DAVID BONNEVILLE HONORED BY STATE ASSOCIATION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
San Francisco, CA, November 2006 – David Bonneville, a long-standing and well respected member and past-president of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) was named a 2006 FELLOW of the statewide association (SEAOC) at the organization’s recent annual convention in Long Beach. This honor represents SEAOC’s highest form of recognition and is reserved for those structural engineers who make outstanding contributions to the profession.
Bonneville was cited for his innovative seismic code development work as well as his dedicated service to advancing the structural engineering profession throughout his 30-year career. As a typical example of his leadership and dedication, in the late 1990s Bonneville chaired the SEAOC Seismology Committee, the group responsible for developing most of the current building codes in California. During his tenure, the committee’s breakthrough codes became the foundation for the first nationwide building code, and the basis for building codes that are now accepted worldwide.
On the national level, Bonneville has served as chair of the National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA) Seismic Committee for the past five years and most recently has become chair of that organization’s Code Advisory Committee. Today, he is also vice chair of the Building Seismic Safety Council’s (BSSC’s) Board of Directors, where he has been a member since 2002, as well as a member of the Code Resource Support Committee for BSSC. BSSC, part of the National Institute of Building Sciences, is a FEMA-funded group charged to promote seismic code development. At present it is one of the key organizations in the country performing these tasks.
Professionally, David has worked primarily at Degenkolb Engineers, one of the largest structural engineering firms in the Bay Area. He specializes in developing seismic hazard reduction programs for clients with large building inventories, such as the Hewlett-Packard Company and the General Services Administration.
When he is not developing new codes and standards or helping his clients in securing their buildings, Bonneville is president of the Bay Area ACE Mentor program, a group he helped launch three years ago that works with inner city high school students to make them aware of career opportunities in architecture, construction and engineering. Last year this after-school program, run by engineers from many SF firms, had 55 mentors reaching out to students in 17 Bay Area high schools.
Balancing his very full professional life, David places a high priority on spending time with his family, including his wife of 27 years, Nancy, who is currently on leave from her position as Chair of the English Department at Clayton Valley HS, and their two adult children, Rebecca, 25 and Noah 22.
Founded in 1930, SEAONC is committed to advancing the art and science of structural engineering. For more information, please contact:
David Bonneville, Structural Engineer, 415-392-6952
Peter Revelli, SEAONC Board Member, 415-568-4400
