museum of arts and design

R.essayROBERT SILMAN ASSOCIATES ▪ STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS SUMMER 2009

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This past fall marked the official unveiling of the Museum of Arts and Design in the reconditioned and reclad building known to most as 2 Columbus Circle. In September 2008, the museum

reopened the building to the public following a six-year, $90 million renovation campaign. Extreme alterations to the original mid-20th century structure were designed by Allied Works Architecture, Inc. of Portland, Oregon and involved reconfiguring the interior layout, adding a new feature stair, and, most notably, replacing the exterior curtain wall. Robert Silman Associates supplied the necessary structure for these alterations, working closely with the design team to develop creative engineering solutions for the project’s unique requirements.

The new Museum of Arts and Design at 2 Columbus Circle. Photo by Tim Schenck

By Lizzie OlsonContents:

1Project of Interest:

Museum of Arts and Design

2Projects In The News

3Spotlighton: Derek

Trelstad

Emergency Managaement Plan

6 CANstruction

Environmentally Responsible Engineering:

Zero Energy House

7New Kids

9QA/QC Quadrant

10Seminar Summary:

The Potomac Aqueduct

112009 Silman Fellow

Update

New Projects

12The Deadline

13Photo Tips

14Awards

Office Corner

PROJECT OF INTEREST:

museum of arts and design

Page 2

Projects In The News

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Cincinnati Museum CenterBy Ben Rosenberg“Museum Fix to Cost $120 Million”www.Cincinatti.com

Architect: RMJM Hillier Group

RSA Team: J. Tortorella, N. Hudson, T. Reynolds, M. Pucciarelli

Built in 1933 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Union Terminal train station is one of the most recognizable buildings in Cincinnati. Converted into a museum complex in the early 1990’s, the building is currently undergoing a series of repairs and renovations on which RSA is assisting.

As part of the investigation, RSA commissioned petrographic analysis of the concrete roof slab showing signs of deterioration. The process, which used ultraviolet light and stain analysis of concrete cores, indicated that the existing cinder concrete slab would remain functional provided measures were taken to minimize the infiltration of moisture in the slab. Concrete fill on top of the existing slab was demolished, requiring an electronic monitoring system on existing interior murals painted on plaster to ensure they remained in good condition during the work. RSA’s scope also includes work on a new exterior façade on the southeast wing of the museum. The brick façade is being replaced, though existing bricks are being salvaged and reused where possible; the façade work also includes new lintels and new CMU to replace existing terra cotta backup. RSA is also designing a series of new interior openings for new mechanical systems.

Center for Wellness, College of New RochelleBy Sarah Millsaps

“Wellness Center as Garden of Eden” www.WorldArchitecture.com;“Concrete Is Forever” Architect’s Newspaper, 11-30-08. “Best of 2008 Awards- Project of The Year: Sports Facility Project” New York Construction, 12-09

Architect: Ikon 5

RSA Team: S. Hughes, M. Machado, S. Lee

This 50,000 sq-ft, $26-million project achieved a LEED silver certification and the New York Construction’s 2008

Sports Facility Project of the Year. The building, completed in April 2008, includes teaching and assembly spaces, a 1500-seat NCAA gymnasium, distance-learning classrooms and seminar spaces, a holistic meditation room, and a 100-seat competition natatorium with a roof garden.

The north half of the Wellness Center is almost exclusivleycast-in-place concrete. Over the locker rooms, the roof slab is an 8” thick, two-way flat slab supported on cast-in-place concrete columns. Where architecturally exposed the concrete mix contained 50% cement replacement with blast-furnace slag.

The roof of the natatorium is supported by a series of twelve cast-in-place concrete beams, spanning 75 feet over the swimming pool. The beams are only 15 inches wide. Because of the relatively chlorine-rich atmosphere in the natatorium below, 3” clear cover was specified for the reinforcement.

The sculptured form of the natatorium seating areas was a unique challenge. Villa Construction, the project’s concrete sub-contractor, constructed a full-scale mock-up of a cross section of the natatorium space in a warehouse off-site. Villa also constructed several mock-ups of just the spectator seating areas. These were created for architectural approval, as well as to determine the best location for the construction joint.

Eastern MarketBy Stephanie Potter

“A Market That’s Up” Washington Post, 6- 21-0. “Flames Forced Eastern Market to Leap Forward” Washington Post, 06-28-09.

Architect: Quinn Evans Architects

RSA Team: K. Hulet, D. Tills, D. Makim, J. Matteo, S. Bouvia

Eastern Market has long been an important element on Capitol Hill, providing a neighborhood market and a gathering place for residents since

its completion in 1873. Already in desperate need of modernization, the building suffered a devastating fire in April 2007, resulting in a total gutting

R. Essay - Summer 2009

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When asked, Derek says he ended up at RSA because he was “looking for something.” But he had to look at lots of other things first.

Before and during college, Derek cut grass for the Borough of Princeton – a job he still calls the “worst ever” – and worked as a surveyor’s assistant. Neither of these jobs really interested him, but he did learn that he liked working outside. Derek attended the University of Vermont, graduating in the mid-1980s with a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering. He focused his studies on machine design and energy systems. During college, he held an internship at IBM in a chip manufacturing facility in Vermont. He and his team redesigned one of the manufacturing lines to improve its efficiency, but their designs were overruled for being too expensive. “It was Dilbert before Dilbert – it was awful.” After IBM, Derek knew he wanted to change directions. He took the GREs before leaving school and began researching graduate programs in solar energy systems.

