PSPE 2022 Online Conference Agenda

Description | On June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed without warning. The initial collapse occurred outside of the building tower, in the pool deck region. Seven minutes later, the central portion of the building collapsed; the eastern portion of the building collapsed quickly after that. The western section of the building remained standing. Professor Lehman worked with an investigative journalist team at the Miami Herald led by Sarah Blaskey to investigate the partial collapse using tools and technologies she had developed through her research on seismic evaluation of existing buildings and design of new concrete connections. The primary objective of the investigation is to understand how initial damage in a pool deck could lead to the partial collapse of this flat-plate cast-in-place reinforced concrete structure with an eye toward improving evaluation methods for these structures.

This talk will address the building collapse using:

1. A timeline of the collapse as reported by witnesses.
2. Building damage photographs and videos.
3. Building plans and repair drawings and permits.
4. Advanced nonlinear finite element analyses of the Level 1 slab to investigate possible initiation points and progression of damage.

Speaker | Dawn Lehman, PhD | Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering | University of Washington

Description | Participants will consider a variety of factors to be considered in the design of a wide range of engineering systems.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the four pillars of sustainability and the UN Sustainability Goals.
• Expand sensitivity to the consideration of sustainability issues.
• Explore the interplay between ethics and sustainability.

Speaker | Rebecca Bowman, Esq., PE, DFE | Sr. Dir., Ethics and Professional Practice | NSPE

Description | This presentation will highlight the planning, management, and coordination needed to complete a project similar to what is being presented. The presentation will discuss multiple projects that were required to be completed simultaneously to make the runway rehabilitation feasible. The presentation will also discuss airport design aspects specifically and how it is a forgotten part of the transportation system.

Learning Objectives

• Airport design general information.
• Value of Multi-Modell Projects C.
• Challenges of Project management.

Speaker - Tony Sadaka, PE | Manager | Widmer Engineering Inc.

“How can I take advantage of the available infrastructure-related funds?” This has been the top question on many minds since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was passed last November.

The Act has generated confusion and many questions for owners of capital improvement programs and the engineers who support them—pushing the desire to demystify funding mechanisms and better understand Federal Agencies.

In this webinar, participants will analyze the IIJA and examine the associated upcoming funding opportunities.  Participants will also learn what to expect with the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act. The webinar will also consider the opportunities to participate in federal regulatory activity.

At the end of this session, attendees will understand:

• The current funding opportunities available under the IIJA.
• The requirements of the law.
• Gain an understanding of the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Why it is important to comment on federal agency activity and how to participate.

Resources | White House Infrastructure Implementation Guidebook Webinar Summaries

Speaker - Brandon M. Schall, Esq. |Sr. Manager, Government Relations & Advocacy | NSPE

Description | Participants will gain insight into the various structural tools used to accomplish resolution of disputes, with a special focus on the various roles played by engineers. Referring to the NSPE Code of Ethics, participants will review five cases supplied by the Board of Ethical Review.

Speaker | Rebecca Bowman, Esq., PE, DFE | Sr. Dir., Ethics and Professional Practice | NSPE

The I-579 Urban Open Space Cap Project is a new, urban three-acre green space that reconnects Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District with the city’s Downtown business and cultural center. In the 1950s, entire blocks of homes and businesses in the Lower Hill neighborhood were demolished, and I-579 was constructed, creating a “concrete canyon” of tall retaining walls, and separating the Hill from Downtown. This project has bridged the concrete canyon and made a tree-lined park that functions as a “cap” over I-579, providing a walkable link to Downtown.

This presentation will cover the project location and history, preliminary structural design, final substructure design/construction, final superstructure design/construction, obstacles during construction, and landscaping features.

Speaker | Roger Eaton, PE | Vice President/Professional Associate | HDR Engineering, Inc.

Description | The Building collapsed during adjacent construction activities. Mr. Fronapfel, a retained expert in the matter, will discuss the conceptual design, the structural and geotechnical interdisciplinary needs, and the interaction of the General Contractor, subcontractors, and sub-design professionals regarding the project. The discussion of the potential subrogation actions and allocations will be examined in light of our duties as Professional Engineers working on in-fill properties and the associated risks.

Learning Objectives

• Evaluating the Structural Engineering scopes of work.
• Evaluation of the Contract Provisions of delegated design.
• The necessarily Coordination with General Contractors in Design-build or Turnkey processes.

Speaker | Edward Fronapfel, MS, PE, F.ASCE, F.NAFE, CBIE, CFCC, DFE, D-IBFES | CEO of SBSA, LLC | SBSA, LLC A Charles Taylor Company