A number of Southern California cities have adopted seismic retrofit requirements that go beyond the earthquake retrofit ordinance passed by Los Angeles in 2015.
These cities are ordering vulnerable “steel moment frame” buildings to be upgraded.
A popular type of construction in which a building’s skeleton is made of steel beams and […]
Asking “what’s the worst thing that could happen” is the best way for apartment owners to begin preparing to prevent costly earthquake losses that could lead to bankruptcy.
Imagine you wake up tomorrow to terrible shaking. Within hours you learn the apartment buildings you worked for throughout your life have partially […]
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, […]
Earthquakes have confused and terrified people throughout human history.
In ancient times, many people believed earthquakes were the result of angry gods, giants and huge animals.
The Japanese believed a giant catfish living at the bottom of the ocean would shake the Earth when he moved. The Greeks blamed Poseidon, the god […]
After the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Van Nuys suffered significant damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the company invested $11 million to retrofit structures to withstand the next major temblor – which struck in 1994 with the Northridge quake.
Even though the brewery was located just a few miles from the epicenter […]
Structural engineering plays a very important role in our society today. We show our great confidence into the work of structural engineers every time we drive on an overpass, pass through a tunnel, or enter a building. In every case we trust our lives to the knowledge and workmanship of […]
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 […]
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, […]
Staggering environmental consequences of demolition and construction debris are leading construction and development firms, as well as government agencies and industry organizations, to advocate for waste reduction and recycling.
Total building-related demolition and construction waste in the nation is estimated to be 135.5 million tons — a figure that represents, at […]
Sixty miles up the 405 freeway stands the sprawling 95-acre Anheuser-Busch brewery where, since 1954, some of the world’s most famous beer labels are made: Budweiser, Bud Light and more recent labels like Bud Ice, Kirin Ichiban and Chelada.
That Van Nuys facility today is a testament to the financial benefits […]
