Ali Sahabi, GEC

About Ali Sahabi

Recently appointed to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ Transition Team, Ali Sahabi, previously received the California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for taking a sustainable approach toward community development and environmental restoration in the 543-acre Dos Lagos mixed-use development in Corona, CA. A licensed General Engineering Contractor (GEC), Sahabi is an expert in building resilience and sustainability. He is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Optimum Seismic, Inc., which has completed more than 3,500 structural retrofit and adaptive reuse projects for multifamily residential, commercial, and industrial buildings throughout California. Contact Optimum Seismic at 323 978-7664 or visit optimumseismic.com to learn more about your adaptive reuse options for your building.
1 November, 2025

Protecting Apartments, Preserving Value: Earthquake Readiness Matters

By |2025-11-20T23:37:55+00:00November 1st, 2025|AAGLA, Apartment Building, Apartment Buildings Earthquake Safety, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Retrofits, Soft Story Seismic Retrofit|

Research studies that followed point to Ridgecrest as the impetus of successive ground-shaking that may create a chain reaction from one fault to the next, until it reaches the San Andreas.

Spanning 750 miles along the coast of California from the Salton Sea to Eureka, the San Andreas Fault is cocked […]

7 October, 2025

ShakeOut 2025: Preparing People and Protecting Buildings

By |2025-10-07T19:39:36+00:00October 7th, 2025|Seismic Waves|

OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.

October 2025 NEWSLETTER

ShakeOut 2025: Preparing People and Protecting Buildings

Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Mark your calendars for International ShakeOut Day on Thursday, […]

3 October, 2025

Greater Los Angeles Ranked Most At-Risk Region For Earthquake Damage

By |2025-10-07T20:34:40+00:00October 3rd, 2025|AAGLA, earthquake damage, Earthquake Risk, Earthquake Safety|

Californians are no strangers to seismic activity. The state’s high earthquake risk stems from the complex network of active fault lines running beneath our communities, making areas like Greater Los Angeles especially vulnerable.

The closer you are to a fault, the more likely you are to be impacted by seismic activity. […]

2 October, 2025

Preparing For The Big One: Why Seismic Retrofitting Matters For Soft-Story Buildings

By |2025-10-07T20:29:32+00:00October 2nd, 2025|SDCAA, Seismic Resilience, Seismic Retrofit, Soft Story Seismic Retrofit|

As recent earthquakes across California have reminded residents, preparation for a major seismic event is crucial. Communities from El Centro to Morgan Hill have felt the earth’s tremors, underscoring the need for comprehensive earthquake readiness. For those living in soft-story apartment buildings, seismic retrofitting is a vital part of this […]

1 October, 2025

Enhance Your Apartment Building’s Earthquake Safety

By |2025-10-07T20:30:38+00:00October 1st, 2025|AAOC, Apartment Building, Apartment Buildings Earthquake Safety, apartments seismic retrofit|

Many older apartment buildings do not meet current earthquake safety standards and often lack the modern amenities tenants seek. If your building was constructed before the mid-1970s, upgrading both its structural safety and interior design is highly recommended.

Seismic Upgrades with Modern Enhancements

Optimum Seismic, Inc. specializes in making these upgrades seamless. […]

4 September, 2025

Could Your Building Be Red-Tagged After the Next Quake?

By |2025-10-07T20:18:50+00:00September 4th, 2025|AAOC, Earthquake Risk, Earthquake Safety|

Nobody knows exactly where or when the next major earthquake will strike, but we do know that quakes are inevitable in California and many other states.

It’s also clear what types of buildings will likely suffer the most damage from seismic shaking.

Beyond these basic points, it’s always best to assess your […]

3 September, 2025

Will the Big One Worsen California’s Homelessness Crisis?

By |2025-10-07T20:14:45+00:00September 3rd, 2025|AACSC, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Risk, Earthquakes|

How would a major earthquake impact California’s growing homeless population?

In 2019, the number of people in the state without homes grew by more than 21,300 people, or 16.4% — more than all other states in the nation combined — the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.  It rose […]

2 September, 2025

Dispelling Myths About Earthquakes and Retrofits

By |2025-10-07T20:07:21+00:00September 2nd, 2025|Earthquake Retrofit, Earthquake Retrofits, Earthquake Safety, Earthquakes, SDCAA|

For as long as earthquakes have shaken the ground, they’ve sparked fear, uncertainty, and even superstition. In ancient times, many believed these powerful events were caused by angry gods, mythical giants, or enormous creatures hidden beneath the earth. The Japanese believed a giant catfish living at the bottom of the […]

1 September, 2025

The Basics of Earthquakes and Seismic Safety

By |2025-10-07T20:01:53+00:00September 1st, 2025|AAGLA, Earthquake Safety, Seismic Safety|

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 shaking.[i]

When a small quake strikes nearby, […]

4 August, 2025

Retrofits Reduce Tenant Impacts, Preserve Rental Income

By |2025-09-05T20:08:46+00:00August 4th, 2025|AACSC, Tenant Habitability Process, tenant occupied seismic retrofit|

Apartment owners faced with any major renovation, repair or alteration of their building are often concerned with the impacts construction could have on their tenants — and whether the work will require added expenses.

These extra costs can include paying for additional precautions to minimize impacts, establishing alternative parking when assigned […]

Go to Top