Earthquakes are a constant threat in California. “The Big One” can hit anytime, and cause severe damage to vulnerable apartment buildings, along with death and injuries.
Apartment buildings with a “soft-story” are particularly at-risk of earthquake damage. Soft-story buildings usually have a large, open ground floor space like a parking area, […]
OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
March 2024 NEWSLETTER
Reflecting on the Nisqually Earthquake Anniversary: A Reminder for Earthquake Preparedness
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
Reflecting on the Nisqually Earthquake Anniversary: On February […]
California has an average of about 21 earthquakes per day, 150 quakes per week, 7,750 a year.
Most are too small to be noticed, yet our state sees more seismic activity than virtually any other place in the world. California also experiences more earthquake damage than other parts of the U.S. […]
Balconies are a significant draw for apartment renters, particularly in places with great weather like San Diego – considered one of the best climates on Earth. Balconies, decks and elevated walkways are a valuable amenity in Southern California’s multifamily real estate market — popular with renters for providing easy access […]
There are few remaining survivors of the infamous 1933 Long Beach Earthquake, but Poly High School remains a storied reminder of that tragedy: the timing of which – at 5:56 p.m. – saved the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children because classes were not in session.
This month marks […]
The ABCs Of Earthquakes And Seismic Engineering
Most Californians have experienced earthquakes. There are the large ones – sudden, jarring jolts followed by more strong shaking that can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Farther away, these feel like a gentle “bump,” often followed by more rolling […]
OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
February 2024 NEWSLETTER
Reflecting on the devastating earthquake in Turkey that occurred one year ago
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
How would a massive earthquake impact California’s housing shortage?
The answer is obvious. A major earthquake that hits densely-populated urban areas would make California’s housing shortage much worse.
Such an earthquake could take a heavy toll on California’s affordable housing supply, particularly the older, soft-story apartment buildings that are most at-risk of […]
Let’s talk business. When the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Van Nuys suffered significant damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the company invested $11 million in retrofitting structures on site to withstand the next major temblor – which came in 1994 with the Northridge earthquake. Even though the brewery was located just […]
Every building is different, and the approaches to safeguarding a structure against earthquake damage are incredibly diverse.
Yet in spite of these differences, there are some similarities in retrofit approaches based on building type – one of the most common being wood-framed, soft-story structures.
These apartment buildings, characterized by open parking on […]
