August 28, 2002

Design Detailings: Pierepiekarz forms MRP Engineering

After 17 years as a structural engineer specializing in risk assessment and mitigation services, Mark R. Pierepiekarz recently established his own structural risk engineering consulting company, MRP Engineering, LLC. The Newcastle firm is at 7528 134th Ave. S.E. The phone is (425) 430-0500 and fax (425) 988-0172.

The firm will assist clients in protecting their business operations from risks to physical assets resulting from the adverse impacts of natural and manmade disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and explosions. "Our philosophy is to listen to your needs and provide you with practical and cost-effective structural engineering-based risk reduction solutions," said Pierepiekarz.

Services include:

• Structural risk analysis for earthquake, severe wind, blast and other natural and manmade hazards affecting buildings, equipment, piping, bridges and other structures, and lifelines.

• Structural engineering design for selective upgrade or rehabilitation of existing facilities.

• Structural engineering expert opinion in support of insurance claims and/or litigation.

"My personal expertise entails evaluating the potential for and mitigating the devastating effects of earthquakes, extreme winds, and other natural and manmade hazards," said Pierepiekarz. "My own facility retrofit designs have been tested by strong earthquakes -- with exemplary results. I am bringing that expertise to my new company, which specializes in performing structural risk analysis for various hazards, and providing expert opinion in support of insurance claims and/or litigation involving structural engineering issues."

Freeman Fong now in Lower Queen Anne

Freeman Fong Architecture has moved to accommodate its expanding business. Since January, the firm has doubled in size, making it necessary to move to newly remodeled space in Lower Queen Anne.

Previously located at 1514 11th Ave. W., the firm is now at 505 Third Ave. W. The phone number is the same; (206) 282-8245, and a new Web site is under construction at www.freemanfong.com.

Masten is new ACEC/WA president

Masten

Paul Masten, chair and managing principal of Reid Middleton, Inc., will lead the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington (ACEC Washington) as president for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Masten, a civil and transportation engineer, has served as a director for the organization and participated on various committees since 1988.

"Our primary focus this year will be to continue our government advocacy efforts on behalf of all consulting engineers," Masten said. "This means supporting funding to help solve this state’s transportation problems as well as maintaining close contact with all public agencies to eliminate unfair contracting practices." Other goals for the organization this year include increasing awareness of ACEC Washington as a primary resource on business practices and growing the organization to better serve all stakeholders in the built environment.

In addition to his roles at Reid Middleton, Inc., and ACEC Washington, Masten serves on the Board of the Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation and on the Snohomish County Economic Development Council.

The officers and directors who will serve with Masten include: president-elect John Rowland; vice president Jim Miller; vice president Kathy Robertson; directors Kurt Gahnberg, Don Graf and Jeff Shupe were elected this year. Continuing their terms are Directors Ralph Boirum and Jorge Garcia, and national director Jerry Williams.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington is a professional trade association representing 200 consulting engineering, land surveying and affiliated scientific and planning firms statewide. Bill Garrity, ACEC Washington executive director, can be reached at (425) 453-6655.

Architects' guide to structural steel

Designing with Structural Steel -- A Guide for Architects is now available in its second edition from the American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. The guide, created in response to research by AISC's regional engineering staff, provides an understanding of the structural systems, material properties and design details for structural steel. The new edition includes changes in available shapes and incorporates the new Code of Standard Practice, modifications and updates in interface details and new recommendations for specifying architecturally exposed structural steel.

The main purpose of the design guide is to supply information for architects so they can create interesting and cost effective projects in steel. Andy Johnson, vice president of marketing for AISC, remarked that the design guide "makes an architect's job easier. Everyday information that architects usually have to retrieve from several different sources is now found in one book." The guide is meant to be a teaching tool as well as a desk reference on structural steel.

For information on ordering Designing with Structural Steel-A Guide for Architects, please visit AISC's bookstore at www.aisc.org/bookstore. The design guide costs $60 ($40 for AISC members).

AISC, headquartered in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC's mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research and education.