In the meantime, he worked for a year for a contractor specializing in custom homes and restoration of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings and then attended a one-year program in Preservation Carpentry at the North Bennet Street School (NBSS) in Boston. There, he learned traditional woodworking and masonry skills. During the program, he helped move a historic house on Staten Island, a project that introduced Derek to the Staten Island Historic Society and Richmondtown Restoration, who later hired him as a restoration carpenter. After a year or so and a chance encounter with a restoration architect working on a master plan for the SIHS museum and grounds, Derek realized he “didn’t want to be at the end of the process anymore.” He wanted to be part of the decision-making

early in the preservation process. This realization led him to pursue a Masters in Historic Preservation at Columbia University, an internship surveying (!) and conserving stones in a cemetery in Pittsburgh, and ICCROM’s stone conservation workshop in Rome. Returning from Rome during the economic dip in the early 1990s and looking for a way to get back to the Mediterranean, Derek lined up a project management job in Spain. But this plan was trumped by an apparently awesome fishing trip and week-long stay in a private cabin in Michigan.

After some time, Derek’s sister-in-law put him in touch with the editors of Progressive Architecture magazine. He was hired almost on the spot to help them start a new “book” called Building Renovation at which he wrote and edited for five years. (Derek wanted to name the magazine RE:B&R – for “Regarding Building and Renovation” and pronounced “rebar” – but he couldn’t convince the publisher that it would sell.) Nat’s former business partner, Don Friedman, wrote an article for an early issue of the magazine. When the magazine folded after its sister Progressive Architecture was sold to a competitor, Don and Nat offered Derek a job over cheap Chinese food. Derek worked with Don and Nat (and later just Don) for three years until Don sold the business to Thornton Tomasetti. He stayed on with TT in their historic preservation studio for eight years, periodically having lunch or drinks with, variously, Bob, Nat and Ed. In 2006, he decided that RSA was where it’s at....and he’s been with us ever since!

RSA’s Emergency Management Plan

The Emergency Management Plan (the Plan or EMP) for the NY Office is

complete and has been distributed. The Plan covers crisis management, disaster recovery and business continuity. The Emergency Management Planning Committee (EMPC) will be presenting for the office the following topics: medical in house, fire safety and security, technical, shelter in place, office inaccessible, and building maintenance. There will be an EMP for each office in the near future.

Besides crisis management, the Plan describes disaster recovery and business continuity - what we need to do to recover, to assess and document damages and to

continue working, whether remotely from home or in a temporary office set up by a mutual aid participant. These sections are organized by department.

Communication is key in every area of emergency management, from managing the actual crisis to getting back to business as usual. We have different methods of contacting RSA staff, and you will see first hand as we begin some of the drills we have planned. Drills are good practice and may include full or partial evacuation and testing of the OneCall Alert system and the Phone Tree. It gives us a chance to reassess the Plan and make any necessary changes.

All RSA employees need to keep the EMP Manual at home. It is available in hard-copy and on CD to save on your home computer. Here in the NY office, it is available electronically on the network L Drive. Everyone is required to read the manual and sign a statement that they have read it.

The Plan will be updated semi annually, so when asked for addresses or phone number changes, make sure you send them in!

Emergency wallet cards were printed and distributed. These cards are for emergency use only. They have the personal phone numbers of principals and associates and they should be kept in your wallet. Do not give these numbers to anyone.

The manual also includes the pamphlet from the Croaker Fire Drill Corporation Emergency Action Plan (EAP). This is the building’s plan (88 University Place), which complies with Local Law 26, standards for evacuation for office buildings. Any emergency involving full or partial evacuation and/or sheltering in place will be coordinated with the Building Fire Safety/EAP Director – Carlos, our Super- along with RSA’s Fire Wardens, Deputies, Searchers, and EMPC Fire & Safety leaders.

By Ellen Blumenthal

Derek Trelstad spotlight on Derek Trelstad

By Sarah Millsaps


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The original 2 Columbus Circle, com-pleted in 1964, was designed by archi-tect Edward Durrell Stone to house the Huntington Hartford Gallery of Mod-ern Art. Opposing the minimalist ar-chitectural aesthetic of the era, the ten-story concave building embodied Stone’s unique approach to modernism, evok-ing Venetian motifs through arcades and filigree-like ornament. The cast-in-place concrete structure included essentially four components: (1) a central concrete bearing core extending the full height of the building, (2) exterior concrete bear-ing columns and shear walls, (3) a series of concrete floor beams spanning from

the central core to the exterior bearing line, and (4) an infill concrete floor struc-ture of either one-way joists, waffle slab, or flat slab construction. Programmati-cally the building was arranged around the central core at half-story intervals, creating a narrow ring-shaped layout with mezzanines at the second through seventh floors. The building’s tripartite façade- a vast expanse of white marble panels sandwiched between arched col-onnades at the ground and upper floors- reflected the exterior bearing condition. The building’s most recognizable feature was its ground floor arcade of pre-cast columns and circular portholes, which

New York Times architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable famously compared to gigantic lollipops. A border of perforated marble panels supplied both ornamen-tation and some natural light into the largely windowless space. Stone’s quirky design for 2 Columbus Circle gener-ated mixed opinions within New York City and the design community. Add-ing fuel to initial criticism of the project, the gallery was forced to close after just five years in operation due to a lack of funding. Several different organizations occupied the building after the gallery closed in 1969, though by 1998, it sat vacant and deteriorating.

L to R: The original 2 Columbus Circle facade. The new 2 Columbus Cirlce, home to MAD.

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In 2002, the Museum of Arts and Design – formerly the American Craft Museum – purchased 2 Columbus Circle from the City of New York and quickly launched plans to renovate the abandoned building. Intent on hiring an architect to match its dedication to contemporary arts and craft, the museum hosted an international competition to redesign 2 Columbus Circle and eventually chose Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works to execute the task. Allied Works had just completed its first high-profile project, the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis. Allied Works approached RSA about joining the design team for the project and, in December 2002, selected the firm to participate in an existing conditions survey and conceptual design study with local façade consultant R.A. Heintges & Associates. The investigation showed the original structure to be inherently strong and in relatively good condition with only localized areas of deterioration. Following the initial study, RSA was retained as the primary structural consultant for the renovation. The project involved a complete overhaul of the 54,000 square foot building in order to update it functionally and aesthetically, as well as to satisfy the requirements of a high-tech cultural institution. In particular, Allied Works focused on creating an open and engaging atmosphere by improving connections between the various spaces and providing more natural light and views to the outside.

