provided the confidence they have in our solutions.
with citations from its database, so users know where the facts and Riffey: I believe an engineering software vendor's highest purpose is
details came from and can seek further knowledge by reading to take the mundane, tedious, complicated, unrewarding work off of
the original source material. engineers’ plates so that they are freed to do the work software can't or
shouldn't do. We can do that while leaving critical engineering decisions
Visit www.ncsea.com/se-gpt to learn more and try it out. in the hands of the engineer where they belong. ■

40 STRUCTURE magazine
Access and
Protection at
1,250 Feet F or many structural engineers, means and
methods represent a nebulous cloud of
scaffolding, shoring, cranes, and hoists that
is swept into a corner labeled “by others.”
In the traditional design-bid-build model,
the general contractor is responsible for the
design and coordination of all means and
methods—the combination of temporary
A collaborative means and methods structures, sequences, and methodologies that
design brought efficiency and safety to answer the “how to” of getting a design built.
A consequence of this model is that the
the reclad of the Empire State Building design of these temporary systems often
Floor 102 Observation deck. cascades down a chain of subcontractors and
By Robert Belardi, PE their various engineering consultants. This
presents obvious coordination challenges as
the responsibility for design moves farther
away from the owner and core design team
(AOR/EOR). Often, and especially with new
construction, coordination may center around
timing (demolish this, then build that) or
spatial considerations (the scaffold goes here,
the crane over there) that can be effectively
orchestrated by the general contractor.
However, working on existing buildings
requires a higher degree of coordinated
design, making the “too many cooks in
the kitchen” model inefficient at best and
unsafe at worst. When a project occurs at
extreme heights, such as on the 102nd floor
of the Empire State Building, the means and
methods design becomes crucial, requiring
an equal amount of time, energy, and
collaboration as the final design itself.
This was the case when the Empire
State Reality Trust embarked on a major
refresh of the 102nd floor observation
deck. The project, intended to enhance the
visitor experience, called for the complete
demolition of the existing envelope to make
way for new floor-to-ceiling glass panels
that would provide 360-degree views of
the Manhattan skyline. A design-assist
team consisting of Skanska USA, Plan B
Engineering, and Greg Beeche Logistics
(GBL) worked closely with the owner and
building EOR, Thorton Tomasetti, to design
and install an external access and enclosure
system, dubbed “the cocoon.”
Over 30 tons of temporary steel and

DECEMBER 2024 41
 An isolated rendering of the cocoon is shown with the actual constructed cocoon on the Empire State Building.

aluminum framing were assembled from custom, modular pieces the CCD-1 approval process.
at 1,250-plus feet above street level to create three exterior work • Minimize the number of reinforcements to the existing framing
platforms fully enclosed in high-strength fabric (galvanized steel required to support the temporary structure. A lesson learned
mesh embedded in a weather resistant fabric). Once completed, from previous projects at the Empire State Building was that
the cocoon provided a contained work area that was approved by reinforcements involved significant time and cost to design,
the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) as an alternate coordinate, permit, and install.
means of protection under Chapter 33 of the New York City • All modular pieces of the system had to fit in a small elevator that
Building Code, which governs pedestrian safety in occupied spaces was recently renovated for VIP guests. The maximum member
(Section 3307). This allowed the popular and lucrative 86th floor size was 8 feet long.
observation deck to remain open—a key mandate from ownership.
Underscoring the challenge of this temporary design was the fact Prior Precedent
that the installation and dismantling of the cocoon—permitted only The Tower Reconfiguration Project (TRP), a project previously
between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.—accounted for nearly two-thirds of the designed by Plan B , provided proof of concept for the construction of a
construction schedule. modular enclosure system at extreme heights. The TRP utilized triangular
truss sections wrapped in high strength fabric (the same material
eventually used for the cocoon) to create an enclosure and worker access
Early Planning to perform structural upgrades to the antenna spire. The TRP was located
Plan B was engaged by Skanska early in the planning process to at the base of the spire, just above the ice shield (a circular, umbrella-
envision an enclosure and access system that met the project needs. like steel bracket that provides a protective “awning” above the exterior
The system needed to: walkway on the 103rd floor). This enclosure was attached to the building
• Provide a solid weather and wind enclosure to execute the exterior at the ice shield and laterally tied to the antenna spire above, effectively
work. A wind tunnel study yielded design loads approaching 100 functioning like a ground-based supported scaffold, albeit at an extreme
psf (based on 50-year return period and a 1.15 importance factor). height. Compared to the TRP project, the observation deck enclosure
• Gain approval as an alternate means of protection through the did not offer such readily available attachment points. However, the
CCD-1 review process within the DOB. This required a months- TRP project did represent a proof of concept for the construction of a
long dialogue with city officials, which ultimately allowed for the modular enclosure system at extreme heights.
86th floor observatory to remain open without protection (i.e. a
sidewalk shed) covering the exterior viewing deck. Understanding Existing Conditions
• Provide two 25 psf live load platform levels and a “floor” rated for A laser scan conducted as part of the renovation documentation
300 psf, a new design requirement mandated by the DOB during provided an accurate baseline of the building’s geometry. Historic

42 STRUCTURE magazine
 site visits to better understand the framing. Removing the antennas
offered access to the building columns just below the work area—an
ideal lateral tie point at the floor of the cocoon. The phased removal of
the antennas was then integrated into the installation of the cocoon, a
benefit to ownership by streamlining the two projects into one.
Such early investigations and vetting of ideas provided vital clarity
for such a unique temporary design. Reducing the amount of design
and existing condition unknowns allowed Skanska to solicit more
accurate bids; and providing the specialty contractor with a viable
basis of design for resolving the vertical and lateral loads streamlined
the overall design development.

