In December 2021, the Wells Fargo Foundation made a $300,000 grant to the U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC), a nonprofit that develops natural hazard building performance rating systems. The grant is focused on USRC’s implementation of a rating system for buildings under straight-line wind and storm surge risks.
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The role of structural design professionals is often complex, starting early in the conceptual phase and continuing until after project completion. From the onset, they knead architects’ visions for space and form into a stable reality. Throughout, they are navigating imperfect sites they did not select, maintaining restrictive budgets they did not create, and meeting aggressive schedules they did not approve. Nevertheless, structural professionals press forward to deliver successful structures meeting the owner’s needs and architect’s dreams. To consistently deliver reliable solutions, despite challenging circumstances, structural professionals rely on proven design processes to tactfully advance from concept to construction. Though no universally applicable workflow exists to capture the nuances of every design procedure perfectly, specific steps generally describe the typical process (Table). …
In the event of a crisis, your firm may need to defend itself in both the legal and public relations arenas.
Like any other business sector, the design and construction industry must be prepared to deal with crises such as natural disasters, data breaches, sudden financial setbacks, or even workplace violence. However, the prospect of a project-related crisis, such as a catastrophic failure resulting in an injury or death, is the type of event that keeps A/Es up at night. …
It was quite a year. With hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and more, 2017 set records for natural disasters in the U.S., costing lives and over $300 billion in damages. …
Geotechnical peer review is not new, but it is not common industry practice. Today, however, there is a trend by public agencies in the United States to require it for tall buildings. What is geotechnical peer review, what is this trend, and what is its role in the design and construction industry for buildings and civil works? …
Predictions of future ground motions are needed for mitigation and insurance of seismic risk. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for predicting future ground motions throughout the U.S. and territories. …