Development of Deformable Connection for Earthquake-Resistant Buildings to Reduce Floor Accelerations and Force Responses
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We see design as the framework for our clients’ most magnificent dreams. Our intellectual curiosity and technical rigor enable us to see and implement the big picture: aesthetic vision, excellent performance, seismic resilience, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact. We believe that through design, we create the potential for benefit. In execution, we help our clients bring that benefit to life.
At Mar Structural Design, we steer for “the space between the rocks.” This means we nimbly navigate the surest course between physical reality and the moon. Our creative use of performance-based design guides us; invention, exploration, and refinement get us there. We’re never afraid to try something new. We see design as an infinite possibility. We look for opportunities, not obstacles.
We know that none of us is as smart as all of us. That’s why we collaborate with architects, owners, fellow designers, and builders to provide clients with the most comprehensive and cost-effective design solutions possible. We always keep the end-user in mind. And with our commitment to a “deep green” ethos, we see interconnectedness between ourselves, our partners, the greater community, and the natural world.
Development of Deformable Connection for Earthquake-Resistant Buildings to Reduce Floor Accelerations and Force Responses
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Recommended Mesh Anchorage Details for Straw Bale Walls
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David believes the key to successful design is seeing and optimizing projects as a whole while controlling construction costs. To this end, his designs are inventive and technically ingenious. Some of his many creative contributions to seismic engineering include vertically post-tensioned shear walls and rocking braced frames that return to plumb; tilting rigid spines; and skin-reinforced straw bale shear walls. David has a keen interest in Lean design and in set-based design, and he actively applies these principles to all of his work.
David’s focus on seismic and sustainable design has positioned him at the forefront of the green-building movement. His enthusiasm for “deep green” innovation has fueled the expansion of his repertoire from traditional steel, concrete, and wood construction to the use of such materials as rammed earth, bamboo, straw bale, timber frame, and structural insulated panels.
In 2013, David served as technical director for FEMA P807: Guidelines for the Seismic Retrofit of Weak-Story Multi-Unit Wood-Framed Structures. His out-of-the-box thinking resulted in a comprehensive design methodology that yielded high-performance retrofits at a low cost—thus solving one of structural engineering’s most vexing problems.
David received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He has lectured at numerous institutions, including UC Berkeley, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Stanford University, and the Lean Construction Institute. In 1998, David was honored with SEAONC’s H.J. Brunnier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Structural Design. David is also an accomplished songwriter and guitarist. He is currently writing material for his third album.
Gordon deftly navigates between the overall vision and detailed execution of every project he manages. This perspective allows him to detect key challenges early in the design, and then work collaboratively to troubleshoot and deliver practical and cost-effective solutions. Gordon has extensive experience with many different building materials and with a variety of projects, ranging from custom single-family homes to large multistory buildings, and from vintage building renovations to new construction. His work with modular and pre-fab construction is ideally suited to his versatility, keen eye for detail, and systematic design approach.
Gordon grew up in the Bay Area and has witnessed the skyrocketing cost of housing here over the years. He understands and has a special fondness for affordable housing projects, which make up a significant part of his dossier.
Gordon received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He enjoys spending time with his family, serving at his local church, and vacationing in Hawaii.
Taline manages the firm’s business operations, communications, and strategic planning. Her background is in cross-disciplinary design processes, including concept design, collaborative modeling, and design integration, working with both new buildings and the renovation and preservation of existing and historic architecture.
Taline received her undergraduate degree in architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her master's in conservation of monuments and sites from the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Taline has a great passion for preserving cultural heritage, whether it’s masterpieces of architecture or culinary masterpieces from the kitchen of her Syrian-Armenian grandmother.
Alex enjoys working closely with owners, contractors, and the design team. His engineering expertise includes new, retrofit, and modular construction in steel, wood, and concrete. He is well versed in several 3D visualization and collaboration tools to explore and document alternatives quickly and clearly. Alex received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Northwestern University and his master’s in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Alex has been a performing musician for most of his life. An accomplished bass guitarist, he and his band are currently finishing their first album of original material.
Bridget lives and works at the intersection of communication, creative vision, and technology. She believes in maintaining an organized and supportive studio environment so the entire team can thrive. Bridget has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Mills College and a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television from the Academy of Art University. Her Native heritage informs her passion for environmental preservation and sustainability, as well as her love of spending time outdoors with friends and family.
Pamela is passionate about collaborating with her clients to create elegant structures that enhance the surrounding environment as well as the users’ experiences. A Berkeley native, Pamela takes pride in using thoughtful and efficient designs to advance the integrity of her hometown’s structural fabric. Her experience includes both new and existing buildings in the commercial and education sectors, in both steel and concrete. Pamela received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Davis and her master’s in structural engineering from UCLA. When she’s not working, she loves to explore the High Sierra with her dog, Tucker.
Daniel embraces an overall structural design, finding the small parts and assemblies that make a system work and detailing them for ease of building and aesthetic appeal. He has a background in fabrication with wood and steel. Daniel attended School of the Arts high school in San Francisco with a focus in cello and theater tech. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UCLA and his master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of California, Davis. In his spare time he likes to cook and build furniture for his family and friends.
