News

JAMA was recently notified that the firm will be honored with the 2018 Professional Excellence Award by the Chinese American Construction Professionals organization, or CACP. CACP works to enhance member’s competitiveness in both local and global markets, facilitating professional and business networking and serving communities in the US and China to nurture future construction professionals. Each year, the organization chooses an A/E/C firm that fosters the organization’s ideals of enhancing, connecting, serving and nurturing. The awards event will be held on Thursday, July 26th at the LA Hotel Downtown. Accepting the award on behalf of JAMA will be Managing Partner Kurt Clandening and Chaoying L.

Spring 2018 marked JAMA’s 65th anniversary, a proud occasion highlighted by our newly renovated office space filled with talented staff leading the firm into the future. Since our founding in 1953, JAMA has continually expanded services, fostered new leaders, and pioneered the use of technology to support clients. Today, JAMA applies lessons learned from 65 years of structural engineering with a range of advanced technologies to service an increasingly diverse portfolio of projects. We utilize a production model centered on 100% BIM workflow alongside the latest 3D, virtual reality and artificial intelligence technologies. Our staff, which includes nearly 40 licensed engineers, stays actively engaged in project typologies that range from aviation, sports and convention centers to education, healthcare and mixed-use projects. Here’s to another 65 years!

Partner Kal Benuska, SE recently travelled to Japan to oversee the Flight of Dreams, a large-scale installation featuring the first Boeing 787 airline inside Central Japan International Airport’s (Centrair) main terminal. Thirty-five percent of the Boeing 787’s components are made by Japanese suppliers and then shipped to the US for final assembly. In July 2015, Boeing donated the first-ever built 787 – the ZA001 – after it served its role as a flight test airplane. Considered a home-coming for the plane, Japanese officials determined the plane should be permanently restored in Centrair as a static display. In addition to the challenges of displaying an “artifact” that cannot be taken apart, the Flight of Dreams posed a handful of challenges: • Because of ZA001’s use as a test flight airplane, it has no interiors, so the engineering has to accommodate a different weight and center of gravity compared to commercial 787’s. • At the time of donation, the electrical and systems

JAMA has recently begun sharing some of the interesting structural challenges we encounter on projects. The latest in this series is the Broad Beach Residence – a 2-story structure with irregularly shaped floor plan for Michael Ovitz, of Creative Artists Agency and Disney fame. The actual building area is 16,000 square feet and the roof is about 30 feet from slab on grade. The new home fronts Broad Beach in Malibu, and while somewhat straightforward in design, is innovative for its structure. Second floor and roof gravity framing consist of steel wide flange girders, truss joist and 2x joists. The framing is supported on steel columns, and both levels transfer diaphragm forces through plywood sheathing. There is 3 3/8” concrete topping on the second floor. Lateral loads induced by seismic are resisted by flexible wood diaphragms. Loads from the roof diaphragm transfer to plywood shear walls and steel special moment frames. Discontinuous lateral force resisting system forces the l

Under the guidance of JAMA’s Activities & Adventure Committee, eleven employees and friends of the firm “fought for air” last Saturday, April 14th. The stair-climb was part of the American Lung Association’s annual fundraiser, helping those affected by lung disease. The group climbed 63 floors, or 1,393 steps, of Downtown LA’s AON Center; including 4 individuals that completed the trek in under 15.5 minutes (wow!). Congratulations to all that participated!

JAMA’s BIM Director Marcello Sgambelluri joined other multi-disciplinary leaders on Wednesday, April 4th in DTLA to discuss how the A/E/C industry is pushing the boundaries of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in design and construction. Central to the discussion was how these technologies streamline productivity, communication and collaboration. JAMA provided a VR booth showcasing how the firm integrates VR into projects, and participated in a panel that included representatives from Stantec Architecture, PCL Construction and software developer Kalloc Studios.

Cal Poly Pomona’s highly anticipated ARB (Administration Replacement Building) marked a major milestone this month as the last beam was placed on top of the steel roof. The 138,400 square foot facility which is comprised of two structures under a single, undulating and passive solar roof, will serve as the University’s new front door. The project, designed with CO Architects and constructed by C.W Driver, is expected to be complete this Fall.

2018 has unofficially been called the Year of the Woman. With 30% of JAMA’s workforce female, it was only fitting that the JAMA Women’s Round Table take shape. Spearheaded by Partner Jacqueline “Jackie” Vinkler and Project Manager Kim Pacheco, the group offers a forum for dialogue and actions that create a more supportive work environment. The group will conduct quarterly meetings with topics and speakers ranging from leadership and mentorship to current barriers or issues. The Round Table has also inspired the firm to highlight female employees, an often underrepresented group within the A/E/C industry. This month – structural engineer Kim Carden, SE and Production staff member Celia Barraza. Kim Carden, SE is not just an engineering powerhouse, but a lady on the move! In addition to project duties Kim cares for her two children and remains an active athlete. She led a group of Moms in an obstacle race in February, is running a half marathon in March, and a full marathon in May. Celia