INDUSTRY News & EVENTS

Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora announced that twenty-six Architectural and Engineering Design Requirement Contracts are being issued for Micro, Small, Medium and Large firms to undertake public building projects citywide. 

The launch of Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 will be celebrated with a Pre-Proposal Conference on 

Thursday, September 3rd, 

at 10:00AM 

at the Department of Design and Construction 

 30-30 Thomson Avenue, (1st floor- Atrium)

Long Island City NY 11101.

The statement in The City Record of August 12, 2015 advised all qualified and interested firms to download the RFP here or for RFP information to contact Hemwattie Roopnarine at ramnarah@ddc.nyc.gov or 718-391-1375. Responses to the RFP are due on or before September 17,2015 at 4:00 PM.

--a detailed overview by structural engineer Thomas A. Sabol, PhD, SE, of the application of AISC Seismic Provisions used in the design of special concentric braced frames (SCBF) and special moment frames (SMF) using design examples from the 2nd edition Seismic Design Manual.

4.0 PDH   $150

June 11, 2015
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

TimesCenter in the New York Times Building

Click Here for Registration Information

EERI-NYNE is requesting help from SEAoNY to collect structural evaluation equipment. Local teams in Nepal are performing building assessments following the devastating earthquake there last month and need equipment donations.

If you can donate any of the equipment below, please contact the SEAoNY office:

admin@seaony.org

- Schmidt hammers

- Rebar detectors

- UT/laser devices

- Crack gauges 

NYC Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler today announced a new plan(PDF) that will fundamentally reform the agency to enhance public and worksite safety, slash wait times and delays, and modernize all aspects of the agency to meet the needs of a 21st century city.

The Department of Buildings is responsible for enforcing the New York City Construction Codes and Zoning Resolution on more than a million buildings and construction sites throughout the City. Issuing a record 140,000 construction permits in 2014, the daily operations of the Department impact the everyday lives of those that live, work and build in New York City.

Earlier this year, Mayor de Blasio announced the beginnings of “fundamental reform” at the Department of Buildings, and today’s action plan delivers on that pledge. With an unprecedented infusion of new resources, including 320 new positions and $120 million over four years, and significant reforms to internal processes and public interactions, the City of New York will ensure its Department of Buildings is second to none in customer service, public safety and efficient oversight.

To read the whole Press Release click here

It's time to nominate someone whom you think will be a great leader of SEAoNY.

Nominees for Officers and Directors must be nominated by at least five Members. All nomination forms must be completed and returned to the address or e-mail address below. Nominations must be postmarked or e-mailed by June 1, 2015. Nominations postmarked or e-mailed after June 1, will not be accepted. A Member is defined as one who has received a BS or higher degree in engineering from an accredited university, is actively engaged in the practice of Structural Engineering as their primary profession, and is licensed by the State of New York as a Professional Engineer.

We are currently seeking nominations for
President Elect, Secretary, and three Director positions.

Return by e-mail to: admin@seaony.org
Return by fax to: 646-417-6378
Return by mail to: 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012

Click Here to Download the 2016 Nomination Form

Conference Synopsis: After a post-recession hiatus in tall building construction in many countries lasting several years, numerous cities in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Australia are again resurgent. From Miami to Melbourne, Bogota to Beijing, Toronto to Turin, tall projects are being proposed and built in significant number. Nowhere is this more evident than in New York, where several new urban typologies are developing simultaneously; the ultra skinny, luxury residential towers exemplified by One57 and 432 Park; the urban-regeneration clusters such as Hudson Yards and the World Trade Center site; the prefabricated high rise and other technical innovations as seen at Pacific Park; as well as numerous others. In addition, the increasing importance of both resilient infrastructure in the face of mounting climate change, as well as quality public space exemplified through projects such as the High Line, are adding to a fascinating mix.

Yet the flow of capital enabling many of these projects is complex, and shows an interconnectedness of our cities way beyond what was evident even just a short decade or two before. Developments in Sydney are as likely to be driven by forces from Shanghai as locally, Canadian pension funds are enabling several tall buildings in London, and Middle East capital seems, once again, to be everywhere. On top of this, after a decade or more of unprecedented vertical growth in Chinese cities, China is now investing in myriad urban centers around the world.

The CTBUH will thus bring its 2015 Conference to the evolving high rise tapestry that is New York to examine this dual phenomena – the motivations and mechanisms that are enabling multi-national investment scenarios, and the technical innovations that are driving new heights, forms, materials and construction techniques. The conference will explore what all this means for the skyscraper of the future – more adaptable to the sustainable and technological challenges of the age. Join us in New York to find out more!