Alan is a true believer in lifelong learning and thoughtful communication. He approaches every project with big-picture thinking and a devotion to detail. His diverse experience includes island villas, high-rise condos, and commercial tenant improvement projects. Alan received his bachelor's degree in structural engineering from the University of California, San Diego and his master's in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Outside of work, he loves to salsa dance and learn new languages.
Diego works to develop efficient solutions for intricate project details, understanding that contractors and builders need a clear path forward in order to meet strict deadlines. His design background includes light-frame wood structures in commercial and residential applications, as well as industrial steel structures. He also has experience with projects under the jurisdiction of DSA and OSHPD. Diego received his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona and his master’s in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. In his free time, Diego plays guitar and enjoys live music and comedy shows.
Rohan has an avid interest in research and the practical applications of seismic resilience using performance-based design methods. He excels at leveraging both software and manual calculations to solve complex structural problems, and he is committed to mastering various construction materials, including concrete, steel, and wood. Rohan received his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai, and his master’s in structural and earthquake engineering from the University at Buffalo. On the weekends, you’ll find Rohan on a hike or trying a new restaurant.
Sina employs state-of-the-art resilience-based design research for the benefit of real-world engineering projects. His fundamental grasp of structural engineering concepts, nonlinear finite element modeling, and computer programming empowers him to work with novel design and retrofit solutions always in mind. Sina received his master’s and Ph.D. in structural and earthquake engineering from the University at Buffalo. His doctoral research focused on the experimental and analytical investigation of a resilient retrofit solution for non-ductile reinforced concrete shear walls by integrating concepts of weakening and self-centering. Sina enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and following tech news.
Alexi's passion is designing for structural resilience - making structures reusable after a major natural disaster. He believes immediate re-occupancy of a building after such events should be the norm. He also promotes the designing of beautiful buildings that enhance the community as an important aspect of resilience. This passion sprouted into fruition during his master’s dissertation, when Alexi built and tested a damage-resistant heavy-timber frame. Alexi completed both his undergrad and graduate degrees in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His general design approach can be described by the following words: beauty, constructability, sustainability, and affordability. In his free time, Alexi volunteers in his community, attends city meetings, explores the outdoors, creates art, and continues to research affordable resilient design solutions for the masses.
Sujin likes a challenge. She strives to keep projects well balanced and efficient. She specializes in wood structures and seismic retrofit, and has worked on many commercial and residential projects, from conceptual design to construction administration. Sujin received her bachelor's degree in architectural engineering and her master’s in engineering in steel structures from Korea University, as well as her master’s in structural engineering, mechanics, and materials from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis with her family and friends.
A founding partner of Mar Structural Design, John now serves as an invaluable consultant to MSD on building and solar projects. John has a longstanding commitment to sustainable design and renewable energy. He was the lead structural consultant for California's Solar Permitting Guidebook, co-author of Simplified Solar Permitting: Structural PV Array Mounting Requirements Checklist, and principal author of the Structural Commentary for the National Simplified Residential Roof PV Array Permit Guide, which have become key references for the solar industry. He has consulted for several solar support component manufacturers, helping those firms to develop and test innovative products and navigate the complex world of codes and standards. John has extensive experience in the seismic retrofit of existing buildings and in both public and private designs, and has earned both SEAOC and NCSEA structural engineering excellence awards for his work. John received his bachelor’s degree in environmental systems from Dartmouth College and his master’s in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
2332 5TH ST STE D, Berkeley, CA 94710 - (510) 991-1101
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For general inquiries, please write to info@marstructuraldesign.com
For billing inquiries, please write to Linda Rose Gracia lindarose.gracia@marstructuraldesign.com
We are currently looking for skilled and enthusiastic engineers. If you are inspired to invent and create in an exciting and collaborative environment, please e-mail us a thoughtful note telling us about yourself. We are a mission-driven firm on the forefront of performance-based seismic design and sustainable design. Excellent engineering skills are expected along with a commitment to continual learning.
Job Requirements: Our ideal candidate has at least four years of design office experience, a Master’s degree in structural engineering, and is licensed in California. S/he enjoys working collaboratively, thrives on reciprocal learning, and demonstrates a knack for seeing the “whole project”. Architectural training, experience in designing in several structural materials, the ability to create thoughtful design details, and an interest in high-performance seismic and sustainable design, are all considered pluses. This is an opportunity to shape both your career and our robust growing firm.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage diversity in the workplace.
Please email letter and resume to: hr@marstructuraldesign.com
We created our studio in 2014 and have grown quickly since then, both with our team and the number and size of projects. We currently have a staff of 19.
We take pride in doing innovative work and we want to use structural engineering as a force for good. We work to make sustainability and resilience more prevalent, and we strive to create buildings that are beautiful and promote the well-being of our communities. In addition to sustainable and resilient design, we work with applied research, seismic retrofits, expressed structures, natural materials, and unusual structures.
We have a diverse leadership and staff. We're progressive and strive for a work-life balance for our whole team through a flex-time policy. We utilize a flat hierarchy, focused mentorship, and continuing education benefits to maximize opportunities of growth and leadership for all of our staff.