Reconfiguring Stone’s original layout required numerous changes to the concrete structure. Mezzanines and partition walls were removed, unwanted floor openings were infilled with concrete slab on metal deck, and existing concrete columns and beams were cut and resupported by steel girders. The existing framing system varied somewhat from floor to floor, complicating the analysis for these alterations. Additional floor openings were made to accommodate the museum’s complex

new building systems and two new staircases. RSA collaborated directly with Allied Works on the design of a wood and steel feature staircase connecting the lobby and galleries at the northeast corner of the building. The stair construction consisted of bent flat plates hung from pre-tensioned cables connected to steel beams at the ground and third floors.

By adapting the layout and emphasizing to the front spaces of the building, Allied Works was able to better utilize the exposure and views along its three main elevations. In order to draw more natural light in through the façade, a series of continuous linear slots were cut

in the exterior concrete bearing wall and fitted with transparent and fritted glass. RSA devised a system of custom steel “pins” to support the remaining wall above the horizontal slots, analyzing each section as a deep concrete beam. The pins consisted of a narrow vertical steel plate welded to steel angles at the top and bottom of the opening. The glass slots, “ribbons of light,” continued

through the gallery floors at several locations, requiring that the affected slab be reframed with steel beams and fireproofed accordingly. Allied Works’ transformation of 2 Columbus Circle culminated in replacing Stone’s original marble cladding with a curtain wall of glass and terra cotta designed by German firm Seele. Even as the building was essentially stripped inside and out, a trace of the original 2 Columbus Circle was retained at the lobby, where all but one of the famous “lollipop” columns remain.

RSA Team: N. Oppenheimer & G.Smith

Coordinator’s Notes

Coordinator: E. RainesContributors:

RSA NY, DC & Boston StaffLayout: E. Raines

Title “R.Essay”: Jim VillanoEditing & Proofreading:

B. Rosenberg, E. Blumenthal

Thank you to the committee for all of your hard work. Without the volunteers, this

newsletter would not be possible. -E. Raines

Staircase connecting the lobby and galleries.

SW corner, highlighting the vertical & horizontal cuts through the facade


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RSA New York CANstructs Another Amazing EntryBy Alex Baumel

For the past 15 years, CANstruction, the annual design contest and food drive, has inspired the hearts and minds of thousands of new Yorkers, including many RSA employees. Now a nation wide event held in over 130 cities, CANstruction has taken in over ten million pounds of non-perishable food since its inception in 1992. Participating in this event every year since 1994, RSA has built a wide array of can structures, and has won several awards.

Led by 2nd year RSA engineer and eccentric can enthusiast Alex Baumel, this year’s New York CANstruction design team attempted the nigh impossible goal of building a replica of the new Beijing headquarters of the Central China Television network, the CCTV Tower. Designed by RSA client Rem Koolhaas and his Office of Metropolitan Architecture, the iconic building stands just over 750 feet tall, and consists of two slightly-leaning towers, 45 and 51 stories high, connected at their top by an eight story, L-shaped bridge.

To accomplish this feat, RSA’s top-secret CANstruction Research and Development team spent over four months created cutting edge, never-before-seen methods of can construction, included threaded rod tie-down anchors, post-tensioned wired cantilevers, and a hanging curtain wall can façade. Despite not winning the coveted “Structural Ingenuity” prize, the team was extremely proud of accomplishing the challenging task of implementing their highly experimental new technologies and techniques in an elegant and beautiful manner. The entire office can be proud of donating over 3000 cans worth of food to hungry New Yorkers.

While no official announcement has been made, it is rumored that the CANstruction R&D department is already hard at work experimenting with new techniques to use in the next competition, and that deliberations have already begun concerning the election of the next CANstruction team captain.C

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The Bethesda Zero House is a LEED-H Platinum residence being built as a market rate spec house. The house is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes through a variety of alternative energy sources. The roof is mounted with

photovoltaic cells that will produce 90% of the house’s energy as well as solar thermal collectors that will supplement the house’s water heating system. To control runoff, the driveway uses pervious concrete to allow rainwater to naturally percolate into the ground below. RSA prepared structural drawings and provided advice on the building’s envelope. The LEED Platinum rating required some unique structural considerations by RSA. All the headers in the house were individually designed as insulated headers using LSL beams sandwiching foam insulation to save material and to increase the efficiency of the building’s envelope. To save even more material the house was built without any structural panel sheathing. As a result, metal strap cross braces were used to provide the lateral resistance. The Bethesda Zero house represents a concerted step in trying to reconcile sustainability with the inevitabilities of the housing market and RSA was proud to be a part of it.

ENviRoNMENtAlly RESpoNSiblE ENgiNEERiNgx xBy Chris Ward


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New KidsAlberto “the Ferocious” Mena began his tenure as a full-time RSA employee on the first of July, 2009, officially our newest employee. He interspersed Structural Engineering experience as an intern both at RSA and Camp Dresser McKee while obtaining a BS in Civil Engineering out of MIT. Raised in Miami, Alberto is an avid fan of reading and of sports in the Magic City, collecting Dan Marino and Jeff Conine trading cards as a child. Mr. Mena revels in the dedication and the quality of the work in which he takes part in.

Aliona Korsunska grew up in Kiev, Ukraine and graduated from California Coast University. While in school she studied and continues to have a passion for fashion design, photography and body art. She joined RSA as a receptionist/administrative assistant enjoying the work, and lucky for us, adding

her creative spirit and international perspective to the wonderful diversity we celebrate here at RSA. Her favorite subject is her daughter, Bogdana, soon to be 3, the Cutest Baby in the Whole World!