Access Limitations
A small elevator used to transport VIP guests between the 86th
and 102nd floors provided limited access to the work zone. This
dictated an 8-foot maximum member length, corresponding to
the diagonal clearance inside the elevator. From the 102nd floor,
all equipment and material had to be carried by hand up a ladder
to the 103rd floor. A hatch at the 103rd floor provided access to
the “roof ” of the building, the 104th floor, where the ice shield
is located. All workers at this level were harnessed and tied off to
pre-existing lifeline anchors on the ice shield. Additional radiation
protection was needed to ensure workers were not exposed to excess
radio wave energy from the active television and radio broadcast
antennas directly above.
On the 90th floor, at the base of the mooring mast spire, were four
small exterior platforms reinforced by Skanska and Plan B for the
previous mooring mast project. As with that project, the platforms
An electric winch, dubbed “the crab,” traverses a curved W8 track to rig up modular sections
of the cocoon enclosure.
were identified early on as the only feasible staging area for assembling
the cocoon. The north side platform was eventually modified into
structural drawings were useful but fragmented; over the years, the a partially enclosed “garage” with 8-foot-tall side walls, where the
building’s more utilitarian upper levels were modified with little or no cocoon modules were assembled and rigged up to the work area.
documentation. This necessitated multiple site visits, often in tight,
claustrophobic spaces, to fully document all existing conditions. Performance Drawings
Each face of the building showed slight variations, requiring close Recognizing the coordination and pricing hurdles early on,
attention when detailing the final system. Skanska engaged Plan B to develop performance drawings. The
purpose of these drawings was three-fold:
Ice Shield 1. Provide detailed information on the temporary enclosure that
A previous restoration of the mooring mast glazing utilized a was needed, including overall dimensions, work levels , site access
custom suspended scaffold hung from outriggers supported by limitations, etc., to solicit bids from specialty contractors.
the 104th floor ice shield. For that project, Plan B collaborated 2. Develop schematic level loads imposed for the vertical and
with Thorton Tomasetti to reinforce the ice shield framing and lateral attachment points to begin coordination with the EOR for
connections. The initial concept was to use this reinforced ice modifying/reinforcing the existing framing.
shield as the primary vertical support point for the cocoon. 3. Submit to the NYC-DOB, at the time known as the Building
Plan B developed early schematic design loads for this option. Enforcement Safety Team (BEST), to begin the permit, site safety
However, after presenting this concept to Thorton Tomasetti, it scopes and protection waiver (known as CCD-1) approval process.
was determined that the required reinforcements to the ice shield
were deemed uneconomical. A second option of attaching brackets Design Loads
directly to the existing columns just below the ice shield proved to A wind test was conducted by RWDI at its wind tunnel facility
be the more practical solution. in Guelph, Ontario. Peak positive wind pressure was 74 psf and
The reinforced ice shield was nonetheless vital to the overall peak negative was -92 psf. The high strength fabric supplied by
workplan. The upgraded ice shield incorporated modern OSHA HAKI was previously tested for the TRP enclosure at Florida
rated lifeline support points that were used during critical exterior International University’s Wall of Wind. It was found to resist real
work—most notably the removal of the Alford radio antennas and wind speeds up to 140 mph. At the time of the project, the 2014
installation of connections to the building columns. New York City Building Code modified the ASCE 7 wind speed
up to 98 mph (ASD).
Alford Antennas Keeping the 86th floor observation deck open to the public during
On the 102nd floor, a series of 32 Alford radio antennas (formerly the reclad project was a main priority for the owners. However, the
the largest combined FM station system in the world, circa 1965) construction variance approved by the city only applied to the completed
were scheduled for removal. Knowing these attachment points would cocoon system. This required the cocoon to be staged, assembled and
soon become available, the team conducted a series of probes and then disassembled between the hours of 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. to maintain

DECEMBER 2024 43
 public use of the observation deck during the day and evening. This track (ADT) kit of parts developed in-house. Plan B peer-reviewed
required modeling the structure in various forms of incompleteness to the final design package and collaborated with GBL engineers
ensure a proper envelope was developed for loads imposed and member and drafters during the design development. GBL’s high level of
forces. fabrication precision allowed engineers to collaborate with drafters
Construction loads included two platform levels rated for 25 psf to identify and resolve detailing and design issues in a design-build
and a floor rated for 300 psf to satisfy requirements of the protection style workflow.
variance granted by the DOB. A 23 psf snow load (adding 22 kips Once the design was completed, Plan B led the loads-imposed
to the model) was applied at the roof, and an ice analysis added review process with the Thorton Tomasetti and managed the
another 191 kips of vertical load. lengthy DOB approval process. Plan B also prepared the site safety
plan (SSP), which was tied directly to the previously mentioned
Final Concept approvals and variances.
The overall configuration of the cocoon consisted of 16 pairs (32
Greg Beeche Logistics (GBL) was chosen to furnish and install the total) of vertical trusses, composed of ADT chords and steel HSS
framework of the cocoon using its own modular aluminum double web members. These were assembled in modules on the 90th floor
platforms and connected to brackets bolted
to building columns on the 103rd floor.
Each module was an 8-foot-wide structural
bay consisting of two vertical trusses laced
together with bolted aluminum HSS3x3
web members to form a moment frame at
every other bay around the donut-shaped
structure (with the center of the donut
being the building itself ). The vertical truss

CONNECTION DESIGN web members were optimized by location

along the span to reduce weight as much
as possible.
Steel brackets on the 103rd floor were

AT ITS BEST field bolted to structural columns by

harnessed workers suspended from the ice
shield. The brackets supported a 3D space
frame composed of aluminum ADT chords
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and steel web members, with the top serving

as a catwalk platform to provide access to
tied- off workers around the exterior of
the 103rd floor. The bottom of the cocoon
contained another plan diaphragm and tie
points to building columns to resolve wind
loads. The overall assembly was considered
by designers to be a hybrid frame/truss plan
bracing system.

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for FREE The cocoon as seen from the 86th floor observation deck
is shown here. Floor 90 platforms can be seen at the base
of the mooring mast.