For more information, please visit: http://www.ctbuh2015.com/

New York Build 2016 (7th and 8th March) is the leading construction expo to focus on New York. The expo will include a 2-day conference and 24 training workshops (CPD accredited) that attendees are welcome to attend, hear from 50+ industry expert speakers from government and the construction industry. The event will take place at the Javits Center, accommodating 200+ booths and 10,000 attendees showcasing the latest projects, developments, investment and opportunities around New York. The exhibition, conference and training workshops are free to register for online at http://www.newyorkbuildexpo.com/register/

To receive the agenda or for further information please contact kaltrina@oliverkinross.com or Call +1 917 215 8256.

Follow us on Twitter @NewYorkBuild #newyorkbuild

 

FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) are pleased to announce that a distinguished jury has selected two winning designs in the fifth annual City of Dreams Pavilion Competition: Billion Oyster Pavilion by BanG Studio of New York City and Organic Growth by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects of Madrid and London. Pending approvals and fundraising, these pavilions will both be assembled on Governors Island and open to the public for the summer 2015 season.

After a four-hour-long deliberation, the jury was deadlocked in deciding between the Billion Oyster Pavilion and Organic Growth Pavilion. The Billion Oyster Pavilion is grounded in local history, tapping into discussions around resiliency and the long-term benefits of growing new oyster beds in New York Harbor. Organic Growth Pavilion brings attention to the large amount of waste in our landfills by repurposing a smorgasbord of parts and pieces from discarded trash.

It wasn't until the jury began debating the suggestion to build two pavilions that the merits of building both outweighed the selection of just one. Given that collaboration and experimentation are part of what FIGMENT is all about, and the premise of this competition that architecture has the ability to reach and involve the public in new ways, the jury agreed that the two pavilion designs would enhance each other and strengthen the competition overall.

Now that the winners have been announced, the design teams will work with FIGMENT, ENYA, SEAoNY, and Governors Island to select the final site for the projects, refine the designs, obtain necessary approvals, and fabricate and install the pavilions on the island.

Building two pavilions rather than one, however, does increase the amount of support required. FIGMENT is accepting tax-deductible donations to support the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of these two pavilions on Governors Island for the 2015 summer season.

To Donate go to: http://newyork.figmentproject.org/support_the_2015_pavilion_kickstarter_campaigns

The urban environment is exceptional, and high-rise buildings deliver a unique set of challenges for repair and restoration professionals. Join ICRI in the ultimate urban environment and participate in this industry's best education, networking, and programs designed to take you, your company, and your career to new heights. The best and the brightest minds in the industry are ready to share experiences and best practices so you walk away with a better understanding of topics such as exterior rehabilitation, balcony repairs, façade revival, and strengthening. While you are at it, you can learn more about congested urban environments, historical and heritage restoration, and the building codes that affect the way you do business.

Join us in New York City to take advantage of the relationships you have, or can have, with other ICRI members around the country-information, education, knowledge, and experience all in one place! It all adds up to a unique opportunity for both novice and seasoned professionals to gain a greater understanding of what your peers are doing and how you can apply that knowledge to your own success. See for yourself how the advantages of ICRI membership can work for you!

Click for Event website & registration

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) will hold its 67th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA on March 31-April 3, 2015. The theme for the meeting is "Old Cities, New Earthquakes," and the program will highlight the particular seismic hazards and vulnerability of older structures common to so much of central and eastern North America.

Robert Olshansky, Head at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will deliver the EERI Distinguished Lecture on improving earthquake mitigation and recovery efforts over time. Paul Somerville will give the William B. Joyner Memorial Lecture, Geoscientists’ Capacity to Supply Engineers’ Demands for Seismic Hazard Inputs.

Program sessions will include Inventorying and Prioritizing Actions to Reduce Risk of Older Structures, and Seismic Response and Vulnerability—New Design. There will be unique sessions providing updates on EERI special projects, such as Learning From Earthquakes and the School Earthquake Safety Initiative.

Pre- and post-conference continuing education and training opportunities are available. On March 31, participants will learn from the National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program (NETAP) on how to identify potentially hazardous buildings before earthquakes occur (FEMA P-154), and how to utilize open-source software ROVER (Rapid Observation of Vulnerability and Estimation of Risk). Training on FEMA E-74, Reducing the Risk of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage, will be conducted in the afternoon. On Friday, April 3, EERI will offer workshops on earthquake reconnaissance for students and professionals, with presentations and a field exercise in the use of data collection tools.

Program details and registration instructions are available on the 2015 EERI Annual Meeting website. Registration rates will increase on March 2, 2015.

Click for Event website & registration

About EERI The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute is a national, nonprofit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists. EERI members include researchers, practicing professionals, educators, government officials, and building code regulators. EERI’s objective is to reduce earthquake risk by