24 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
Columbia Medical Center’s Vertical Campus
By Daniel Sesil, P.E., S.E., Matthew Melrose, P.E., Michael Hopper, P.E. and Andrew Polimeni, P.E.
Leslie E. Robertson Associates was an Outstanding Award Winner for the Columbia University Medical Center Graduate Education Building project in the 2015 NCSEA Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering awards program (Category – New Buildings $30M to $100M).
The Columbia University Medical and Graduate Education Building (CUMGEB) is a 100,000 squarefoot, 15-story, state-of-the-art medical education facility, whose multifaceted goals include the linking of students and teachers, of interdisciplinary study and interactive learning, and of function and experience, all while providing an identity and focal point for Columbia University’s Washington Heights campus. CUMGEB aspires to be an iconic facility for the university and neighborhood, helping to attract the world’s top medical students. The design team included Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in collaboration with executive architect Gensler. Leslie E. Robertson Associates (LERA) provided structural engineering services. F.J. Sciame Construction is the project’s construction manager. The project’s main feature is a southern facing “Study Cascade” that contains interconnected study and social spaces to encourage collaboration between students. The study cascade is envisioned as a vertical campus of stacked “neighborhoods”, which are two to three story, near atrium-like clusters of diversified social spaces. The southern campus-facing façade is a highly articulated all-glass system that is crucial to the building’s expression. The northern half of the building is organized for classrooms and administrative space, in addition to a midtower mechanical space to accommodate the needs of the building’s Anatomy Labs. CUMGEB’s main structural design challenge was to find vertical load paths through the Study Cascade while respecting the varied spatial planning of the stacked neighborhoods. To minimize the structure’s impact on these spaces, the cascade floors are supported by a pair of inclined composite concrete columns that are architecturally exposed and cast with high strength (10 ksi), self-consolidating concrete. These two exposed columns slope from the foundation level up to the 8th floor in order to direct loads around a columnfree auditorium at the base of the Cascade. The thrusts that result from the changes in direction of the sloping columns are resisted by in-floor trusses constructed with posttensioning and high-strength rebar. An additional structural challenge was to provide long, open floor spans with minimal structural depth that could simultaneously accommodate the tight deflection performance requirements of the all-glass façade. The cascade structure has no perimeter columns, which results in a unique sequence of cantilevered concrete flat slabs. To meet the slab performance requirements, the cantilevered slabs are reinforced with a bonded post-tensioning system. Void formers, manufactured by Cobiax USA, are placed between bands of post-tensioning to create long-span, beam-like framing with flat formwork and to reduce the structure’s self-weight. The cantilevered slabs utilize high strength concrete (8 ksi) and taper in thicknesses from 24 inches at supports to 8 inches at the cantilever tips. The curtain wall of the cascade is arranged in multi-story planes that do not align in plan between neighborhoods and are not parallel with the slab’s edges, creating detailing challenges for both the structure and façade. Through a design assist phase, expected deflections from slab curvature were coordinated at each glass mullion with the curtain wall contractor, Gartner, and together the project team decided on an acceptable long-term deflection limit of 1¼ inches for cantilevers up to 26 feet. The bonded post-tensioned slabs were tuned to meet these performance requirements and were detailed to accommodate a range of façade attachment methods. The building’s structural design achieves efficiency by embracing the building’s stacked neighborhoods. The structural system of the cascade leverages the natural interconnections that come from the unique arrangement of the program spaces of the vertical campus. Single story walls and ramps connect and stiffen the cantilevered slabs, allowing for material savings in the slabs. Long-term column shortening of the two Cascade columns causes amplified deflections at the tips of the cantilevers they support. To account for this phenomenon, a staged construction analysis was performed and
Courtesy of Matthew Melrose/Leslie E. Robertson Associates. summarized into a simple planar cambering schedule for the Cascade slabs. Super-elevated slab positions were determined to help assure that the slabs would be level after longterm column shortening occurs. Curtain wall installation procedures are intended to account for the slabs’ super-elevated positions. Although the project is relatively small in area, CUMGEB is a complex building with broad aspirations. The design and construction challenges of CUMGEB are similar to those often found in much taller buildings and longerspan structures. The goals of the project were achieved through the successful use of proven construction technologies, extensive analysis and coordination, and a strong integration of architecture and structure.▪
Daniel Sesil is a Partner at LERA and is the Partner in charge of the CUMGEB project. Daniel can be reached at daniel.sesil@lera.com. Matthew Melrose is an Associate Partner at LERA. He was the Project Director of the CUMGEB project in Construction and served as Project Manager in the design phases. Matthew can be reached at matt.melrose@lera.com. Michael Hopper is an Associate at LERA. He performed the design of the post-tensioned slabs for CUMGEB and served as Project Manager in Construction. Michael can be reached at michael.hopper@lera.com. Andrew Polimeni is an Associate at LERA. He performed the staged construction analysis. Andrew can be reached at andrew.polimeni@lera.com.
