Seismic

Zenith Engineers

  • Seismic
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Adaptive Reuse project - Powerhouse Science Center, Sacramento, CA
Zenith Engineers Inc. helps owners, property managers, and developers respond to local ordinances and code adoption requirements that call for buildings to be retrofitted or upgraded for earthquake performance. Our team has designed more than 600 building retrofits, and our engineering services can support a project from early code analysis through design, permitting, and construction administration.

With our other experience in residential design to large scale public works projects, covering disciplines from as-built drafting, to code analysis, we are able to offer a unique end to end experience that helps developers asses new acquisitions, to taking the project to full design to construction administration, or from owners who may want to voluntarily retrofit their buildings before a mandatory ordinance takes effect. We are able to tap into our diverse group of contractor clientele, who can help with ROM pricing to determine if a retrofit or a property acquisition is a wise investment.

Our experience in construction engineering provides a unique perspective of the overall life cycle of construction phasing that other engineers may lack, meaning our designs are building friendly, cost effective, and help reduce plan check comments. See below for more of our seismic services.

Engaging a retrofit engineer early can help owners and developers understand the scope, cost, and timing of required work before making key decisions. Zenith provides seismic retrofit design for soft story, unreinforced masonry, non-ductile concrete, and concrete tilt-up buildings, and supports owner-driven upgrades and adaptive reuse projects. Our services can include code analysis for acquisitions, full design, plan check coordination through permit issuance, and construction administration. Our team can also draw on contractor relationships for rough order of magnitude pricing.

Frequently Asked Question's

A soft story building has a level, often ground-floor parking, that is less stiff or strong than the floors above. Several California cities have adopted retrofit ordinances. Zenith Engineers Inc. designs these retrofits and manages plan submission through permit.
Zenith designs seismic retrofits for soft story, unreinforced masonry (URM), non-ductile concrete, and concrete tilt-up buildings. Our team also supports seismic upgrades driven by owner decisions or occupancy changes, and adaptive reuse projects that may trigger structural improvements.
An ordinance-driven retrofit is required by a local ordinance that identifies certain building types. A seismic upgrade typically follows an owner's decision, a change of occupancy, or another code requirement. Zenith supports these projects from concept through construction administration.
Yes. Zenith runs code analysis on existing buildings to help developers and investors understand what the code allows and what seismic work may be required. Our team can also draw on contractor relationships for rough order of magnitude (ROM) pricing.

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