44 STRUCTURE magazine
 Each module provided two 2-feet 6-inch- installed, the 32 Alford antennas floors 102-
wide work levels rated at 25 psf, using 103 were removed by workers in suspended
moment-framed ADT brackets. Small 2-inch scaffold rigs. Again, the crab proved invaluable
to 4-inch aluminum HSS members laced the as it supplied a four-point suspended support
brackets together in plan to form intermediate for the work, with 360-degree access to the
diaphragms. Additional stiffness was provided façade. With the antennas removed, workers
by detailing nailers into the outriggers to fasten were able to access I6 (I-beam, 6 inches
0.5-inch BBOES plywood for the working deck. depth) vertical mullions that framed out the
A third work level was also provided at observation deck to provide a lower phase 2
the floor of the enclosure. During the DOB tie point for the cocoon.
approval process, the floor of the enclosure was The lower tie points (“receivers”) consisted
required to be rated for 300 psf, the protection of built-up plates clamped with custom
load then required for NYC sidewalk sheds for fabricated beam clamps to the existing I6
construction over 125 feet in height, under mullions that framed out the 102nd floor
2014 NYC Building Code. This required observation deck immediately above. Steel
further customization of the ADT system for HSS 3x2 ties with a hammerhead end fixture
the increased load rating. The floor was custom were then installed from the exterior through
cut to fit snug against the saw tooth profile of existing façade openings left from the Alford
the mooring mast glazing. antennas and connected with a single .75-inch
A compression ring with adjustable web members on Floor diameter bolt. These ties lateral restrained the
Enclosure Walls 102 was part of the phased construction. truss modules by providing support points for
The exterior cladding consisted of HAKI a horizontal diaphragm—essentially a circular
sheeting (PVC-coated polyester fabric) with trussed compression ring. The hammerhead end fixtures on the ties
an edge termination made of Keder beading wire sewn into the created moment connections at the main node points, with pinned
fabric. The beading was slotted into matching continuous aluminum truss web members spanning radially between ties. The truss web
tracks, which were restrained at 12 inches o/c vertically on the outer members consisted of 2-inch Sch 40 pipe struts with threaded end
flange of the inner ADT chord with laser cut plates. The plates fittings that allowed for effective field fit up.
worked with the vertical pins connecting the ADT truss pairs to
resist the catenary thrust of the HAKI fabric under wind loading. Cocoon Modules
Modules were assembled on 90th floor garage platform by first
103rd Floor building four separate vertical sections that were temporarily nested
The 103rd floor bracket, which supported 90% of the vertical together within the tight confines of the 90th floor platform walls.
loads, consisted of a combination of GBL’s modular ADT equipment The modules were then lifted using the crab and connected in top-
and custom steel brackets. The bracket connections were bolted down order. The modules were connected to the previously installed
directly to eight existing building columns around the perimeter of tie points at floor 103 via two 1-inch diameter pins and to each other
the building. Although field drilling bolt holes at 1,250-plus feet is via five 1-inch diameter x 24-inch long (vertically oriented) “module
not ideal, it was considered favorable over the logistics of executing interface pins” to create a double spine. EPDM rubber seals were
field welds and special inspections in such conditions . This led to an used at the gaps not filled by structure between the two spines).
emphasis on bolted detailing as much as possible. Once erected and tied in at floors 102 and 103, each module was a
The brackets supported a space frame designed as a plan fully independent structure that was stable independent of its yet-
diaphragm at the roof of the cocoon. Since the cocoon had 16 to-be installed neighboring modules.
vertical trusses but only eight building columns, the space frame
was designed to span in two directions to deliver vertical and lateral
loads directly to the building columns. As with the vertical trusses, Conclusion
the space frame consisted of aluminum ADT chords members and This was a project where means and methods were as critical as any
steel web members. facet of the new design. A collaborative effort allowed for the seamless
The top surface of the space frames created a 36-inch-wide catwalk removal of existing finishes, the installation of new glass panels and
for tied off worker access. A pair of W8x21 curved tracks sat on top the dismantling of the cocoon from above—all while keeping the
of the space frame to support “the crab”—an electric winch built of 86th floor observation deck operational throughout the project.
ADT modules that could reach out beyond the façade. Another rail The enclosure set an early precedent that paved the way for the
beam was underhung to the bottom of the space frame, supporting a Engineered Enclosure System (EES) provisions now in the 2022 New
small electric hoist used to move the new glass panels, weighing 450 York City Building Code. This system has quickly gained popularity
pounds each, into position. as a strategy to minimize intrusive adjacent property protections. ■
The crab’s primary purpose was to rig up modular sections of the
enclosure assembled at the 90th floor exterior platforms. To ensure
rigging stability, a mockup of the panels and crab was built to ensure
the rigging aligned with the center of gravity of the completed module. Robert Belardi, PE, is a 2011 Drexel University graduate in architectural
The motorized crab could traverse along the curved W8 tracks, engineering and a graduate of the SAHC program in Universidade do Minho,
providing 360-degree rigging capabilities essential for the project. Portugal. He has worked at Plan B Engineering a decade, designing a wide
range of access and stabilization systems for new and historic constructions.
Phased Construction
Once the 103rd floor brackets, space frame and crab were

DECEMBER 2024 45
 Architectural
Precast
Concrete
Facade
The coordination between design and construction
professionals stands as a cornerstone of successful
facade design and construction at the
Studio Museum in Harlem.
By Alexander Stephani, PE, Filippo Masetti, and Kevin Poulin

T he post-modern architecture of the new Studio Museum in

Harlem is both imposing and grand. Its modulated precast
concrete facades are interspersed with sleek, curtainwall
glazing. The intriguing exterior is designed to pique the
interest of visitors, beckoning them to enter and discover the museum’s
collection, as well as its artists in residence (Figs. 1 and 2).
The building is a six-story steel structure supported on a con-
crete mat foundation and clad with architectural precast concrete
panels of different sizes and shapes. The building was designed Fig. 1. The Studio Museum Harlem's facade on West 125th Street.
by Adjaye Associates in collaboration with Cooper Robertson.
Simpson Gumpertz and Heger Associates Inc., P.C. (SGH) was
the Structural Engineer of Record, and they collaborated with Design Process
consulting engineer Guy Nordenson and Associates (GNA). Sciame
Construction was the general contractor, and Beton Prefabrique A typical precast concrete facade includes several components, and
du Lac (BPDL) was the fabricator and specialty structural engineer their design is usually shared between the design team (owner, engineer
for architectural precast panels. The design and construction of the of record (EOR), and architect) and the construction team (general
intricate precast concrete facade required significant attention and contractor, specialty structural engineer (SSE), and precast fabricator).
extensive collaboration among the project team members. In addition, the design of architectural precast facades is typically itera-
This article focuses on the challenge of connecting the large pre- tive and often includes the following steps:
cast panels of varying geometries to the steel superstructure, while • Determine panel sizes, shapes, and locations.
controlling both vertical and lateral deflections, so that the size of • Establish required joint sizes and corresponding deflection criteria.
the panel joints are minimized. • Design spandrel framing.

