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Friends,

I didn’t become a Structural Engineer to become famous, and I’m willing to bet you didn’t either.  I’ve mentioned in prior messages that I entered this profession after developing a passion for architecture and I’ll admit that I did fancy myself some kind of starchitect in the vein of Frank Lloyd Wright (the OG “black cape”), but the side of me that loved physics ultimately won over and any realistic dreams of glory kinda ended there, along with my far less realistic hopes of getting drafted into the NHL. I realize now how telling it was that even my wildest childhood dreams of fame would land me on the D-list, at best.  Not that architects are renowned at the same level as athletes or movie stars, but most folks roughly understand what an architect does, know or might be able to name a real one, or at least see them portrayed on screen from time to time: Howard Roark, Mike Brady, Ted Mosby, and even ol’ George Costanza. Read More

Planning is still underway for a May Office Hours/Social, but go ahead a pencil in the afternoon/evening of Thursday, May 21, and stay tuned to your email and social media for a location! After starting the month of May with a long business trip, your president will be excited to reconnect with you all and welcome in some peak Bay Area weather!

Thank you to our Anchor Sponsor, CSI!

Your generosity and support of SEAONC are greatly appreciated.

Join Us at the SEAONC SEE Awards on May 12

Celebrate the best of structural engineering at the SEAONC Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards. This annual event brings the community together to recognize standout projects and scholarship recipients while showcasing the impact of structural engineers across the region.

The evening kicks off with a reception, followed by the awards ceremony honoring this year’s winners, and wraps up with a lively celebration. Bring your clients and project teams and be part of a night that highlights the profession at its best.

Tuesday, May 12 | 5:00–8:00 PM

The Green Room at the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

Register here

Reception, awards presentation, and celebration are included with your registration.

Membership Renewal Notices Are on the Way—Check Your Email

SEAONC member renewal notices are currently being sent via email, so keep an eye out for your personalized renewal form. All memberships expire July 1, 2026, so be sure to complete your renewal on time to maintain uninterrupted benefits. As always, we appreciate your membership and participation!

Join the Seismology Committee for its monthly meeting featuring a technical presentation on shake-table testing of a steel building with seismic collectors. This session will explore collector responses and share practical design recommendations based on recent research. Presenters are Sudan Pandey, PhD and Chao-Hsien Li, PhD, PE.

Tuesday, May 26 | 5:30–7:00 PM

Location TBD (Hybrid – virtual attendance available)

Outreach Committee Highlights

Commemoration Crawl

We had a lot of fun at the Commemoration Crawl to mark the 120th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake. Thank you to everyone who came out to see the landmarks and enjoy the beautiful day in historic downtown. If you are interested in doing a self-guided tour, please see this map highlighting the landmarks.

Habitat for Humanity 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered at our Spring Habitat for Humanity Build Day. Our SEAONC volunteers spent the day prepping the interiors of the houses for painting and contributed to getting the houses in this large development one step closer to being open. 

Upcoming School Visits

We have three upcoming presentations at Galileo High School using the Mola kits. We are working with the new grades of the AVID group. We are also getting involved with James Lick Middle School for their career day and Lincoln HS for a group shadow at an engineering office.If you are interested in getting more involved in Outreach, please email us at seaoncpoc@gmail.com.

Sustainable Design: May Meeting Featuring Presentations on AI in Sustainability

Tuesday, May 12 | 12–1 PM

Virtual

May’s SDC meeting will feature two presentations on the use of AI to power sustainable design.

KPFF’s Molly Seto, S.E., LEED AP and John-Michael Wong, S.E., PhD will present on an AI-powered low carbon concrete database that they created using AI tools widely available to engineers today. This concrete database allows engineers to find similar mix designs used on other KPFF projects at a local level and drive down the average embodied carbon emissions on projects.

C.Scale’s Jack Rusk will present on the C.Scale whole-life carbon data platform which uses machine learning to predict carbon emissions, enabling fast evaluations of projects at early stages and more detailed evaluations as the design progresses. C.Scale is integrating with Tally 2.0 to provide the latest material emission data and product specific EPDs.