Chris Ward hails originally from our very own hood, Greenwich Village, New York City, and joined us in our DC office in June of 2008. Chris got his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006. After working in the Big Apple for a bridge design firm for a year, he felt the memorable draw of the Midwest and returned to Washington University for his master’s degree in structural engineering. Chris’s hobbies include cooking, home beer brewing and playing ultimate Frisbee.

graham “grahmbo” Seward of North Clarendon, VT ditched the idea of monopolizing the maple syrup industry

straight out of high school and instead faithfully attended Cornell University for his BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and his MS in Structural Engineering. When Bob Silman gave a presentation at Cornell, Graham was induced to apply. He enjoys the project variety and the opportunity to problem solve and think outside the box. He also applies his interning experience at iLevel in his day-to-day work here. Sports, traveling, and photography are favorite hobbies and his fervent following of the Yankees rivals only that of “Ric Flair”.

Jenna “The prodigal Daughter” Cellini of Rockland County New York has a strong background in Civil Engineering and Architectural Studies as well as a Masters in Historic Preservation from Lafayette College and UPenn. She discovered RSA through her research on Preservation Engineering at graduate school. Her interning experience in preservation at Einhorn Yaffee Prescott and at the NYDOT provided a solid foundation for Jenna to make the easy transition at RSA. Like many others she values the diversity of the projects, and the opportunity to collaborate with many talented architects and engineers. She is an ardent TV watcher but also enjoys picking up a good book or traveling and is a devoted fan of the 26 (soon to be 27!) time world champion New York Yankees.

Jen Jacob”the kid is not my”son is a Wolverine and a Yellow Jackets alum, having obtained a BSE from Michigan and an MSCE from Georgia Tech. Previous structural engineering internships helped bridge the gap between academia and RSA where she thoroughly enjoys the diversity of projects and the level of involvement that she has in each of them. She grew up in Cleveland and Detroit, reading and watching old classic films, and these continue to be her favorite hobbies to this very day.

John “Salsa” Anderson hails from Sacramento. He waltzed through his academic career at UC Davis and UC Berkeley attaining a Masters of Engineering degree. Previous work experience includs working for Magnusson Klemencic Associates in Seattle. John came into contact with RSA by being awarded the IABSE Fellowship with Bob Silman and was reined in by the friendly and lively office environment. His most recent hobby is hablo-ing espanol (It has been rumored that he also speaks German quite fluently.)

Originally from Philadelphia - born and raised - lea pineda joined RSA after relocating to Maryland. She attended Villanova University for her BS and her MS in Civil Engineering. Lea then worked

in Philadelphia at a small structural engineering firm for a year before deciding to move to the DC area with her fiancé. She enjoys traveling and playing sports as well as attending sports

games, especially baseball (Go Phillies!). Them’s fighting words!

Although Mike tomlin was born in Oklahoma, he grew up an Army Brat calling Hawaii, Kansas, California, Germany (Hessen & Baden-Wür t t embe rg ) , Pennsylvania, and now Virginia home. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering at Bucknell University and an ME in Structural Engineering at Cornell University. Prior to joining RSA he started an engineering consulting firm that was associated with a design-build construction company in central Pennsylvania. Mike has enjoyed his first year with RSA, finding the atmosphere both challenging and fun. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading history.

“punctual” peter Spataro beats everybody into the office in the morning. He dazzles everyone with his work ethic and pleasant demeanor, which stems from the fact that he deeply appreciates the

By Eve Pate & Justin Den Herder

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(Projects in the News) Continued from Page 2

of the building. RSA had initially conducted a preliminary structural investigation and analysis of the roof structure, providing design guidelines on the feasibility of suspending objects from the iron roof trusses over the two main halls. After the fire, RSA performed the structural engineering services for the $22 million renovation. Special care was taken to ensure that many of the Market’s significant historic features were preserved while the building was modernized. The roof features alternating new steel trusses, reflective of the original design, alternating with the old ones kept to help maintain the historic design. The handcrafted windows are historic replicas, with new glass windowpanes and the interior is painted a dark salmon pink, the original 1873 color.

African burial groundBy Eytan Solomon

“Best of 2008 Awards- Award of Merit: Cultural” New York Construction 12.09

Architect: Aarris Architects RSA Team: M. Garber, S. Lee, R. Hermogenes

In 1991, excavation for a new federal building in lower Manhattan unearthed what appeared to be human remains. Archaeologists investigated and realized that they had made one of the most significant discoveries in American history: The site was part of a huge cemetery, containing the bodies of approximately 20,000 enslaved Africans dating back as far as the 17th century, buried over six acres, from Centre Street to Broadway and from

Chambers Street to Duane Street. Most of that area had already been built upon, but after the discovery the General Services Administration designated the remainder of the site, 15,000 square feet, as the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark. Aarris Architects designed a memorial space featuring seven sculptural elements including the prominent 24-foot-high entry chamber and a ramp that brings visitors six feet below ground to the level of reinterment. The entry chamber is constructed of a slender welded steel frame clad in granite panels, and the ramps are reinforced concrete also clad in granite. The project has won numerous awards including NY Construction 2008 Best Cultural Project Award of Merit and an ACEC New York Diamond Award for Special Projects.

the DC Court of AppealsBy Stephanie Potter

“Winning on Appeal” Washington Post, 06.17.09

Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle

RSA Team: D. Tills, D. Makim, J. McParland, W. Chughtai, N. Ferran, J. Matteo, B. Rossetti, S. Bouvia, K. Potterton, K. Mettam

Originally designed by George Hadfield in 1820 to serve as the City Hall for the District of Columbia, the Courthouse is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest public buildings in Washington, DC. RSA performed all structural engineering services for the renovation and modernization of the building, while also designing the structural measures for the project, including the strengthening of a substantial segment of floor to

accommodate a new library and two substantial new additions, including a new entrance pavilion. Designed as a contemporary interpretation of the original north side portico, the new pavilion harmonizes with the proportions and character of the historic structure while being unmistakably modern.