46 STRUCTURE magazine
 the precast manufacturer to participate in a design-assist exercise right
after the completion of the construction documents. During this design-
assist phase, the design team and the precast facade manufacturer selected
a portion of the north elevation to develop typical connection details
to be used throughout the facade. The intent was to complete the
collaborative and iterative design process on a limited number of con-
nections and identify the “typical” issues that would be expected during
the coordination for the remainder of the connections. This exercise also
included the fabrication of a full-scale mockup of a section of the facade.
This mockup was invaluable, as it allowed the project team to evaluate
the facade design and to finalize decisions related to color, aggregate
size, panel geometry, and panel joints. From the mockup, we refined
the joint analysis and designed portions of the connections bridging the
panels and the base building structure. After the mockup, the project
team realized that the project would not feature “typical” connections
because of limitations on the size of the panels, complicated geometry
of the facade, and interior architectural constraints. The final design
would include more than 200 different connections of the panels to
the base building structure.

Joint Analysis
Precast facades usually consist of individual panel elements connected
to the building's structural framing. The gaps between the panels (joints)
are often filled with sealant to provide a weatherproof barrier and to
accommodate the anticipated movement of the structure without
panels bearing on each other and creating unintended load paths. For
the Studio Museum in Harlem, the design objective was to maintain
Fig. 2. The Studio Museum Harlem's facade on West 124th Street. joint sizes no larger than 3/4 inch and to align the precast joints with the
curtain wall glazing joints and with joints in interior finishes. This align-
• Determine lateral drifts of overall building under wind and seismic ment aimed for uniformity and harmony between the facade lines and
loading. interior spaces. Conventional sealants typically allow for a maximum
• Complete preliminary design of panels, including connections movement of 50% from the average joint size. Therefore, the typical
embedded into the panels and connections that bridge from the sealant in a 3/4 inch joint can expand up to 1 1/8 inch and compress down
panels to the base building structure. to 3/8 inch without failing.
• Analyze joint sizes. Despite the original target for joint size appearing manageable,
• Iterate until results are satisfactory. achieving this target posed significant challenges in the design of the
While facade connections are a crucial component of a building’s load base-building structure. The architecture required large open gallery
path, they are often delegated to specialty structural engineers, leading spaces, resulting in spans of 50 feet for several composite steel beams
to potential coordination challenges. Industry resources, including the supporting the facade panels. While building codes allow for a maxi-
Architectural Precast Concrete Manual (MNL-122) from the Precast/ mum live load deflection of L/360 for beams (which exceeds 1 5/8
Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), PCI Design Handbook (MNL- inch over a span of 50 feet), this large vertical deflection significantly
120), and American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Design impacted the joint size. Therefore, the team engaged in precise mod-
Guide 22: Facade Attachments to Steel-Framed Buildings, emphasize the eling of individual panels and their connections along the spandrel
paramount importance of coordination between the design team and beams to focus on the expected gravity deflections of the base building
the construction team. These documents stress the responsibility of the structure, facade movement, and ultimately joint size (Fig. 3). After
design team to provide clear guidance, delineate design responsibilities, the completion of the gravity analysis for the preliminary sizing of the
and review subcontractor submissions carefully. joints, the same modeling approach also allowed the design team to
For example, AISC Code of Standard Practice recognizes that confirm the adequacy of the preliminary joint size for the building’s
the delineation of responsibilities between EOR and SSE remains expected lateral drifts.
a challenge, particularly at connection points where facade compo-
nents interface with the primary structure. Furthermore, because
of myriad options for design delegation, the coordination and
communication between design and construction teams is essential.
By addressing potential areas of contention, design and construc-
tion teams can mitigate risks and ensure alignment with project
requirements.
Cognizant of the coordination challenges of a complicated precast
facade, the entire project team of the Studio Museum in Harlem began
design coordination early in the project. Specifically, the owner engaged Fig. 3. The effect of spandrel deflection on a panel joint is sketched out.

DECEMBER 2024 47
 Fig. 4. Precast support details shown for lateral (left) and gravity (right) connections.

Construction sequencing also played a pivotal role in the joint size

analysis. Depending on the construction sequence, deflections from the
self-weight of the structure , the self-weight of the facade, superimposed
loads from components other than the facade, live loads, snow loads,
wind loads, seismic loads, and rain loads needed careful consideration.
Given the ability to shim, level, and plumb the facade panels relatively
independently of the supporting structure, the joint analysis could
solely focus on the expected deflections occurring after the installation
and shimming of the panels. As such, the joint analysis did not need
to account for the deflections associated with the self-weight of the
structure and the facade panels. Finally, the joints were sealed after all
the other permanent deflections had taken place (e.g., associated with
superimposed dead loads of other building components). In the end,
after extensive work and several design iterations, the project team met
the general architectural vision of 3/4-inch-sized joints at most locations,
except a few panels featuring extreme geometry.
Fig. 5. Typical precast facade connections to base building structure. (Lateral type is on the
Precast Connection Design left, and gravity is on the right.)

