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2 May, 2023

Upstaged by pirates and ice cream, building safety matters, too

By |2023-05-16T17:08:40+00:00May 2nd, 2023|Building Safety, Buildings Resilience, SDCAA|

Happy Building Safety Month! This low-profile observance, an international celebration of safe and sound structures, rarely gets noticed outside of the industry. It’s the unsung understudy to causes nearer and dearer to people’s hearts like ice cream, talking like pirates, even Ferris wheels.

Yet buildings play an ever-present and vital role […]

1 May, 2023

Does your apartment building pass the 80% test?

By |2023-05-16T17:03:21+00:00May 1st, 2023|AAGLA, Earthquake Retrofit, Earthquake Retrofit Benefits, Earthquake Risk, Seismic Resilience|

Real estate trends are fueled by popular opinion. Wood paneling and shag carpet have long since made way for today’s bright walls and wood-style flooring. Functionality has changed as well, with tenants demanding larger open spaces, natural light, and now — seismic safety.

A whopping 80% of Los Angeles residents support […]

4 April, 2023

Is your apartment building at risk in an earthquake?

By |2023-04-26T17:02:31+00:00April 4th, 2023|AAOC, Earthquake Protection, Earthquake Resilience, Soft Story Seismic Retrofit|

Nobody knows where or when the next major earthquake will strike. And while there is clear evidence about what types of buildings are most likely to suffer damage from seismic shaking, it’s always best to know your risks by having your apartment building inspected to identify its own unique strengths […]

3 April, 2023

Historic airport terminal slated for retrofit and upgrades

By |2023-04-21T21:10:05+00:00April 3rd, 2023|AACSC, Seismic Retrofit|

The storied saga of the Long Beach Airport terminal is destined to live on for generations to come, thanks to a yearlong building renovation that includes a variety of improvements and much-needed seismic retrofitting.

Original Art Deco designs will be restored – including a mosaic masterwork by artist Grace Clements, […]

2 April, 2023

Be prepared for the earthquake beast!

By |2023-04-26T16:59:34+00:00April 2nd, 2023|earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Protection, SDCAA|

Before the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, many Californians felt confident that they knew enough about earthquakes. But after 50,000 people died in these quakes, many people are asking a straight forward question: “Can similar earthquakes happen in San Diego or other areas of California?”

Experts offer a short answer. […]

1 April, 2023

Earthquake disaster shows importance of L.A.’s nonductile concrete retrofit law

By |2023-04-26T17:06:38+00:00April 1st, 2023|AAGLA, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Protection, Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings, Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings Retrofit|

We were all shaken by reports of February’s earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria.  Nearly 50,000 were confirmed dead, and at least 164,000 buildings collapsed or were so badly damaged they need to be demolished. From the comfort of our homes, it’s easy to think we are immune to such […]

1 April, 2023

Federal study dives deep into earthquake resilience and economics

By |2023-05-02T15:30:08+00:00April 1st, 2023|Earthquake Resilience, Earthquake Retrofit|

What do earthquakes and building safety have to do with the economy? A new federal study is doing a thorough analysis of this topic, identifying a framework of codes and standards to protect not just lives but livelihoods in the face of earthquake disaster.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, […]

4 March, 2023

How much do you know about earthquakes?

By |2023-03-17T17:49:45+00:00March 4th, 2023|earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Resilience, SDCAA|

Californians are all too familiar with earthquakes. But how much do we really know about the risks they present to us? Understanding these threats is important, particularly when buildings are essential to your livelihood. Wonder how much you really know? Try taking this little quiz, for starters.

  1. What is the most […]
3 March, 2023

Is L.A. Ready for a $250 billion earthquake disaster?

By |2023-03-17T17:36:50+00:00March 3rd, 2023|AAGLA, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Resilience, Seismic Resilience, Seismic Retrofit|

Los Angeles County suffered more than $100 million in damage to public property from the barrage of fierce atmospheric river storms that battered the state in early 2023. Costs associated with that damage include debris removal, road and bridge repair and flood damage to buildings – including a sink hole […]

3 March, 2023

Building reuse offers environmental and earthquake-safety benefits, and reduces costs

By |2023-03-10T20:58:50+00:00March 3rd, 2023|Adaptive Reuse, Carbon Footprint Reduction|

Many building professionals and professional organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council, have come to believe that building reuse and adaptive reuse are positive steps toward achieving LEED certification for a building.[i]

These beliefs are based on numerous studies and ample evidence that reuse, renovation, and adaptive reuse are […]

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