Chinese Community Church,

By Stephanie Potter

“Towering Transformation” Preservation Magazine, 07.09

Architect: EHT Traceries

RSA Team: J. Matteo, M. Tomlin After purchasing the church on the corner of 5th and Eye in 2006, the Chinese Community Church of Washington, DC sought to restore the church to its original 1852 appearance, as designed by the then Architect of the Capitol Thomas U. Walter. RSA was brought on board to reconstruct the original tower that had been removed in the early 20th century. The tower was framed in timber, built upon the remnants of the original tower’s timber framing and masonry.

Additional project in the News Articles: (Partial List)“In Search of Lincoln’s Washington” Preservation, 01-02-09. Project: Lincoln Hall

“Restoring A Museum Masterpiece With Composites” High Performance Composites, 01/09. Project: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Architect: WASA

“Stern Gets Scully Prize” Architect’s Newspaper ,12-10-08. Project: Kiawah Island House, SC Architect: Robert A.M. Stern Architects

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QA/QC QuadrantBy Mel Garber

Welcome to the next installment of the QAQC Quadrant where we detail the progress of the QA/

QC Group.

Since our last installment in the RSA newsletter, we have significantly improved our QA/QC activities and deliverables. The Principals are now more adamant about ensuring that the drawings have been reviewed either by them and/or through the QC process prior to them signing drawings. This is a necessary development and compels all of us to make sure the process is adhered to. Pat Arnett has become an important cog in the QA/QC process and manages the review spreadsheet that all project engineers have to use to facilitate review of their projects. It is also heartening to see the updated checklists are being used on projects, though not currently universally but heading in that direction.

The group has updated the typical details to ensure they comply with the latest standards and to eliminate any confusion or ambiguities that have arisen on projects. As these are “living” documents, we will continue to revisit and improve on them as necessary. The General Notes sheet is also in the process of being reviewed and updated. The comments and questions we receive from engineers will be reviewed and where there is merit, the notes will be amended.

We are also in the process of developing “Go-By” drawings that will serve as templates for different project or material type. Our first Go-By set is for New York City School Construction Authority drawings and is located at J:\’GO TO’ PROJECTS\SCA job and we will soon produce steel-framed, plank and concrete Go-By drawings. We believe

that these drawings will help the engineers and drafters maintain the office standards for drawings.

Karina Tribble has undertaken the task of revamping our standard specifications and has sent out an RFP to specification writers for their services. Our goal is to ensure we have specifications that are current, refer to the latest codes and guidance notes and that are regularly updated to industry standards. The specifications will generally contain all sustainable elements as standard and will then be modified as necessary.

Scott Hughes did a presentation on shop drawing procedures last year, to ensure that all engineers are cognizant of what and how to check shop drawings.

While the group has been diligent in reviewing all these tools we use in producing our documents, we are relying on engineers to inform the group if and when they discover discrepancies, errors or conflicting information in any of the documents. We thank those who have been giving us feedback, as this is what is necessary to make us consistently produce quality work.

We continue to encourage engineers to submit requests for typical details based on their experience and to bring to the attention of any member of the group discrepancies or errors that they might encounter while using the typical details, specifications or General Notes.

It is hoped that this corner will benefit from input from all the engineers in addressing or identifying matters pertaining to quality in the design and/or construction aspect of our work.

“Studio Visit: Hariri & Hariri Architecture” Architect’s Newspaper, 12-10-08. Project: Shahbazi Pool House Architect: Hariri & Hariri Arch.

“Public Outcry” Architect’s Newspaper, 12-10-09. “Enter Theatergoers, Gently Welcomed” NY Times, 04-26-09. Project:New York Public Theater Architect: Polshek Partnership

“Seaboard Weatherproofing & Restoration” Architecture News, 12-29-08. Project: Eldridge Street Synagogue Architect: Walter Sedovic Architects

“A Commitment to Community” Traditional Building, 02-09. Project: American Revolution Center Architect: Robert A.M. Stern Architects

“Differentiated & Compatible” Traditional Building, 02-09. Project: Brooklyn Museum Architect:Polshek Partnership

“Building Green Houses for the Poor” Time Magazine, 02-17-09. “A Green Building, for those Without Much of the Green Stuff To Spare” NY Times, 05-11-09. Project: Intervale Green (WHEDCo) Architect: Edelman Sultan, Knox & Wood Arch.

“Bright Spot in Brooklyn” Architect’s Newspaper, 03-04-09. “On Violent Ground, a Touch of Beauty” NY Times, 03-29-09. “Breaking All The Rules with New York’s Public Building Design” Wall Street Journal, 05-13-09. Project: Saratoga Avenue Community Center Architect: George Ranalli Architects

“High Line on Track” New York Post, 3-16-09. Project: High Line Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro

“Martin House Visitor’s Center & Restoration” Architect, 04-09. Project: Darwin Martin House Architect: Hamilton Houston Lownie Architects

“New Homes for a Varied Cast” NY Times , 04-26-09. Project: Schermerhorn House Architect: Polshek Partnership

“After 2 Years, A Meeting on Village Landmarks” NY Time,s 05-12-09. Project: NYU Law School Architect: Rosenberg Kolb Architect

“Endless Spiral. The Guggenheim Celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright” NY Magazine, 05-25-09 Project: The Works of FLW



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friendly and caring people with whom he works. Peter was born in Bellerose, Queens and has an insatiable passion for his New York Mets. When he isn’t rocking out to Springsteen, you’ll probably find him on the tennis court.

Sarah Christian spent her first 22 years in Pittsburgh, PA. She earned a BS at Carnegie Mellon a Masters at Johns Hopkins, both in Civil Engineering and attained her Ph.D in structural engineering at Stanford University where she thoroughly enjoyed sun, palm trees, and the beach. She worked on the development and mechanical characterization of sustainable biocomposites, structural materials made from biopolymers and hemp fabric. Sarah joined RSA in March of this year. She is excited to finally apply all that she learned! In her free time, Sarah enjoys being with her husband, Ryan and her dogs. She enjoys cooking, working out, hiking, and dining out.

