Certus performed a structural peer review of this landmark complex. The project had a lean budget and difficult site and programming challenges. We participated with the design team in critical value engineering sessions and offered several innovative solutions to reduce costs by over two million dollars. Our efforts as an adjunct owner's representative required close communication with the engineer of record and regular reports to the University project manager.

Certus peer reviewed and provided value engineering services for the seismic expansion and retrofit of this large reinforced concrete library. The new wing had challenging site constraints, being built within a grove of heritage trees on a site with variable soil conditions. We recommended several alternative design options that resulted in considerable cost savings. The existing building required a sophisticated analysis and retrofit to bring it into compliance with UC Seismic Criteria. We brought our experience and expertise in retrofit to the project by assisting the University in evaluating the retrofit scheme for performance, constructibility and cost efficiency.

 

Certus assisted the University in pre-purchase negotiations for a seismically deficient condominium complex. We developed a criteria that allowed the University to determine whether or not the complex met minimum seismic regulations. Evan Reis met regularly with structural engineers working for both the University and the seller to facilitate their independent structural analyses using this criteria, and helped the team develop a seismic retrofit that was acceptable to both parties.

Certus peer reviewed and provided value engineering services for this new laboratory facility. We worked closely with the owner and engineer of record to identify cost savings, including combining braced frame bays to reduce column sizes, redefining footing dimensions to reduce concrete volume and replacing a complex and costly two-way grade beam system with a heavily reinforced, but significantly less expensive slab on grade. Our efforts resulted in construction cost savings of over one million dollars.

Certus peer reviewed and provided value engineering services for this new laboratory facility. We worked closely with the owner and engineer of record to identify design solutions to challenging soil conditions and vibration requirements. We coordinated the efforts of a specialty vibration consultant who performed in situ tests and developed vibration criteria for the design team, in order to meet the end users' performance goals. We also provided construction administration consulting support to resolve unanticipated problems with the casting of several critical concrete elements.

Certus performed a risk analysis of this seventy year-old structure, slated for replacement in five to ten years. Projected costs of $6 to $14 million to seismically retrofit the building before then were considered too expensive given the building's short future life. We estimated the likelihood of life threatening earthquake damage and concluded the risk over the next ten years was similar to that for a retrofitted building over a fifty year lifetime. Our analysis helped the University demonstrate that replacing the building in ten years or less was a sufficiently conservative risk management strategy.

Evan Reis and Kevin Moore performed a financial analysis for this $200 million bioengineering laboratory. The engineer proposed a relatively new type of framing system that added nearly $1.2 million to the project. Mr. Reis and Mr. Moore evaluated the proposed system and a conventional framing solution, comparing expected capital, contents and business interruption losses due to earthquakes. The proposed system substantially reduced expected losses, achieving more than an 11% return on the added investment. The University used this analysis to justify the newer system.

Certus performed a risk analysis of this 30-year old wood, masonry, steel and concrete building in the heart of the Stanford Campus. The building suffers from extensive weather damage and many seismic deficiencies. The University asked Certus to evaluate two disruptive and costly mitigation options: a full seismic and cladding upgrade or immediate replacement. We developed an alternative strategy that recommended interim waterproofing repairs and replacement in a five to seven year timeframe. This solution allowed the University to keep both its risks and capital budgeting well managed.

• UC San Francisco – Residence Building 20 Structural Peer Review
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Engineering Building Structural Peer Review
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Family Apartments Seismic Evaluation
• UC Santa Cruz – Campus Seismic Guidelines
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Stevenson Academic Structural Peer Review
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Biomedical Sciences Building Peer Review
• UC Santa Cruz – Digital Arts Facility Peer Review
• UC Santa Cruz – Student Services Building, Seismic Retrofit Peer Review
• Stanford University – Campus-wide Seismic Loss Model (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Cantor Center for the Visual Arts Building Design (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Encina Hall Seismic Retrofit (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Lagunita Court Residence Hall Seismic Retrofit (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Memorial Church Seismic Retrofit (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Mitchell Earth Sciences Building Seismic Retrofit (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Seismic Risk Analysis, Campus Concrete Buildings
• Stanford University – Stanford Art Museum Seismic Retrofit (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Stanford Seismic Guidelines (Evan Reis)
• Stanford University – Various Seismic Evaluations
  
• UC Berkeley – Davis Hall, mediation of seismic retrofit
  
• UC Berkeley – LeConte Hall, mediation of seismic retrofit