Typically, precast panels are designed to be statically determinate,

with few connections per panel. Common types of precast connections
include gravity and lateral connections. Gravity connections usually
consist of concrete shear keys or embedded steel angles/plates protruding
from the back of the precast panel. These protrusions normally bear on
and are connected to steel spandrel beams or concrete slabs. As precast
connections often introduce eccentricities, the overturning from gravity
loads is typically resisted by lateral connections.
At the Studio Museum in Harlem, the gravity connections are con-
structed from hollow structural section (HSS) steel tube framing
connected to the spandrel beams. The lateral connections are adjust-
able in two directions and constructed from threaded rods in vertically
slotted tracks that are embedded into the precast panel and connected
to steel channels or angles with horizontally slotted holes. The channel
or angles are then welded to the spandrel beams, which are, in turn,
connected to the concrete diaphragm by shear studs (Figs. 4 and 5).
During the joint analysis, the project team spent significant time locat-
ing precast connection points to also avoid interference with curtain
wall connections, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems,
and architectural features.
The Studio Museum's articulated facade required unconventional
approaches to connection design to support the intricate reveals and
soffits in the limited space available. In specific scenarios, substantial Fig. 6. Details (top) and photo shown are of an underslung beam for a precast panel
box-shaped precast panels positioned below floor levels prompted the connection.

48 STRUCTURE magazine
 implementation of underslung outriggers to support the gravity con-
nections. These outriggers are designed to attach beneath the structural
steel framing while seamlessly integrating into the architectural ceiling
space, preserving programming integrity (Fig. 6).
In other scenarios, where spatial constraints are imposed both above
the slab (e.g., for architectural programming) and below the slab (e.g.,
for facade soffits), the project team needed to conceive alternative con-
nection designs. This design includes HSS tubes strategically positioned
within the slab's depth, connected to the top of the floor framing, and
horizontally extending out to support the panels (Fig. 7). Given the
geometrical constraints and the strength and stiffness requirements,
the project team considered the novel solution of HSS in-slab supports.
Where spatial constraints due to panel geometry were such that the
direct extension of outriggers was not feasible, the project team needed
another creative connection. This time, the approach includes “kinked”
HSS tubes, custom-designed to fit within the slab depth and curb
width (Fig. 8).
Fig. 7. Details (top) and photo (above) depict HSS outriggers within slab depth.

Conclusion
The coordination between design and construction professionals
stands as a cornerstone of a successful facade design and construction,
as it did for the Studio Museum in Harlem. By adhering to industry
standards, clarifying design responsibilities, and fostering effective
communication, design and construction teams can navigate the com-
plexities of facade construction with confidence and precision. After
countless hours, extensive coordination, and exceptional dedication,
the Studio Museum in Harlem’s team achieved the vision of creating
an iconic precast concrete facade worthy of the newly constructed
architectural marvel. ■

Alexander Stephani, PE, is a Structural Engineer with Simpson Gumpertz &

Heger (SGH), specializing in new design, repair and rehabilitation, and flood
resiliency design.

Filippo Masetti, PE, is an Associate Principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Inc. (SGH), specializing in the assessment, repair, and rehabilitation of existing
structures, as well as in the evaluation of unusual detailing in ground-up
construction.

Kevin Poulin, PE, is a Principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH),
specializing in the restoration and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, as
well as the design of new spaces for arts and culture.
Fig. 8. An HSS kinked beam is shown in detail and image.

DECEMBER 2024 49
 SE NEWS
Sentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State
Park to be Upgraded
T he New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation team, OPRHP determined that a full replacement of the Sentry Bridge
(OPRHP) has revealed the design of a new signature footbridge at the was needed to address the unstable rock conditions within the gorge.
entrance of Watkins Glen State Park. Designed by a team led by the New Given the poor condition of the southern abutment, it was important to
York-based studios of schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) and Snøhetta, find a solution where more of the bridge’s load could be carried by the
the new Sentry Bridge will replace a historic concrete arch structure with more stable northern abutment. Under normal conditions, the bridge is
stone veneer cladding created in 1908. It will be the most recent structure designed as a single-span girder supported by both abutments. However,
in a century-long tradition of pedestrian bridges, in the case of a failure at the southern abutment,
tunnels, trails, and lookouts along the popular, the bridge can act as a cantilever, supporting itself
waterfall-filled Gorge Trail. solely on the north abutment. The site and user
The new Sentry Bridge design is a lightweight circulation will also be enhanced with a renova-
evolution of the former arch bridge. The stron- tion of the north tunnel that leads to the bridge
ger rock of the gorge’s north side will support and the spiral tunnel located further down the
its stainless-steel structure as it spans across the trail, a reconfiguration of the bridge’s southern
gorge with a total length of 46 feet, creating a landing, and a new, indirect lighting design to
new durable emblem for the park. Alluding to highlight the bridge’s silhouette.

Image credit: © sbp/Snøhetta/PLOMP

the curved form of the previous bridge, the half- Construction sequencing for the bridge was also
arch design disappears behind the rocks, leading considered early in the design process due to the
visitors into the park’s mystical Gorge Trail that bridge’s difficult to access location. The bridge will
lies beyond. be fabricated entirely off site and lifted into place
Although the existing bridge has become a in one piece, allowing for a shorter construction
symbol of the park, time and harsh weather have duration and less disturbance to the ecologically
worn away its supporting abutments; a 2022 sensitive site.
inspection of the Sentry Bridge found that ero- Demolition of the existing bridge and construc-
sion at the stone abutments had significantly tion of the new Sentry Bridge will commence in
compromised its structural integrity. After care- the summer of 2025, with opening of the bridge
The half-arch design of the new bridge alludes to the
fully studying the site conditions with the design curved form of the previous bridge. anticipated prior to July 4, 2026. ■

Hampden-Sydney College Gives 19th

Century Gem a 21st Century Restoration
O n October 24, Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia held the
rededication of Venable Hall. The second-oldest building on the
campus, Venable is an architectural and engineering treasure constructed
by Jeffersonian-trained masons and enslaved labor between 1824 and 1831.
Built in two phases, the building comprises a unique timeline of the
architectural and engineering advances that occurred in the eight-year span
between the beginning of phase one and phase two of Venable’s construc-
tion. The east end of the building, known as Stagger Inn, is constructed of
roughly hewn, handmade bricks with wide masonry joints with an oxide
stain and white pencil lines to give the appearance of straightness and
uniformity and hand-made nails in the original heart pine floors evoking
Photo by Zach Bettis

a truly Colonial feel. The center and western portions, known as Tortilla
and West End respectively, feature refined bricks uniform in color and
shape, thinner joints, and machine-pressed nails. The Schoelkopf Parents
and Friends Lounge, situated in West End, is a two-story, 40 feet by 40
feet room with a double corridor and student rooms on top of it, requiring Hampden-Sydney President Larry Stimpert addresses the attendees of the rededication of
an impressive feat of engineering for the time to make structurally sound Venable Hall in the Schoellkopf Family and Friends Lounge.
then and for the 200 years in which it’s been in use. ■

50 STRUCTURE magazine
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 NCSEA News

Summit attendees stop by exhibitor booths between education sessions in Las Vegas this November.

