CYS has been involved in seismic investigations and retrofit designs for buildings and other structures throughout our history. CYS engineers are directly involved in ongoing research and information sharing concerning knowledge gained from recent major seismic events. Our engineers are also very active in structural engineering organizations, committees and educational programs and have been active on several SEAOC State Committees involved in the development of the next generation of design guidelines and codes.
Our engineers have extensive experience and knowledge in evaluation techniques defined in structural guidelines provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) such as FEMA 356 (FEMA 273), FEMA 310 (FEMA 178), FEMA 267 and 267A (steel), as well as ATC-40 and the International Building Code.
CYS has been involved in the State Seismic Survey Program since 1994 helping to assess existing structural deficiencies, completing the evaluation of over 200 State buildings, determining Seismic Risk Level and proposing structural retrofit solutions.
CYS’ extensive experience in the analysis and design of complex structures includes recent innovative solutions such as:
- base isolation for buildings
- energy dissipation for buildings
- energy dissipation for elevated water reservoirs
- special moment-resisting truss frames
- “emulative” precast concrete special moment frames or shear walls
- geopier foundation systems
- concrete and masonry shear wall seismic renovation with composite fiberwrap
- Concrete column seismic renovation with composite fiberwrap
- Concrete column seismic renovation with steel jacket encasement
- Disaster Resistant Energy Efficient Structural System (DREESS) using Insulation Concrete Forms (ICF’s)