ASSOC I A T I O N S NATIONAL COUNCI L
NCSEA News
The NCSEA Licensure Committee continues to actively advocate structural licensure in every U.S. jurisdiction. Progress continues to be made toward this goal. Several states have moved forward in their efforts:
Alaska
In Alaska, the state board proposed changes that would make the SE a post PE license. Public comments were open through February 2016. This is a regulation project that would move the SE license from just another PE license to a post PE license. It would ease comity with Washington and Oregon. The regulation also requires the use of a structural engineer on significant structures. The definition of significant structures closely parallels Washington and Oregon. With the public hearings complete, the Board may take action at their May meeting.
California
SEAOC has proposed language that would expand the types of structures required to be designed by Structural Engineers in California. Currently schools and hospitals are required to be designed by SEs; all other structures are required to be designed by California-licensed Civil Engineers. The proposal is that as of the date that the proposed law goes into effect, Civil Engineers licensed after that date would no longer be able to design significant structures. Civil Engineers licensed in California prior to that date would be able to continue their practice as they had previously, meaning they could design all buildings except schools and hospitals. SEAOC has had several meetings with the Civil and Structural Technical Advisory Committees of the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. This led to a general consensus on the definitions of these significant structures. SEAOC is still in discussions with other stakeholders (such as ACEC and PECG – Professional Engineers in California Government) but anticipates looking for a legislative sponsor in the not too distant future.
Florida
The proposed changes in Florida were introduced in the house and senate with sponsors in each chamber. The licensure committee proceeded without a lobbyist, at the suggestion of their sponsor, but with the support of a number of professional organizations including FSPE, the Florida chapter of NSPE. The measure passed both chambers of the Legislature but was vetoed by the Governor. It was later learned that the “grandfathering” provisions included in the proposed legislation were not acceptable to the governor and this formed the basis of the veto.
Georgia
Georgia’s House Bill 592 (PE, SE legislation) passed the House in February and is going to the Senate in March, where it has some resistance in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. Hopes and efforts are at a high level.
Texas
The structural engineers in Texas worked to prepare a Structural Licensure Bill to the Texas Legislature in 2015. The bill died in committee and did not make it to the floor of the Legislature. Advocates are refocusing their efforts and using a lobbyist to help with all legislative issues relating to structural engineering, not just licensure.
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the Structural Engineers Association (OSEA) worked with the Oklahoma Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (OKPELS) to develop mutually agreeable language for an SE Title Act. The SE Title Act was bundled with other statute updates in a bill submitted to a State Senate Committee. Ultimately, it was removed so that the rest of the bill could move forward. OSEA will try again next year.
Tennessee
The SE Licensure committee of TNSEA is currently in the process of finalizing proposed draft documents for SE Licensure that will be presented to the TNSEA Board of Directors in 2016 for approval. Representatives of the SE Licensure committee have also begun discussions with representatives of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers and ACEC of Tennessee, in efforts to address any concerns that they may have regarding SE Licensure and to educate their membership on the reasons why the structural engineering community in Tennessee is largely in favor of such legislation. Several other states continue to make progress toward specific licensing of Structural Engineers, either as title acts or partial practice acts. These include Connecticut and Ohio. The road to structural licensure in all states will be a long and arduous one. In part this is because of the strong resistance from national engineering organizations such as the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). This was made even more evident recently in Oklahoma, where NSPE addressed a letter to the Oklahoma State Board of Professional Engineers and Surveyors stating why the efforts for structural licensure in that state should be resisted. But even more important is that Structural Engineers have let other organizations speak for all engineers. This has resulted in our losing our own voice. It is time that we as Structural Engineers become more actively engaged in the political arena and let our voices be heard through our Structural Engineers Associations.
