Lack of adequate interchange of technical information
and difficulties in contractual relations with other design professionals
were among the many problems plaguing California structural engineers
in the early part of the 20th century. The solution is credited
to R.C. Buell, a structural engineer with the Portland Cement Association,
who in 1930 introduced northern California to the concept of a forum
type organization to cope with such problems. The idea was well
received, and SEAONC began operations that year with 39 charter
members.
In its infancy, SEAONC was primarily a club.
It was focused on gathering to discuss points of mutual interest
for its members. But the statewide nature of the problems facing
the profession necessitated a statewide effort on the part of structural
engineers. A similar organization had been formed in southern California,
and in 1932 the two groups joined to form the Structural Engineers
Association of California (SEAOC). Regional groups in central California
and San Diego developed in later years and eventually joined the
state organization.
The SEAONC emblem was designed in 1948 by Jack Y. Long. It was inspired by the newly revealed design of the St. Louis Arch.
Early collective action by this club led to
the general adoption in 1948 of the concept that structural engineering
fees should be based on the total cost of a building, rather than
just the structural costs.
Throughout its history SEAONC has assisted local,
State and Federal agencies on a number of matters pertaining to
Structural Engineering. As SEAONC evolved, its members and officers
took an increasingly active role in legislative matters affecting
the profession. Several California legislative acts are of particular
importance:
Registration of engineers has been a major concern
of SEAONC over the years. Engineering registration began in Wyoming
in 1907 and expanded rapidly across the country. The Professional
Registration Act was passed in 1929 and registration of Civil Engineers
in California was introduced. In 1931 the title of Structural Engineer
was created, and in 1933 surveying was included as part of the civil
engineer registration exam. The Association continues to review
current laws, regulations and their implementation to assure protection
for the public and profession against improper use of engineering
and to assure proper continuing education and development of the
profession.
The Field Act closely followed the
aftershocks of the Long Beach Earthquake in 1933. Alarmed over
the extensive damage caused by the earthquake and heeding the
counsel of the Structural Engineers Associations of Northern and
Southern California, the Legislature enacted stringent design
regulations for public schools. The law originally only governed
the construction of new buildings, but was extended to all school
buildings by the Garrison Act in 1969.
Under the 1933 Civil Service Act, only State-employed
engineers and architects could work on State projects. SEAONC mounted
a vigorous campaign in opposition, contending not only that the
Act cut unfairly into the pool of work available for private enterprise
consultants, but the Act also deprived the State of the chance to
select from among the most talented and efficient design professionals.
The Association eventually persuaded members of the Legislature
to reconsider, and the Act was repealed in 1949.
Since the 1940's members have maintained direct
involvement in the development of building code provisions, especially
those dealing in earthquake-resistant design, by reviewing, writing
and updating the Uniform Building Code, the San Francisco and Los
Angeles Building Codes and various industry-sponsored code recommendations.
When it became evident in the late 1940's that
current code provisions for seismic design were inadequate, the
Structural Engineers Association of California undertook the responsibility
to complete a set of earthquake design recommendations. A decade
of work, combining talents from all sections of SEAOC, resulted
in the Recommended Lateral Force Requirements published in 1959.
That document, known as the "Blue Book", has been continually
updated by the Seismology Committee, with major re-evaluations after
each significant earthquake: 1964 Prince William Sound, 1971 San
Fernando, 1983 Coalinga, 1987 Whittier Narrows, 1989 Loma Prieta,
1994 Northridge, and 1995 Kobe. The Recommendations have been regularly
adopted into the Uniform Building Code and are the basis of most
seismic code provisions in the United States. They are also the
internationally recognized standards for earthquake design.
The 1971 San Fernando Valley Earthquake triggered
new developments in earthquake preparedness:
The California Hospital Act was passed soon
after the earthquake, providing for more stringent building standards,
plan checking, and inspection for hospitals under the direction
of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD),
with the intent of improving patient protection and maintaining
building/facility function after a disaster.
The Applied Technology Council (ATC) was established
under the auspices of SEAOC in October 1971, to assist in the application
of current technological developments to structural engineering
practice. The primary focus: to translate research into usable design
information.
The Alquist-Priolo Studies Zone Act was passed
in 1972, regulating building development within "special study
zones: along known active faults in California".
In the early 1940's the Association had worked
closely with civil defense authorities in determining the adequacy
of air raid shelters and disaster relief plans. Now, fifty years
later, SEAONC members assist the Office of Emergency Services and
local building departments in coping with earthquake disasters,
by organizing volunteer emergency building inspectors and establishing
uniform criteria for post earthquake inspections.
The value of SEAONC's participation in the development
of earthquake design has been proven by the successful behavior
of buildings designed since passage of the Field Act.
From a 39-member "club" in 1930, the
Structural Engineers Association of Northern California has grown
to a diverse organization numbering more than 1700 in 1998, dedicated
to the development of Structural Engineering as a profession, science
and art in addition to being an advocate for public safety.
The Emblem
In 1948, the SEAONC Board of Directors instructed the then "Public Relations Committee" to develop a suitable emblem for the Association. The committee formed a subcommittee called the "Emblem Committee", with instructions to initiate a design competition within the membership. A grand prize of $50 was offered to the winning entry.
The winning design was submitted by Jack Y. Long, said to be one of SEAONC's most energetic members at the time. His idea was inspired by the newly revealed design of the St. Louis Arch and has proven to be a lasting one.
The emblem was subsequently adopted by other Structural Engineering
Associations in California and has since been adopted by Associations
in a number of other states.