High Attendance, Inspiring Moments Define the 2024

NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit
T he 2024 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit drew more
than 1,000 attendees to Las Vegas from November 5-8, marking
another successful gathering for the structural engineering community.
in Structural Engineering Scholarships.
With this success, NCSEA is already gearing up for next year’s
Summit in New York City, scheduled for October 14-17, 2025. We
This year’s event delivered a dynamic blend of education, network- look forward to another opportunity to connect, learn, and advance
ing, exhibits, and celebrations, creating an inspiring experience for the structural engineering profession.
all participants.
The Summit featured powerful keynote presentations that captivated
attendees, including Glenn R. Bell’s insights on the Champlain Towers
South partial collapse investigation, KP Reddy’s panel discussion on
AI’s impact on the profession, and Henna Pryor’s energizing session
on embracing individual strengths.
The exhibit hall was bustling with innovative displays, offering
hands-on experiences with the latest tools, technologies, and services
shaping the industry. Attendees also had the opportunity to earn
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) through a broad range of
educational sessions exploring the newest advancements and strategies
in structural engineering.
This year’s event also celebrated the profession’s best and brightest,
with recognition of the 2024 SEE Award winners, along with NCSEA The NCSEA Summit closed with a keynote presentation from Glenn Bell on the NIST’s
Special Awards, Young Member Group Scholarships, and Diversity National Construction Safety Team’s investigation of the Champlain Towers South Partial
Collapse.

52 STRUCTURE magazine
 News from the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations
Announcing the 2025
Structural Engineering
Executive Retreat
NCSEA is excited to announce the 2025 Structural Engineering
Executive Retreat, designed exclusively for firm leaders looking to
gain fresh business insights and elevate their companies. Held at the
luxurious Solage Auberge Resort in Napa Valley, this three-day event
offers a unique opportunity to focus on strategic growth, leadership
development, and future-proofing your firm.
Through interactive sessions and discussions with industry experts
and fellow executives, attendees will explore practical strategies to
ensure long-term growth, improve firm performance, and strengthen
leadership skills. It’s the perfect setting to step beyond daily demands,
share ideas, shape a forward-looking vision, and return with actionable
insights to guide your firm into the future.
The 2025 Structural Engineering Executive Retreat is March 5-7.
Space is limited—secure your spot at www.ncsea.com.

NCSEA Launches SE GPT, a Free AI-

Powered Tool for Structural Engineers
NCSEA is proud to announce the launch of SE GPT, a ground- provided by vetted professionals and
breaking, free application designed to provide structural engineers organizations supporting structural engineering.
with quick and reliable access to essential information. Engineers can access SE GPT to streamline research, enhance
Powered by a closed GPT database, SE GPT delivers automati- project efficiency, and stay up-to-date with the latest insights from
cally generated responses based on content curated specifically for across the profession—all in one convenient platform.
the structural engineering profession. The tool draws from trusted For more information and to start using SE GPT visit
resources, including transcripts of NCSEA webinars, an extensive www.ncsea.com or launch the website directly at
archive of STRUCTURE magazine articles, and additional materials https://gpt-ncsea.amatrium.com.

NCSEA Foundation Awards SEA Grants to Support

Structural Engineering Initiatives
The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) • SEAC (Colorado): Mental Health Workshop for Firm Leadership
Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 SEA • SEAoT (Texas): Developing Two Student Chapters
Grants. This year, $10,000 in grant funding will support six Structural • SEAWI (Wisconsin): Young Member Group Support
Engineers Associations (SEAs) in launching or enhancing initiatives • SEAOSD (San Diego): Seismic Outreach Program
that advance the structural engineering profession. • SEAOSC (Southern California): Student Member to Active
The SEA Grant Program, funded by the NCSEA Foundation, Member Conversion
assists SEAs in expanding their reach through innovative initiatives. Each SEA will receive funding ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to
The grants provide crucial support for programs that align with support the development and implementation of their projects.
the Foundation’s mission of advancing the science and practice of Grant applications were evaluated by a subcommittee of the NCSEA
structural engineering. Foundation Board of Directors. Final selections were approved by the
This year’s grant recipients and their projects are: full Foundation Board. For more information about the SEA Grant
• SEANM (New Mexico): SEANM Volunteer Mentoring Program Program or the NCSEA Foundation, visit www.ncsea.com/foundation.

DECEMBER 2024 53
 SEI Update
CROSS-US
Mark Your Calendars: First The Collaborative Reporting for Safer • improper modeling of concrete frame
Structures US (CROSS-US) System has buildings for analysis during construction.
Structural Engineering identified the following industry trends/ The above listed items indicate that post-
concerns regarding Concrete based upon pro- design evaluation and performance of
Sustainability Symposium vided reporting from within the U.S. as well structural systems have identified that cur-
in North America as its from partners in the United Kingdom
(CROSS-UK) and Australia (CROSS-AUS)]:
rent structural design modeling programs and
methods for concrete and masonry may fail
On Feb. 5, 2025, we invite you to attend a • sufficiency of finite element modeling to accurately identify/predict loading require-
free, virtual, half-day event to discuss practi- of masonry walls within concrete framed ments. Additionally, reviews have identified
cal steps that can be taken immediately to buildings. concerns regarding structural failures of false-
meaningfully reduce the carbon impacts • underestimation of bending moments work and/or formwork during construction
of the built environment. An aspirational in perimeter columns. and corrosion related to existing bridge ele-
and practical conversation with structural • buildings containing reinforced aerated ments. To read more about these topics, access
engineers, carbon and climate experts, and autoclaved concrete (RAAC) planks. published newsletters and safety reports as well
industry advocates – the symposium will go structural failures of cantilevered parapet as learn about the reporting process, please visit
beyond Sustainability 101 and feature lessons falsework. https://www.cross-safety.org/us.
learned, best practices, and case studies as well • corrosion of elements of a pedestrian CROSS US is also seeking passionate
as SEI resources. Discussions will include bridge. professionals to collaborate on our mission
demystifying LCA, smart material procure- • 2D finite element modeling of pile by serving as Members or Corresponding
ment, circular construction successes, and caps; structural resonance within build- Members on one of our three subcommittees.
more. Join us to gain practical strategies that ing floors of commercial gyms. Apply here: go.asce.org/applycrossus.
can be implemented today wherever you are
in your sustainability expertise journey! SEI Performance Based Design Committee is seeking new members. The committee
Sign up to learn more: asceforms.wufoo. is charged to pursue and advance performance-based principles along with engaging,
com/forms/seistructural-engineering-sustain- educating and encouraging stakeholders to adopt these principles.
ability-symposium/. Apply to this committee: go.asce.org/sei-committees.