Joe Luke, P.E., SECB Structural Licensure Committee Chair Tim Gilbert, P.E., S.E., SECB Structural Licensure Committee Member
NCSEA’s library of over 150 recorded webinars is now available on demand. Viewers can watch recorded webinars anytime of the day or night, take quizzes, and receive certifi cates. In addition, changes were made that allowed NCSEA to drop the $30/recorded webinar fee for subscribers. Th ere is no time like the present to become a subscriber. For $995, you can receive one year of live webinars (at least 20/year) and as many NCSEA online recorded webinars as you would like to view.
Registration for the 2016 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit is now open online at www.ncsea.com. Th e Summit will be held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which is just a short monorail ride, water-launch trip or walk to the Magic Kingdom Park. Hotel reservations are now open as well, accessible through a link online at NCSEA’s website. Th e Summit will feature keynote speaker Kent Estes, Ph.D., S.E., of Walt Disney Imagineering. Th e remaining slate of educational sessions on two tracks is also available at www.ncsea.com. Th e Summit draws together the best in the structural engineering fi eld and features technical and nontechnical educational sessions, social and networking events, the NCSEA Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards, and the trade show.
Above and below: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, host hotel of the 2016 NCSEA Summit.
Safety Assessment Program Scheduled for May 5
Interested in using your engineering expertise to assist post-disaster eff orts following earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes or other natural disasters? Obtain certifi cation through the California Offi ce Of Emergency Services (CalOES) Safety Assessment Program (SAP) that will be presented by NCSEA on May 5. Licensed design professionals and certifi ed building offi cials will be eligible for SAP Evaluator certifi cation and credentials following completion of this program and submission of required documentation. Th is SAP program is highly regarded as a standard throughout the country for engineer emergency responders. Th e training has been reviewed and approved by FEMA’s Offi ce of Domestic Preparedness. Based on ATC-20/45 methodologies and documentation, the SAP training course provides engineers, architects and code-enforcement professionals with the basic skills required to perform safety assessments of structures following disasters. Th e class consists of three webinar segments over one day’s time and is taught by Jim Barnes, who has worked for 20 years for the State of California’s disaster agency. He has served as the lead statewide coordinator for the Safety Assessment Program (SAP) for seven years and has given over 150 classes in the subject since 2004. He also serves as the lead for preliminary damage assessment for potential federal disasters in California. Th e Course cost is $500 per connection, and a proctor is required, who may also take the course.
NCSEA Webinars
April 28, 2016 Fire Damage and Post-Fire Assessment of Structural Wood Members Brian Kukay, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, Montana Tech May 10, 2016 Introduction to Building Structural Dynamics for Seismic Design Structural Engineers Geo Bomba, P.E., S.E., Senior Associate, Forell Elsesser Structural Engineers
May 24, 2016 Designing with Post-Tensioned Concrete Pawan R. Gupta, Ph.D., P.E., S.E. LEEP AP, Principal & Managing Director, Diagnostics More detailed information on the webinars and a registration link can be found at www.ncsea.com. Subscriptions are available! 1.5 hours of continuing education. Approved for
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS NCSEA CE credit in all 50 states through the NCSEA
CONTINUING EDUCATION Diamond Review Program. www.ncsea.com.
NCSEA News
T R U C TURAL S
ASSOC I A T I O N S NATIONAL COUNCI L
The Newsletter of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE Structural Columns
The recent Geotechnical & Structural Engineering Congress was a resounding success. Held in Phoenix, Arizona, February 14 – 17, 2016, close to 2000 attendees participated. This was the first ASCE conference drawing on the strengths of two of the society’s technical institutes. The GeoInstitute and the Structural Engineering Institute worked closely together to offer attendees the best of both institutes’ stand-alone congresses and more.