Jack Rusk is the CEO and co-founder of C.Scale, a software platform connecting low-carbon supply chains with low-carbon buildings. Jack brings internationally recognized expertise in building life cycle assessment, having advised the US GSA and Biden White House on low-carbon procurement strategy and policy. His work with some of the world's largest companies on carbon reduction and procurement strategy gives him deep understanding of how material decisions shape markets and environmental outcomes. 

All are welcome to join! Please reach out to SDC Chair Marissa Visconti to join the meeting: Marissa.Visconti@arup.com.

Continuing Education: OpenSees Seminar on May 21st

Thursday, May 21 | 5 -7:30PM

AIA San Francisco, 140 Sutter Street, San Francisco (HYBRID - Virtual Attendance Available)

Register In-Person 

Register Virtually

Presenter Silvia Mazzoni, PhD is a structural and earthquake-engineering specialist and one of the core developers of the OpenSees framework. Her seminar will offer a practice-oriented introduction to nonlinear structural analysis using the OpenSees framework, with a focus on structural engineering professionals. Participants will learn how modern finite-element modeling concepts—such as materials, sections, geometric transformations, and beam-column formulations—translate directly into the OpenSees scripting environment. Through examples drawn from reinforced concrete and steel systems, the seminar demonstrates how axial–moment interaction, plastic-hinge formation, distributed plasticity, and fiber-section discretization influence both model fidelity and computational performance.

Legacy and History: James L. Stratta

The SEAONC Legacy and History Committee has published a new Hensolt Project article on James L. Stratta!



James L. Stratta (1920–1994) was a prominent Bay Area structural engineer known for his contributions to earthquake engineering, seismic design, and forensic investigations. A co-founder of Simpson, Stratta & Associates, he worked on a wide range of commercial and industrial projects as well as the 1964 master plan for the City of Folsom. In addition to his practice, Stratta shared his expertise as an adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. He was also an active member of the profession, serving as SEAONC President in 1962 and helping advance seismic design practices that continue to influence engineering today.

To learn more, visit the full article here!

Young Members Forum: Museum Night, Webinars

Night at the Museum

We had a great showing during the SEAONC YMF Night at the Museum! We experienced both the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake at the Cal Academy of Sciences Shake House. Thank you all for joining us!

SEAONC YMF Presents Webinars

Join us for an upcoming series of YMF Presents webinars!

On Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30 PM, we have a YMF Presents with SEAONC’S SDC committee. Join us to learn about the latest in sustainable design projects!

On Monday, June 8 at 5:00 PM, we have a joint presentation with the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand's young engineer network!

Please contact Tracy Tanusi for more information and how to join.

Survey: Firm Membership Sponsorship

We want to hear from you! Does your firm sponsor your SEAONC membership and/or event registrations? Take this short 2-minute survey and let us know. 

Explore SEAONC Membership Options for Individuals and Firms

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP: Apply for a SEAONC membership today and get ready to thrive in a vibrant community of structural engineering professionals. Gain access to essential resources, diverse perspectives, and collaborative opportunities across all specialties, empowering you to excel in your career and make lasting contributions to the field. 

Click to complete your membership application today!

MASTER MEMBER PROGRAM: Our Master Member program simplifies and streamlines your renewal process. Designed for firms with three or more members, this program enables you to receive one complete invoice for your entire roster for membership renewals or event registrations if desired. Please Note: Master Member lists and invoices will be managed and distributed by the Membership team in Club Express. Email membership at office@seaonc.org or call us at 628-626-1725 with any questions or requests.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP: Our corporate membership program showcases your firm's dedication to the industry and amplifies your influence. Enjoy increased visibility and exclusive benefits, including opportunities to speak at our events and shape the future of our association.

Need more information? Connect with our Membership Team. 

We appreciate the generosity and support of our SEAONC Corporate Members!

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SEAONC welcomes your feedback on our newsletter and on any other Association endeavors. To share your input email us at office@seaonc.org.

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Structural Engineers Association of Northern California

office@seaonc.org

628.626.1725