Join us for SEAONC’s December meeting, featuring the presentation
Tuned Mass Dampers in the Bay Area. Ron Klemencic will share insights from One Rincon Hill, and Rafael Sabelli will discuss the SFO Air Traffic Control Tower. We’ll gather at UC Berkeley for an engaging evening of learning and connection.
Thank you to our sponsor, CSI!
About the Presentation:
The San Francisco Bay Area is known world-wide as a region of high seismicity. The structural design of most buildings is controlled by demands created by earthquake ground shaking.
In the mid-2000’s a new type of building started to become popular. Tall, slender residential towers primarily constructed using reinforced concrete cores as the seismic bracing system. Two of these towers, One Rincon Hill, presented a new structural design challenge. Situated on top of Rincon Hill, completely exposed to strong winds, the dynamic response of the towers required additional considerations to ensure occupant comfort. In response, the first-ever Tuned Liquid Mass Dampers were designed and constructed to quiet each tower’s response in high winds.
Similarly, the 221 foot tall replacement Air Traffic Control Tower posed the challenge of creating a Risk-Category IV tall building in a high-seismic zone, requiring performance based design and creative structural solutions. But the air traffic controllers that occupy the tower cab for hours at a time require clear sightlines and focus in the worst weather conditions the bay area can throw at it. This required use of TMDs to bring tight occupant comfort limits to a building type that might not typically need it.
About the Speakers:
Ron Klemencic, PE, SE, Hon. PhD, Hon. AIA, Dist. M. ASCE, NAC, NAE
Ron Klemencic is Chairman and CEO of Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), a structural and civil engineering firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Ron is one of the preeminent high-rise structural engineers practicing today. His portfolio of work spans 29 states and 25 countries and includes iconic designs such as One Rincon Hill and Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, 150 North Riverside in Chicago, and Rainier Square in Seattle. Through his roles as a Director of the Charles Pankow Foundation and the MKA Foundation, in addition to his daily work as a practicing structural engineer, Ron continues to lead the research and development of many new technologies and systems that further the engineering profession. He has championed numerous innovations throughout his career—from implementing Performance-Based Seismic Design for high-rise buildings beginning in the mid-1990s, to the development and successful application of the first-of-its-kind, non-proprietary SpeedCore structural system starting in the early-2000s, to recent advancements in Performance-Based Wind Design and Structural Fire Design. He is a member of the National Academy of Construction and the National Academy of Engineering, an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects, and a Distinguished Member of ASCE.
Rafael Sabelli, PE, SE
Rafael Sabelli is Director of Seismic Design at Walter P Moore, where he leads the seismic design efforts for projects featuring unconventional structural systems or located in regions of unusually high seismicity. With decades of experience and a deep focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding high-risk zones, Rafael has shaped the performance of some of the most structurally demanding projects on the West Coast. An award-winning engineer and widely recognized leader in seismic design solutions and regulations, Rafael has dedicated his career to advancing how buildings endure and recover from earthquakes. His contributions span both practice and research: he is extensively published on seismic design for essential buildings, has delivered numerous invited presentations to industry peers, and has played a pivotal role in the steel industry. His leadership in developing and formalizing design procedures for buckling restrained braced frames culminated in receiving the prestigious T.R. Higgins Lectureship.
Sponsor
Thank you to our event sponsor,
CSI!
Code of Conduct
Asking hard questions and facilitating rigorous technical discussions are how we challenge paradigms and advance as a profession. SEAONC is committed to creating a thoughtful, inclusive, and honest environment where we can have this kind of meaningful dialogue. This commitment depends on everyone feeling safe, respected, and valued, regardless of their background or level of skill or experience.
Expectations for All Participants
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Respect the space and one another.
Listen attentively. Allow others to finish speaking. Approach discussions with curiosity rather than confrontation.
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Share airtime equitably.
Be mindful of how much space you take in conversation. Contribute meaningfully and avoid reacting impulsively or dominating discussions.
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Challenge ideas, not individuals.
Disagreement is acceptable and often productive when expressed constructively. Personal attacks or dismissive behavior are not.
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Uphold zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination.
Any form of harassment, bigotry, or harmful language or behavior will not be accepted. Individuals who engage in such conduct may be removed from the event or activity.
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Maintain a shared and accountable space.
Recognize that thoughtful engagement may involve nuance, emotion, and discomfort. Participate in ways that promote learning, respect, and accountability for all.
Enforcement
If a participant engages in behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, the organizing team will take appropriate action. Responses may include a verbal or written warning, removal from the event or space, or follow-up after the event, including disciplinary action by the Board in accordance with the SEAONC Bylaws. The goal of enforcement is to protect the integrity and safety of the community. If you encounter an individual(s) breaching this Code of Conduct and/or have a non-immediate, future safety concern, please notify the SEAONC Board (president@seaonc.org) to assist with further evaluation and enforcement.
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