Attendees enjoyed a large selection of technical sessions covering both structural and geotechnical topics. In addition, there were joint sessions exploring subjects of interest to both. Short courses and lightning sessions were also featured in the program. Student and Younger Members had many events focused on their needs. These included a career fair, Meet the Leaders networking event, and their own reception. Undergraduate teams of both geotechnical and structural engineering students vied in the wall, video, and prediction competitions, held in the exhibit hall. A large and varied number of networking and social events, including a celebration of both institutes’ 20th anniversaries, rounded out the program. These included receptions in the exhibit hall with an opportunity to visit with vendors, and an off-site reception at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Vision for the Future Event
A special evening reception, hosted by Computers & Structures, Inc., President and CEO, Ashraf Habibillah was a highlight of the congress. The event, held at the Phoenix Art Museum, was a gala to support the SEI Futures Fund and highlight the SEI Vision for the Future. Attendees were treated to great food, compelling art exhibits, live music, and the company of other structural engineers.
Errata
SEI posts up-to-date errata information for our publications at www.asce.org/SEI. Click on “Publications” on our menu, and select “Errata.” If you have any errata that you would like to submit, please email it to Jon Esslinger at jesslinger@asce.org.
Congratulations to the 2016 SEI Fellows
SEI was proud to recognize the 2016 Class of SEI Fellows at the Closing Plenary of the Geotechnical & Structural Engineering Congress. Abdeldjelil Belarbi, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE Dilip Choudhuri, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Reginald DesRoches, Ph.D., F.SEI, F.ASCE Wassim Ghannoum, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, A.M.ASCE Nathan Gould, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Perry Green, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Emily Guglielmo, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Riyadh Hindi, Ph.D., P.Eng, F.SEI, M.ASCE Robin A. Kemper, P.E., LEED AP, F.SEI, F.ASCE Mahmoud Khoncarly, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Mustafa Mahamid, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., SECB, F.SEI, M.ASCE Jack Moehle, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Cristopher Moen, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Michael Mota, Ph.D., P.E., SECB, F.SEI, F.ASCE James Ray, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE David Sanders, Ph.D., F.SEI, F.ASCE Lip Teh, CP.Eng, F.SEI, A.M.ASCE Marlon Vogt, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE Andrew Whittaker, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE SEI Members that wish to advance to the SEI Fellow grade are invited to submit their completed application packages by December 1 at www.asce.org/structural-engineering/sei-fellows.
International Workshop on Disaster Resilience
The SEI Disaster Resilience of Structures, Infrastructures, and Communities Committee is participating in organizing the 1st International Workshop on Disaster Resilience, September 20 – 22, 2016 in Torino, Italy. The program includes two days of sessions at the magnificent Hall of Honor in 16th century Valentino’s Castle. An additional day of sessions and visits will be held at the Joint Research Centre in Ispra, which includes the Elsa Lab and Crisis Management Center. Learn more on the workshop website at www.workshop-torino2016.resiltronics.org.
ASCE Announces New State-of-the-Art Guided Online Course on Earthquake Engineering
ASCE’s new Guided Online Courses are highly interactive, instructor-led programs in which you will move through a 12-week learning experience with a cohort of peers. A rich variety of content, including video lectures, interactive exercises and case studies, and weekly discussion board topics help you master the course material. Complete weekly modules at the time and pace that is most convenient for you, from any device.
Earthquake Engineering for Structures – New Course Starts April 4
Earthquake Engineering for Structures introduces the fundamental concepts of earthquake engineering, and provides the foundation for understanding the analysis and design requirements in ASCE 7. Covered in the course are seismic hazard analysis, structural dynamics, development of response spectra, inelastic behavior of structures, seismic resistant structural systems, and seismic load analysis. This course is one of ASCE’s new Guided Online Courses that are highly interactive, instructor-led programs in which you will move through a 12-week learning experience with your peers. The content includes video lectures, interactive exercises, case studies, and weekly discussion board topics to help master the course material. To learn more and to register, visit the ASCE Continuing Education website at http://mylearning.asce.org/
diweb/catalog/item/id/820283/q/c=79&t=5621
Report From Chile Earthquake Assessment Team Now Available
After the February 2010 earthquake in Chile, SEI/ASCE sent a team to assess structures in the affected zone focusing on identifying strengths and weaknesses, in order to gather information that would be useful in developing future U.S. code. The new report, Chile Earthquake of 2010: Assessment of Industrial Facilities around Concepción, looks at the performance of heavy industrial structures in this large seismic event. The earthquake in 2010 was the largest in 50 years to strike off the coast of Chile. During that preceding half century, Chile enacted codes, similar to U.S. code, to improve the seismic resilience of structures. For structural engineers, this report provides critical information for the development and implementation of seismic codes and standards, as well as for focusing retrofit efforts in heavy industrial facilities. Purchase your copy today at www.asce.org/publications.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
NOW OPEN
2017 Structures Congress April 6 – 8, 2017, Denver, Colorado
Now accepting individual paper and complete session proposals for consideration.