54 STRUCTURE magazine
 News of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

SEI Futures Fund Calling All Young Professionals and

Consider donating to the SEI Futures Fund to make a lasting impact
on the careers of aspiring engineers. Your support helps provide valu-
Students
able opportunities like the ones shared by past scholarship recipients: Don’t miss your chance to apply for the prestigious Structures
Congress Scholarships! Current SEI membership is required
for all scholarships.
SEI Student Scholarship: This scholarship supports full-time
undergraduate or graduate students in civil engineering or
related fields, providing the opportunity to attend Structures
Congress. First-time Structures Congress attendees only.
SEI Young Professional Scholarship: This scholarship pro-
motes active engagement with SEI for young professionals (35
and under) in industry or academia. Additionally, up to five
scholarships are available for full-time teaching faculty up to
age 40. Eligibility requirements include a one-time award limit
per recipient, and the scholarship is not open to students.
SEI Future Leader Scholarship: Supporting both students
and young professionals, this scholarship develops leader-
ship and technical communication skills through mentorship
and participation in the “Meet the Future of Structural
Engineering” session at Structures Congress. You are reliable
if you are Interested in presenting at the session. Preference
given to previous scholarship recipients or past Structures
Congress attendees. Recipients are paired with SEI mentors
for presentation preparation and networking
Deadline to apply for scholarships: January 3, 2025.
Apply: www.structurescongress.org/program/scholarships

Learn more about the fund and donate: go.asce.org/seifuturesfund

DECEMBER 2024 55
 CASE in Point
ACEC Winter Coalition Meeting
February 25-26, 2025
Phoenix, AZ
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
122 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
The 2025 Coalitions Winter Meeting brings together ACEC’s coalition members to discuss strategic initiatives and industry challenges
for the year ahead. This year’s Winter Meeting will highlight sustainability efforts and the industry and is a change for the CASE Executive
Committee (ExCom) and its subcommittees to work on this year’s publication and education initiatives for CASE members. This gather-
ing provides a valuable opportunity for coalition leaders and attendees to collaborate on solutions impacting the engineering profession.
The ACEC Winter Coalition Meeting is open to everyone. To register for this event Register at www.acec.org/education-events/events/
coalitions-winter-meeting/.

Navigating BIM and Digital Twins: Standards, Reality Capture, Existing

Conditions and Collaboration Across the Lifecycle, presented by ACEC’s
Coalition of Professional Surveyors (COPS)and USIBD
January 14, 2025, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Eastern Time
Online – Attendees earn 1 PDH
Register: www.acec.org/events/
This education session on BIM is hosted by the ACEC COPS Coalition and USIBD will focus on standardizing and optimizing building
documentation practices across project stages, from design to completion. The session will address developing best practices, ensuring high-
quality documentation, maintaining ethical standards, and supporting the collaboration between professionals like architects, engineers,
and surveyors. The session is a must for professionals seeking to enhance documentation quality, efficiency, and cross-team coordination.
For more on USIBD’s mission, visit https://usibd.org/about-us/.

Special Congratulations to our 2024 Scholarship

Winner: Alyson McGuire
Alyson McGuire attends George Mason University and was granted $6,500 CASE Scholarship to further her career in Structural Engineering.

Support the Future of Structural Engineering: Donate to the CASE Scholarship Fund

The CASE Scholarship Fund is more than just financial support; it’s an investment in the next generation
of structural engineers who will shape the built environment and drive innovation forward. Each year,
CASE provides scholarships to dedicated students working toward a career in engineering, empowering
them to pursue their education and make meaningful contributions to the industry.
Your donation—no matter the amount—can have a lasting impact. It helps cover tuition, supports
students’ access to critical resources, and ultimately brings talented, enthusiastic new professionals into
the field. Let’s ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of their potential.
Join us in building a stronger, more resilient future by contributing to the CASE Scholarship Fund
today. Together, we can make a difference! Below is a QR code for you to make your donation today.
Please remember to select the CASE Scholarship Fund when contributing. Thank you for your support!

Now more than ever we need to support the

upcoming generation of the workforce.
Give to the CASE Scholarship today!
56 STRUCTURE magazine
 News of the Coalition of American Structural Engineers

CASE Publications
Be sure to explore the latest CASE publications. If you’re not a CASE
member, don’t forget to use your discount code, NCSEASEI2022,
to save on your purchase.

(Newly Added!) Tool 4-8: Email Best

Practices
Clear and descriptive subject lines are essential for effective email com-
munication. Conciseness and directness enhance readability, making
short paragraphs and bullet points valuable tools. Personalization and
specific calls to action can significantly improve engagement, while
proofreading ensures professionalism.