Sarah “if the shoe”FitzMaurice began working at RSA in late September 2008. Her past work experience includes a two and a half year stint at an engineering firm specializing in entertainment structures.

Born in Yonkers, NY Sarah made the short trip to Manhattan College every day where she acquired her BS and MS in Civil Engineering. She enjoys the diversity of the

projects and the friendly office environment at RSA. However, she wisely decided not to play on RSA’s pitiful but hopeful basketball team and instead better utilizes her time coaching youth basketball.

Born into a family of engineers in Bulgaria (behind the iron curtain at the time), it is no surprise that vassil Draganov chose engineering as a career. After graduating

from the university, he spent a year in the army as an artillery officer. While working in the Bulgarian office of an American engineering company

he was transferred to the US where he met and married his wife who dragged him to

DC, where he landed at RSA in April 2008. Vassil likes Pink Floyd and classical music, he’s a news junky – especially geopolitics, loves Indiana Jones movies, and his favorite book is The Origin of Wealth! He has two kids, Elly who is 41/2 years old and Boris, 7 months old.

William Rivera was born and raised on the lovely island of Puerto Rico. After graduating college, he worked for Gomez Sampera, designing movie theaters for islands in the Caribbean. In 2000, he left surfing and sun, and moved his family to Fort Lauderdale, Fl where he worked as an architectural designer and CAD manager with an architectural firm, Development International Group. Now a drafter at RSA, he stays up to date with new technology and techniques, continually striving to improve the quality of his work. In his spare time, he loves to read and visit museums. So far, he has successfully survived his first winter in DC and he’s enjoying the new challenges that RSA has provided him.

Melissa barkalow grew up, in a family of four, in the frozen tundra (also known

as Minnesota). She’s a HUGE sports fan- watches sports center almost daily in addition to hoops, football or whatever might be on tv, if she’s not out playing a

sport. I went to a small Div III school called Gustavus Adolphus (also in Minnesota) and majored in History and Political Science, and played hoops. Melissa studied abroad twice, first to England during under grad and then after graduation off to southern France. After her return it was off to grad school, thus bringing her east to American University to major in International Politics. After grad school she worked in the Residential Real Estate field (my parents are Real Estate appraisers thus I am familiar with the Real Estate industry). Now at Robert Silman Associates I do a wide array of activities, such as download timers on Monday mornings, work on project backlogs and archiving, as well as help plan end of the month parties, and am playing softball and basketball with my fellow co-workers.

Seminar Summary:the

potomac AqueductPresented by Robert Kapsch

By Eve Pate

Robert Kapsch, an expert in canals and other historic structures, came to RSA-DC this April to give a seminar on his research. We learned about the design and construction of the Potomac Aqueduct—an approximately 1600 ft long aqueduct that carried the Alexandria Canal across the Potomac River, just down the road from the office. Originally sited by engineer Benjamin Wright, the “father of Civil Engineering,” the aqueduct was built by Major William Turnbull and completed in 1843. Turnbull kept a meticulous journal containing detailed drawings of the construction particularly on how to build piers in deep water. This journal and the drawings were subsequently published and his methods were used as a model for many other railroad bridges and aqueducts throughout the country. It is an important structure in American engineering history because the piers were constructed in unusually deep water and the loads for which it was designed were comparatively high. It also showed a high degree of masonry craftsmanship. The structure was composed of masonry piers and a timber truss superstructure. Spans between the piers were 100 ft. During the Civil War the aqueduct was drained and it was used as a military bridge between Washington and Virginia. In 1888 the superstructure was replaced with wrought iron trusses and the use was changed to highway traffic. Ownership and use of the bridge changed throughout the years until it was replaced in the 1920s by the concrete arch Key Bridge, just downstream. All but the abutments and the southernmost pier have been demolished.



Page 11

Jenna Cellini, the 2009 Robert Silman Fellow for Preservation Engineering, is working with Barbara Campagna, the Graham Gund Architect to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to document and assess the sites under the Trust's stewardship. Two sites of particular concern are designed by icons of American mid-century architecture and have framed the Trust's modern heritage initiative: Mies van der Rohe’s 1947 glass and steel Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois, and the Philip Johnson Glass House Property in New Canaan, CT.

For the Farnsworth House, Jenna is preparing an Historic American Building Survey (HABS) that is part of a grant proposal application that will be submitted later this summer to the Institute of Museum and Library Services to request funding for the restoration of the main house and supporting buildings.

The work involves developing a full set of architectural drawings for the complex, writing an architectural description for each building and writing a historical narrative identifying the main themes for the site's significance.

At the Johnson site, Jenna is documenting and analyzing the exposed pre-cast concrete Pavilion on the Pond and Lincoln Kirstein Tower designed in 1965 and 1985, respectively, by Johnson himself. She is currently analyzing the problematic conditions she observed at the pavilion and tower structures - identifying the enabling factors and the effects of continued neglect and deterioration on the structural stability of the pieces. After analysis, she will outline the potential intervention strategies and develop a phased preservation implementation program which will initiate and steer repair and maintenance

2009 Silman Fellowf o r P r e s e rvat i o n E n g i n e e r i n g UpDAtE

By Jenna Cellini & Lisa Deneau

Top: Glass House Property in New Canaan, CTBottom: Jenna standing outside the Farnsworth House in Plano, IL

new ProjectS Brentsville Historic Jail, in Virgina is an 1822 vintage jail building in the Brentsville Historic District. It is a 2-story, brick masonry building with a wood interior structure that is currently in a deteriorated state and requires structural stabilization in order to allow safe entry access for future research within the building. RSA will participate in stabilization designs designed to minimize damage to the historic building fabric.

National Museum of African American History & Culture was established on December 19, 2003, when President Bush signed into law legislation establishing the Museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum to be devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life. A five-acre site adjacent to the Washington

Monument, bounded by Constitution Avenue, Madison Dr., and 14th and 15th streets N.W., serve as the location for the new Museum. RSA is teamed with Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup, who were selected from six architectural firm finalists that had entered a design competition.