Structures Congress 2017 is a forum to advance the art, science, and practice of structural engineering. The SEI National Technical Program Committee (NTPC) is seeking proposals for complete sessions and abstracts for individual papers to be presented at Structures Congress 2017. SEI encourages submissions from practitioners, educators, researchers, structural engineers, bridge and building designers, firm owners, codes and standards developers, and others.
The due date for abstract and session proposals is June 2,
2016. Visit the congress website, www.structurescongress.org, to submit your proposals. The conference website will have detailed information and step by step power points to assist you. Questions? Contact Debbie Smith at dsmith@asce.org or 703-295-6095.
Two SEI Members Elected to National Academy of Engineering
ASCE is proud to congratulate two SEI members who have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Gary J. Klein, P.E., M.ASCE Mr. Kline is an executive vice president and senior principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., Northbrook, Ill. He is being honored by the academy for investigations of national and international infrastructure, and conveying knowledge from these investigations to the profession. Jon D. Magnusson, P.E., S.E., F. SEI, Dist.M.ASCE Mr. Magnusson is a senior principal at Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Seattle. He is being honored by the academy for building designs that enable high-rise buildings in seismic sensitive regions and for innovations in modern structural engineering practice worldwide. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.” The new members will be formally inducted at the NAE’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 2016. See the NAE website at www.nae.edu for more information.
CASE in Point
Donate to the CASE Scholarship Fund!
On February 11 – 12, the CASE Winter Planning Meeting took place in Phoenix, AZ. CASE does two planning meetings a year to allow their committees to meet face to face and interact across all CASE activities. Over 30 CASE committee members and guests were in attendance, making this another well attended and productive meeting. During the meeting, break-out sessions were held by the CASE Contracts, Guidelines, Membership, Toolkit, and Programs & Communications Committees.
Current initiatives include: I. Contracts Committee
Ed Schweiter (ews@ssastructural.com) •Will be creating a “How to” sheet educating people on using the CASE Contract Documents •Working on developing a “pro-bono” sample contract for small projects II. Guidelines Committee
John Dal Pino (jdalpino@degenkolb.com) •Revising the following current Practice
Guideline Documents: CASE 962B – National Practice Guidelines for Specialty Structural Engineers CASE 962-E – Self-Study Guide for the Performance of Site Visits During Construction CASE 962-F – A Guideline Addressing the Bidding and Construction Administration Phases for the Structural Engineer •Working on the following new documents: Commentary on ASCE-7 Wind Design Provisions Commentary on ASCE-7 Seismic Design Provisions Began preliminary discussion on a potential Geotech guideline document/white paper III. Membership Committee Stacy Bartoletti (sbartoletti@degenkolb.com) • Recruitment campaign netted 25 new members for CASE during 2015; working on engaging with new members for them to understand what CASE has to offer • Revising polling question survey for members
IV. Programs and Communications Committee Nils Ericson (nericson@m2structural.com) • Working on market information for new risk management seminar August 4-5, 2016. • Creating track of risk management sessions for 2017 ASCE/SEI Structures Congress • Creating track of risk management / business practice sessions for 2016 ACEC Fall Conference • Putting together the 2015/2016 editorial calendar for articles to Structure Magazine from CASE
V. Toolkit Committee Brent White (brentw@arwengineers.com) • Updating the following current Tools: Tool 10-1: Site Visit Cards • Working on the following new tools: Tool 8-3: Contract Clause Commentary Tool 9-3: Deferred Submittals The CASE Summer Planning Meeting is scheduled for August 3 – 4 in Chicago. New this year will be a day-long education seminar focused solely on risk management/contracting issues for Structural Engineers. Speakers will include experts in the insurance, legal, business world. More information will be announced, including schedule, in the May edition. If you are interested in attending the meeting or have any suggested topics for the committees to pursue, please contact CASE Executive Director Heather Talbert at htalbert@acec.org.
