News

As Structural Engineers, you’d think we would know exactly what to do when a seismic event hits, but even we practice earthquake drills, especially during the Great American Shakeout.

The new 210,000 square foot Kaiser Riverside Cirby Medical Office Building in Roseville received a well-deserved honor last night. Completed with architect HOK as a replacement facility, The Riverside Cirby facility took home the Design Excellence Award in the New Construction over $10M / Lean Culture category. The award was given by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of the contributions of KP professional design consultants for projects that achieved excellence for Kaiser Permanente facilities across all regions. Kaiser Riverside Cirby was designed to meet LEED Gold standards, and nearly doubles the number of provider offices of the previous MOB. It also offers a larger pharmacy, a larger laboratory, and expanded services including an on-site MRI suite. The project is one of nearly 30 completed or in process with Kaiser Permanente.

JAMA engineers Matthew Michnewich, SE, David Dorier-Sammut, PE, and Pi Chansuk attended AISC’s SteelDay, held for the first time on a chartered yacht in Marina Del Rey. The networking-oriented event gathered industry steel-focused professionals to discuss trends, news and projects. One of the benefits of attendance – in addition to the sunset views – was connecting directly with steel manufacturers. The group shared feedback and updates on efficiency and cost-saving moves, in some cases helping JAMA understand what really benefits projects and clients versus what we think does.

Thanks to the firm’s Activities & Adventures Committee, JAMA reinstated an old tradition this past weekend in Pasadena with the 2019 Family Picnic. The afternoon gathering brought together employees, families, kids, and even dogs to a beautiful shaded park. The group cam together for games, food, drinks and the opportunity to catch up on things outside of work – enjoying things like an all-ages relay race, jumpers, and even a slushy machine. Thanks to all who attended and to those who volunteered.

Sometimes it’s amazing what engineers do for their jobs. This week JAMA Associate Principal Matt Timmers and Project Manager Hossain Ghaffari got warm and cozy with Godzilla at the top of the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. When the two arrived for a site visit to check loads and cable anchors of the inflatable monster on top of the structure, they expected to simply take a look from the ground and discuss the installation with the crew. Instead, the inflatables marketing team handed them harnesses and suggested they “suit up” to take a look in person. The multi-story piece was placed on top of the iconic dome as part of a marketing campaign for the Godzilla: King of the Monsters movie, opening May 31, but required great care as large-scale lighting was attached as well. Winds or other weather could greatly affect the safety of the structure as well as crowds if the piece shifted too far from its intended position.

The Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) Expansion at Los Angeles International Airport is, even years after its completion, still garnering attention. Selected by an international jury of top designers, architects, curators and academics, the project was named the winning Transportation category project of The Plan Award 2019. The award aims to disseminate knowledge of and improve the quality of work done by designers globally. TBIT is the largest public works project in Los Angeles’s history, requiring close collaboration with the community and among the team, which included JAMA as structural engineer alongside Fentress Architects. The 1.2 million square foot project achieved LEED Gold certification and continues to be a gold-standard in aviation design, in part for its non-orthogonal structural components that JAMA cleared with the City of Los Angeles through extensive testing.

JAMA is thrilled to share the news about Kent Kaewwaen, P.E., S.E.‘s honor as a 2019 ACE National Mentor of the Year! Well done, and well deserved! JAMA’s Kent Kaewwaen has been selected as an ACE National Mentor of the year! This significant honor was given to only five mentors across the country, and includes recognition in an upcoming issue of Engineering News-Record, as well as participation in the National ACE Design and Construction Competition this May in Washington, DC. A scholarship, awarded to a Los Angeles-area student who participates in the ACE program, will also be named in his honor. Kent’s involvement with the ACE Mentor program started when he was a mentee at John Marshall High School back in 2004. He received an ACE scholarship in 2005, and volunteered with the organization through college. After graduating with his Masters, he returned as a mentor, rebuilding and then leading ACE LA’s Pasadena team. In 2015 he was recognized with the ACE LA/OC Engineering Mento

After a 2-year study, JAMA is assisting The Huntington Library in moving forward with the seismic renovation and relocation of a former samurai house from Marugame Japan to the Huntington’s San Marino campus. The team for the project, referred to as the Japanese Heritage House, has grown to include two Japanese architects, one American architect, a general contractor, framers, and craftsmen. In March, Project Manager Kim Pacheco traveled to Marugame to view the house in its existing condition and meet other members of the team. This summer, a rehearsal build will take place in neighboring Matsuyama, Japan, including templates to locate new plywood shear walls. The house will then be disassembled and packed into shipping containers, due to arrive in the US by the end of the year. Reconstruction in California will begin in January 2020, along with construction of a new gate house and site wall to enclose a new exhibit space. Planning of this complex project has required extensive coordin