The historic buildings at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (a Nat’l Historic Landmark) are being adaptively reused, in combination with new construction, for the new Headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security. The Design Excellence project involves 893,150 to 1,462,450 GSF of historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and new construction within a national historic landmark .

St. Francis de Sales Church, in Philadelphia, is the fifth largest Guastavino tile dome ever built. It was completed in 1911 by architect Henry D. Dagit with Rafael Guastavino responsible for the design of the vaulted ceilings and domes. The main dome

is a rare example of a Guastavino tile surface exposed on the exterior surface. However, in the 1950s, an attempted repair project was undertaken that applied a layer of gunite and new layer of glazed ceramic tile to the exterior of the main dome. The repairs failed, causing substantial water infiltration and the tiles occasionally blowing off in the wind. RSA is investigating potential schemes to structurally repair and architecturally restore the main dome.

RSA is investigating the roof trusses of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, which dates back to 1796 in New Jersey. Over the years, the trusses have mostly been replaced and the ceiling has been reconstructed, but these “repairs” turned out to be poorly designed and redundant. Cracks are forming in the plaster ceiling, the roof framing dips and the tops of the walls are out of plumb. The church has hired RSA to remove the superfluous framing and fix the problems.

By Stephanie Potter & Michael Chiodo


Page 12

The Deadline

(An RSA Poem in the style of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”)

Once upon a Friday sunny, earning engineering money,With the workweek’s minutes slowly decreasing to very few,To the hopes of weekend clinging, suddenly there came a ringing,And the voice of Tony singing, which my good mood did subdue:“There’s an architect expressing hope that she may speak with you.Should I go and put her through?”

Friday plans were slowly brewing, this the “work” that we were doing:Planning draughts of frothy beverage as was the wont of our crew.So, I thought, “I shall not tarry. Any requests I can parry.Then my thirsty self I’ll carry to enjoy a welcome brew.Reservoir will be the setting of a festive Friday brew.Yes,” said I, “Her, I’ll talk to.”

After making my decision, suddenly I had a visionOf a week of work successfully complete by quarter to.Time would tell I was mistaken, and would shortly be left shakenWhen my plans were rudely taken from me by a deadline due.These the words to frighten all my senses that night: deadline due.Still, at that point: “Put her through.”

I began with hurried greeting as the time to work was fleetingBut her answer chilled me and completely turned my world askew:“Though Fridays are made for coasting, halt all thoughts of cheery toasting.We have not received the posting of the plots for our review.We need to submit them to the DOB for their review.”I consented: “That, I’ll do.”

And with that, her simple turning of a phrase had left me yearningFor a dream denied: that I could join my colleagues for a brew.As I replaced the receiver, thinking then: Were I to heed herWould mean working in a fever, getting drawings to her whoNeeded them (a miracle: no need to be signed and sealed, too).Two words only: deadline due.

All around me: windows closing, Ian on the phone proposingDinner plans; Matt Bussmann starting fellow fete-ers to accrue.Giving forth a moan and sighing, wondering at Fates decryingThat my trade I’d still be plying as the clock struck one or two,I commenced the computations that would keep me long past two,Doing deadlines that were due.

Festive folk slowly receding, down elevator retreating(For once working, a miracle I credit I know not who).Sounds of party all but fading; me still sitting, calculating,Plotter’s fuser calibrating: all combining, sadness grew.Promises of hoped for conversations gone, my sadness grew.I, a lone unhappy Jew.

So, to task, my body buckling, interrupted not with chuckling:Humor in my plight was missing and I’d bid good mood adieu.Column schedule needed doing; good examples, I pursuing,J-drive files op’ning, viewing, finding one to copy toMy project. A quality example by engineer whoKnew exactly what to do.

Concrete slab diaphragms modeling in a program needing coddling;SAFE is user friendly? Never was a sentence so untrue.A/C broken, me perspiring and my eyelids slowly tiring…Network license now expiring?! What the heck? Well, this is new.I need T. Chan and without him there was nothing I could do.I wished I’d stayed in Peru.

Midnight oil slowly burning as I set myself to learningPunching shear through ACI, a lesson learnt long overdue.Punching failing, I endorsing Decon shear head reinforcing.Oh, the rapture of outsourcing working on a deadline due.Countenancing who could help complete the work on deadline due.I could name a healthy few.

But the partners’ gleeful laughing from last Monday morning’s staffingServed the verdict that the workload left them nothing they could do.Flash forward: now I am striving to complete the night’s deriving,Hopes of party still surviving as the time hits half past two.Working hard to finish drafting as the time hits half past two.Margo, necesito tu!

Hunger pains were slowly mounting, craving snacking from accounting,But the way was barred by locked door (torturous, in my own view).So to sate the burning fire of a stomach’s strong desireFor a repast, I conspired to buy dinner, not to chewWhat I really wanted: handfuls of free Pringles and cashews.Darn your moustache, John McCue!

After eating, results showing, my pace soaring, my faith growing,I knew that just one more calc remained until I would be through.Pressing onward, checking tension on a steel moment connection,Detail of my own invention, quite impressive to construe.Were it not for the late hour I’d be awed by what I drew.Sheet S7, section 2.

Jubilation! I was finished and my hopes which had diminishedRaised again like skylights towed upon a line up to the roof.Plotting PDFs was making my whole body happ’ly shaking,Knowing my leave I’d be taking after posting. This was true:Nothing now could keep me from the well-earned rest that was my due,Not even Transit SNAFU.