Tool 2-8: Making Remote Work

Flexible work schedules and remote work options have become a top priority for employees today. Many companies are adapting to this
shift and seeking long-term solutions, particularly in structural engineering, where finding qualified candidates is becoming more difficult.
By expanding candidate pools beyond local offices, companies can attract quality hires. However, this shift also presents challenges related
to business operations, insurance, IT and security, productivity, training, and company culture. Tool 2-8 provides guidance on navigating
these challenges effectively

Tool 3-7: Succession Planning

Succession planning is a key aspect of talent management. It includes training, career planning, and replacement strategies. Effective suc-
cession planning helps organizations manage talent scarcity, identify skill gaps, promote knowledge transfer, boost employee morale, and
build a robust skill set.

Tool 5-7: Best Practices for Analysis and Design Software

This tool provides guidelines for verifying analysis and design software results, focusing on linear elastic structures and small deformation/
small strain analysis, which are prevalent in design work.

White Paper: Teaming Agreements

Teaming agreements are essential for joint projects between contractors, design professionals, and structural engineers. These agreements
outline the roles of parties before contract award and are often used in design-build projects. This commentary reviews standard teaming
agreements from various organizations, including:
• AIA: Contract C102-2015
• EJCDC: Contracts D-580 and E-580
• DBIA: Contract No. 580
• Consensus Docs: Contracts 296 and 498

You can purchase these and other CASE Publications at CASE Resources
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DECEMBER 2024 57
 business PRACTICES
The Arizona Board of Technical
Registration Sunset Debacle
By Carl Josephson, PE, SE

O n June 14, 2024, one day before the Arizona legislature was
scheduled to adjourn, Arizona House Bill 2091 passed, and the
Arizona Board of Technical Registration (AZBTR or the Board) was
Politics at Play

The balance between Democrats and Republicans in the Arizona

continued for another six years and is now scheduled to terminate on legislature is on a razor’s edge with Republicans holding a majority
July 1, 2030. However, the Board is now only allowed to investigate in both chambers while the Arizona Governor is a Democrat. The
and take disciplinary or enforcement action resulting from a complaint Freedom Caucus is the leading group in Republican politics in Arizona.
if the complainant either: 1) has or had a contractual relations with the The Senate has not been confirming many of the Governor’s appoint-
person who is the subject of the complaint at the time of the complaint, ments, creating a tense, acrimonious, and litigious atmosphere. Further
or 2) was harmed by the alleged misconduct or witnessed the outcome complicating matters, the husband of one of the members of the Senate
of the misconduct during the course of that person’s contractual duties Government Committee is a home inspector who ran afoul of the
with complainants. AZBTR and received a letter of reprimand in January 2024. Also, the
How did the AZBTR get into this situation? What is the significance? chair of the Senate Government Committee is under indictment for
Does this truly protect the public from incompetent or negligent his participation in Arizona’s “fake electors” scheme.
practice? What can we learn from Arizona’s experience, and how can
we avoid it? What Would Have Happened If the Board “Sunset”?
The Arizona State Board of Registration was established in 1921, and
in 1936, it became the Board of Technical Registration. The AZBTR, Ending the board would have thrown the design and construction
which is made up of 11 members (five professionals and six public industry, if not the Arizona economy, into complete disarray. According
members, all appointed by the Governor), regulates the professions to AZBTR staff, if the board were to have dissolved, all licenses would
of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, have become null and void, expired or not. It would not have been pos-
geology, home inspection, and the alarm industry. sible for Arizona engineers to transmit their Arizona records to other states
and to get licensed in other states by reciprocity. There would have been
Sunset Review and Legislation no enforcement for unlicensed practice, and there would have been no
investigation or disciplinary or enforcement actions taken against negligent
The last Sunset Review of the AZBTR took place in 2016, and the or incompetent practice.
board was continued until July 1, 2024. In 2023, the AZBTR prepared Most practicing professionals were not aware that this drama was playing
its response to the most recent Sunset Audit—a 49-page document that out in Arizona at the time. The refusal to agendize the continuation bill
is available online. House Bill 2253 was introduced in January 2024 that came with little notice or fanfare. The proposal to make it more difficult
would have simply continued the AZBTR for eight years until July 1, for the Board to investigate, discipline, or take enforcement actions was
2032. The bill passed easily through the House Commerce Committee not subject to any hearings or public review. This flurry of activity and
and was passed by the House with a vote of 46-10. legislation all came at the last minute. By the time SEI/ASCE, NCSEA,
In February, the bill continued on to the Senate and was sent to and CASE/ACEC were put on notice and began to respond, the die was
the Senate Government Committee of Reference, which refused to cast, and the resulting legislation had already been approved. Enforcement
agendize it. On March 21, 2024, the Senate Government Committee is now limited because of who is allowed to make a complaint. The AZBTR
proposed a “striker bill,” HB 2632, that would have continued the is still trying to interpret the meaning of the new language in the law.
board for only two years and would have stripped it of its ability to
discipline many of its registrants. On May 14, 2024, an amendment What Can We Do to Avoid This in the Future?
to HB 2632 was introduced that would have continued the board for
eight years without the proposed changes, but it failed. The Arizona Our legislative committees need to be active and nimble in states
Legislature was scheduled to adjourn on June 15, 2024, and it was as well as at a national level. We need members to be familiar with
too late to introduce new legislation. At that point, the Arizona and known by their local representatives. We need to let our repre-
BTR was scheduled to end on July 1, 2024. Republican members of sentatives know how important it is to ensure we have qualified and
the Government Senate Committee said the Board was too heavy- ethical licensees; when they are not, they need to be reprimanded and
handed and believed that online reviews such as Yelp or Google disciplined. We need experienced and responsible members to take
would be adequate enough for consumers to decide if a professional the time and effort to serve on their licensing boards. Ideally, and as
was trustworthy. difficult as it may be for us to imagine, we need to elect engineers to
On June 14, one day before the Arizona legislature adjourned, a floor serve in our legislatures. ■
amendment to HB 2091 was passed to continue the AZBTR for six
years not eight, with the restrictions mentioned at the beginning of Carl Josephson, PE, SE is a Senior Principal with Josephson-Werdowatz &
this article. The bill was transmitted to the House and then to the Associates in San Diego and is the Chair of the Structural Engineering Licensure
Governor, who signed it on June 18, 2024. Coalition. www.selicensure.org

58 STRUCTURE magazine
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