Kenneth E. Zimmerman, P.E., died on December 17 in Houston, Texas
Kenneth Elbert Zimmerman, P.E., died on December 17 in Houston, Texas. He was 95. Zimmerman was a 1934 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He was a consulting engineer with the firm of Walter P Moore and Associates, Inc., from 1946 to his retirement in 1982. During his tenure he was the structural engineer-of-record for the Houston Astrodome, Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Rice Stadium, The Warwick Hotel and many more prestigious sites in Houston, Texas. He was a registered engineer and architect in Texas and a registered engineer in the states of Indiana, Virginia and South Carolina. He served with the Corps of Engineers in Army service from November 1941 to February 1946 and worked on the Manhattan Project.

A national engineering and consulting firm, Walter P Moore creates solutions that help clients turn their ideas into structures and infrastructures that work. Walter P Moore is consistently recognized for extraordinary client service, engineering excellence and as a "best place to work." In 2006, the firm celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Jim Mogannam recently joined Nabih Youssef Associates as vice president
Jim Mogannam recently joined Nabih Youssef Associates (NYA) as vice president. He will be located in NYA’s San Francisco office. Mogannam is a licensed civil and structural engineer that brings more than 20 years of experience, with a proven track-record in providing structural engineering services for new buildings, as well as complex seismic evaluation and upgrades of existing facilities including historic structures. He has worked with many types of structures, including academic buildings, museums, libraries, commercial buildings and institutional buildings.

"Mogannam’s comprehensive knowledge of building codes and seismic evaluation methodology standards is outstanding," stated Nabih Youssef, president of NYA. "He is an excellent addition to our team."

Some of Mogannam’s experience includes such notable projects as the seismic renovation of the historic California State Supreme Court Building in San Francisco, Cañada College Library and Student Resource Center in Redwood City and Olympic City Club Renovation in San Francisco. Mogannam’s portfolio also includes seismic renovations of Hildebrand Hall and the Berkeley Art Museum at the University of California, Berkeley, Baker and Hamilton Building Renovation and New Office Building in San Francisco, as well as seismic evaluations and upgrade studies of numerous United States Embassy and diplomatic housing facilities in worldwide locations such as Damascus, Syria, Wellington, New Zealand and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Additionally, Mogannam is involved in several professional organizations such as the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). He also served as the Past Chair for the SEAONC Business Forum.

Nabih Youssef Associates (NYA), founded in 1989, is an internationally recognized structural engineering firm providing specialized structural and earthquake engineering consulting for new and existing buildings. Composed of 52 professionals with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Irvine, NYA’s design practice is geared towards high-profile, architecturally intensive projects, including commercial, institutional and public facilities. (www.nyase.com)


Chris Poland, Chairman and CEO of Degenkolb Engineers, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
Chris Poland, Chairman and CEO of Degenkolb Engineers, was elected to become a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in an announcement made by the organization’s president earlier this month. Induction into the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions for an engineer.

"I am honored to be elected into this highly regarded institution," said Poland. "I will continue to uphold the values of education, innovation and scientific integrity that the Academy represents as I continue to advocate for seismic safety worldwide."

Membership into the NAE signifies 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 Academy is widely recognized for inducting the best and brightest minds in the field.

Poland was recognized for his "leadership in the development of performance-based design procedures and standards for evaluating seismic events and rehabilitating buildings."

Poland’s structural engineering career spans more than 30 years and began at Degenkolb Engineers. A passionate seismic safety advocate, he currently presides as Chair of the Congressionally mandated Advisory Committee to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and is Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Facilities. He was Chair of the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference in San Francisco in April 2006, which raised awareness on earthquake safety, preparedness and mitigation. He shared the stage with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein in an internationally covered event that brought the nation to think proactively about earthquake danger. He serves as the Chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings Standards Committee, which recently completed both ASCE 31 and ASCE 41, both standards for the evaluation and rehabilitation of existing buildings that are used by engineers worldwide. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Urban Planning Association (SPUR) and recently, he helped author "The Disaster Resilient City" published by SPUR which defines the key steps the City needs to take to be disaster resilient.

Poland is the 2006 recipient of the Alfred E. Alquist award from the California Earthquake Safety Foundation and is the 2008 SSA/EERI Joyner lecturer. Formerly, he served as President of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute from 2001 to 2002.

Poland’s induction into the NAE is not the first for Degenkolb. Henry Degenkolb was inducted in 1984, and in 1990 senior principal Loring Wyllie was elected into the organization for his contributions to the engineering industry.

Established in 1940, Degenkolb Engineers is one of the nation’s leading structural engineering firms in the design and seismic strengthening of buildings. Degenkolb offers comprehensive design, rehabilitation, and consulting services to architects, building owners, hospitals, educational institutions, corporations and government agencies. The firm has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Portland and Seattle. Degenkolb routinely leverages firm-wide experience, calling on support from any of its six U.S. offices to ensure technical excellence on all projects.


The American Shotcrete Association appointments Chris J. Darnell as executive director
The American Shotcrete Association (ASA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris J. Darnell as the new executive director of the organization.

Darnell has extensive experience in the concrete industry, including serving 20 years at the American Concrete Institute (ACI) as Manager of Certification Operations, and most recently, Manager of Process Improvement. During this time, Darnell worked closely with ASA having helped develop the launch of ACI’s Shotcrete Nozzleman Certification program. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

"Having had the opportunity to work with the American Shotcrete Association in the past, I know firsthand the dedication and hard work of our members," said Darnell. "ASA’s accomplishments in its first ten years are impressive, and I am very excited to be a part of an organization with such passion and vision for the future. We will be working hard to leverage the exceptional skill and knowledge of our members in educating the concrete industry of the benefits and advantages of the shotcrete process."

ASA is a non-profit organization of contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, designers, engineers, owners, and others with a common interest in promoting the use of shotcrete. For more information about ASA, visit www.shotcrete.org.