Continued on Page13

By Ben Rosenberg


Page 13

4. give your photos your own unique perspective.Don’t shoot every photo at eye level. Get down low to the ground or climb up to get a better vantage point. Frame the subject off center. Let your personality shine through your photos. 5. be aware of the light. It takes a subject and light to make a photograph. The subject is the easy part of the equation, but don’t underestimate the importance that light plays. If your mind is able to break down what your eye sees into light and dark, you’re well on your way to understanding light. 6. using natural light to your advantage.For outdoor photography, the sun is your light. Notice the nature of that light throughout the day. Try shooting photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the light is warm and angular and you’ll find that your photos are likely more colorful and have greater definition. 7. flash!Learn how to use the flash. The flash isn’t just for indoor use! You can use the fill-flash, even outdoors, to “fill-in” shadows. This can be especially helpful when you are shooting into the bright sun with your subject facing you. 8. timing is everything.Wait before you click! Timing can be integral to getting a great photo. Wait for the clouds to clear, the truck to move away from the front of the monument, or other distractions to pass.

9. the digital advantage.If you have a digital camera, shoot lots of photos and erase the shots you don’t like. Digital space is cheap. Don’t forget to delete all the photos you don’t like.

Finishing the final plotting, I, fist-pumping, smiling, nodding,Sent a quick e-mail off relating the posting to her whoMany hours ago started my evening’s course so downheartedAs my colleagues all departed, heading out, who knows where to?Out to spend their evening doing whatever they wished to do.Now I justly joined them, too.

Relaxation I was craving as my time sheet I was saving.Now the work was done and Friday evening could begin anew.As Reservoir I was nearing, oddly silent to my hearingSo I entered, grimly fearing, that I’d missed all of the crew.Big Buck Hunter guns were holstered. There was no one that I knew.Only one cause: deadline due.

Ah! The corner! One remaining; from heading home she abstaining,Hoping for a nightcap with which she could bid the night adieu.Work successfully completed, to her table I retreated,Ordering once I was seated what I felt to be my due.Banishing from my attention all thoughts of a deadline due.No more working: just us two.

So we had a drink together, talking through the pre-dawn. Whether,This tale had a happy ending, surely I already knew.No CD set yet created ever left me so elatedAs finding someone who’d waited hoping that I’d join her, too.Bob would surely say that people come before all deadlines due.I cannot dispute it’s true.

Thus, this venture’s rhyming meaning: When, into plans, intervening,Comes a deadline needing your attention and leaving you blue,Just remember while you’re stressing that it surely is a blessingWorking at a firm possessing co-workers like me and you.Bob calls RSA a family. Who can doubt that this is true?Time has proved it, through and through.

photo t ipsRegardless of what camera you have, here are some basic tips that you can apply to take better project or personal photos: 1. use the viewfinder.Compose your shot using the camera’s viewfinder. Try not to use the screen on the back, which isn’t always exactly the same size as your photo. This will make you more aware of what you are shooting. Take your time and when you’re satisfied, fire away. 2. compose your shot.Pay attention to details and distractions in the background of the photo or behind the heads of your subjects. Move around until there are fewer distractions in the background. 3. get closer.Move in close to your subject for impact (too far back and your photo can be too busy). Get close, and then get closer! Fill the frame with your subject, not with needless background clutter.

By Tim Schenck

Continued from page 12


oFFice cornercompiled by

ellen blumenthal & stephanie potter

RSA Anniversaries30 years

Joe Tortorella 9/7920 years

Edmund Meade 4/8915 years

Deb McGuinness 4/94Noel Ocampo 2/94

10 yearsPat Arnett 9/99

Lyn San Pedro 10/99Laura Tunia 1/99Nava Abir 8/99

Brandon Rossetti 4/99

EngagedJeff Beane & Anne Woefel 9/09Geoff Eisele & Sarah Prato 9/09

Tom Reynolds & Kelly Peterson 10/09 Lea Pineda & Steve Cosenza 1/10

John DeKraker & Jodi Cohen 10/09Gretchen Lear & Seth Druck 5/10Dan Cuoco & Christine SanPedro

WeddingsJill Kaup & Jason Andrews 4/4/09

Jennifer Barrington & Brett McParland, 1/17/09

Stephanie Potter & Jeff Corwin 10/18/08

babiesCallie Auren, 12/03/08

Boris Draganov 12/08/08Callista & Claire Hulet 1/29/09

Liam Hermogenes 3/11/09 Samuel Shamash 6/21/09

ExpectingGeoff & Christa Smith

New pE’sDan Cuoco Laura SmithGeoff Eisele Geoff Smith

Eytan Solomon Ian Pendleton

New SEScott Hughes

New lEED AccreditedMatt Bussmann; Geoff Eisele;

Gretchen Lear; Matt Millner; Ben Rosenberg; Ian Schmellick; Jason Tipold; Jennifer McParland; Kent Hulet; Graham Seward; Christen

Curry; Nina Mahjoub; Karina Tribble; Sarah Millsaps

2 Awards 22009

ACEC-MW 2008 Engineering Excellence Awards - Honor Award in Design - Virginia State Capitol

ACEC 2009 National Finalist in the Engineering Excellence Awards - Virginia State Capitol

2009 AIA / Washingtonian Award for Architecture – LEAF House

Mid-Atlantic Construction Best of 2008 - Restoration - Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center

ACEC-NY 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards -Diamond Award (selected for National Level): Dorothy D. & Roy H. Park Center for

Business and Sustainable Enterprise, Ithaca College

ACEC-NY 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards - Platinum Award: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

AIA NY 2009 Design Award – Interior Merit Award: Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum,

Brooklyn, NY

AIA NY 2009 Design Award – Architecture Merit Award: Museum of Arts & Design, New York, NY

AIA NY 2009 Design Award – Architecture Honor Award: Private Residence – Dutchess County (Kraus Res)

2009 AIA New York Building Type Award - Health Facilities Merit: Center for Wellness & Community Investment, College of New

Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY

Preservation League of New York State 2009 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award-Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY

Preservation League of New York State 2009 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award-Old Nassau County Courthouse, Mineola, NY

Preservation League of New York State 2009 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award-Asbury Delaware Church, Buffalo, NY

2009 Design Commission AwardZerega Avenue EMS Station, Bronx, NY

Documents

museum of arts and design