The CASE scholarship, administered by the ACEC College of Fellows, is awarded every year to a deserving student seeking a Bachelor’s degree, at minimum, in an ABET-accredited engineering program. Since 2009, the CASE Scholarship program has given over $18,000 to engineering students to help pave their way to a bright future in structural engineering. We encourage our fellow structural engineering colleagues to support this popular and successful program. Your contribution today will help CASE and ACEC increase scholarship funds to promising students who need this assistance the most. This is an exceptional opportunity to encourage growth in the structural engineering profession and ensure that the highest caliber of students become the future of our industry. Your monetary support is vital in helping CASE and ACEC increase scholarships to those students who are the future of our industry. All donations toward the program may be eligible for tax deduction and you don’t have to be an ACEC member to donate! Contact Heather Talbert at htalbert@acec.org to donate.
ACEC Business Insights
Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness – SAVE the DATE! May 19 – 20, 2016; Chicago, IL
Engineers are often asked to serve as expert witnesses in legal proceedings – but only the prepared and prudent engineer should take on these potentially lucrative assignments. If asked, would you be ready to say yes? Developed exclusively for engineers, architects, and surveyors, this unique course will show you how to prepare for and successfully provide expert testimony for discovery, depositions, the witness stand, and related legal proceedings. Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness is a focused and engaging 1½ day course that will run you through each step of the qualifications, ramifications, and expectations of serving as an expert witness. For more information about the course and/or to register, www.acec.org/calendar/calendar-seminar/applyingexpertise-as-an-engineering-expert-witness-chicago-il.
Engineers to Lead, Direct, and Get Involved with CASE Committees!
If you’re looking for ways to expand and strengthen your business skillset, look no further than serving on one (or more!) CASE Committees. Join us to sharpen your leadership skills – promote your talent and expertise – to help guide CASE programs, services, and publications. Please submit the following information to htalbert@acec.org • Letter of interest • Brief bio (no more than 2 paragraphs)
Follow ACEC Coalitions on Twitter – @ACECCoalitions.
Expectations and Requirements To apply, your firm should: • be a current member of the Council of American
Structural Engineers (CASE) • be able to attend the groups’ two face-to-face meetings per year: August, February (hotel, travel partially reimbursable) • be available to engage with the working group via email and conference call • have some specific experience and/or expertise to contribute to the group Thank you for your interest in contributing to your professional association!
CASE Risk Management Tools Available
Foundation 4 Communication – Communicate to Match Expectations with Perceptions
Tool 4-1 Status Template Report This tool provides an organized plan for keeping your clients informed and happy. This project status report is intended to be sent to your Client, the Owner and any other stakeholder whom you would like to keep informed about the project status. Tool 4-2 Project Kick-Off Meeting Agenda Effective communication is one of the keys to successful risk management. Often times we place a significant amount of effort and care into communication with our clients, owners and external stakeholders. With all that effort, it’s easy to take for granted communication with our internal stakeholders – the structural design team. If a project is not started correctly, there is a good chance that the project will not be executed correctly either. Tool 4-2 is designed to help the Structural Engineer communicate the information that is vital to the success of the structural design team and start the project off correctly. Tool 4-3 Sample Correspondence Guidelines (Updated in 2015!) The intent of CASE Tool 4-3, Sample Correspondence Guidelines, is to make it faster and easier to access correspondence with appropriate verbiage addressing some commonly encountered situations that can increase your risk. The sample correspondence contained within this tool is intended to be sent to the Client, Owner, Sub-consultant, Building Official, Employee, etc., in order to keep them informed about a certain facet of a project or their employment. Tool 4-4 Phone Conversation Log Poor communication is frequently listed among the top reasons for lawsuits and claims. It is the intent of this tool to make it faster and easier to record and document phone conversations. Tool 4-5 Project Communication Matrix This tool is to provide an easy to use and efficient way to (1) establish and maintain project-specific communication standards and (2) document key project-specific deadlines and program/ coordination decisions that can be communicated to a client or team member for verification.
You can purchase these and the other Risk Management Tools at www.acec.org/bookstore.
