Interning in the time of Coronavirus – part 3
Every year, Degenkolb Engineers invites aspiring structural engineers to join us as interns for the summer. It is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. The interns get a chance to apply what they have learned in school to a real world setting, while our engineers get to pass on their knowledge to those entering the field. This year, all of our interns worked fully remote as we continue working during the Coronavirus pandemic. We wanted to hear how it was going for them, completing an internship without ever setting foot in an office. This is the third installment of our intern interviews.
Brianna Hartner
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I received my Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Cornell University in 2019 and am currently pursuing my Master’s at UC San Diego with an expected graduation this December.
Why structural engineering?
I have always been interested in the built environment. Since my dad worked as a residential general contractor, I was constantly around construction sites growing up. I loved seeing a house go from a pencil sketch on my dad’s notepad to a finished structure. While I originally thought I wanted to go into architecture, as I progressed through school, I realized how much I enjoyed the problem-solving aspects of engineering. The more I learn about structural engineering, the more I know it’s the perfect fit for me.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
One of my best friend’s relatives (Chad Closs) works in the San Diego office. He has been a great mentor to me over the last few years and has always spoken so highly of his Degenkolb career.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
Everyone has been so welcoming and willing to help me feel like I am a part of the team. I have gotten to work on exciting projects that have exposed me to different design processes and new project areas, all while better developing my design and analysis skills.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
When I first realized that the entire internship would be virtual, I was a little disappointed as I was really looking forward to working in the office to meet new people and experience a new city. However, working from my childhood home in Kaneohe, Hawaii has been more than satisfactory, even though I chose to start my days at 6AM (to account for the time difference). The engineers and managers I have worked with have made this experience unforgettable and have given me such a good sense of the positive company culture and what it would potentially be like to work there in-person.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Get involved with the in-house committees (such as Sustainability or Diversity & Inclusion) and attend their meetings! It’s a great opportunity to get to know your coworkers and learn more about the company culture!
Describe your ideal day off?
Early morning hike and then enjoy a poke bowl on the beach.
Mauricio Alvarez
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I just finished my Bachelor’s at UCSD in June and am now preparing to start my Master’s Program this Fall at UCSD again.
Why structural engineering?
I love that you can never get away from it. No matter where you go, whether it’s the mall, the freeway, or a sporting event, there’s always a structure to be analyzed. I’m not sure how one could be a structural engineer without noticing these things 24/7. It’s everywhere.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
Upon internship searching my junior and senior years of college, I researched almost every civil/structural engineer firm in the SoCal area. Needless to say, Degenkolb was certainly included in that list.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
It has been great. I love how there is a culture that encourages continuing professional development. Working here has really showed me that the learning doesn’t stop after school, it’s really just beginning.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
Beating the LA commute was definitely a pro. Eating lunch with my family has been nice. Besides that, though, it’s hard to compare a remote internship to one in person. Degenkolb has done a brilliant job though in making sure it has been both a challenging and learning experience for us still.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Ask questions. You will always get you question answered by someone here plus some more additional knowledge.
Describe your ideal day off?
Probably starting the morning off at the beach with some good local coffee for sunrise. Then spending the day at Disneyland with family and friends, and then finishing the night at a concert with my girlfriend. Either that or just having a lazy day with no plans. being super relaxed and carefree.
80 Years of Excellence: Working With Henry
In the next part of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Jay Love, Senior Principal at Degenkolb, who discussed what it was like to work with founder Henry Degenkolb
Henry Degenkolb, Chris Poland, and Tom Wosser chat in the office.
Henry Degenkolb was a long-time consultant for the University of California, and in the summer of ’79, he and Loring (Wyllie) were conducting evaluations of 11 buildings at UC-Berkeley. The UC system was aware buildings needed seismic retrofits and needed help determining which buildings to do first. U.C. tasked Henry and Loring with creating a retrofit strategic plan that covered these first buildings, and Jay, who was interning that summer, was put on the project. After examining each building, the team put together a conceptual plan, estimated cost of repairs, and wrote a report that included a cost-benefit ratio that helped Berkeley determine which buildings to retrofit first based on a variety of factors. This was the first time the University had asked for such an approach, one that presented monetary retrofit costs alongside number of lives saved by the retrofit After that initial study, additional ones followed, including the retrofit design for University Hall, McCone Hall, Soda Hall, Doe Library, Bancroft Library, LeConte Hall, and the off-campus dormitory towers. Since then, Degenkolb has performed many more evaluations of the buildings at UC-Berkeley, as well as numerous other campuses throughout the UC-system and various public and private entities throughout California.
Henry, center, poses with the group while Jay smiles from the back row, right.
For Jay, one of the most interesting things about his internship was that he had direct, day-to-day contact with Henry Degenkolb, something that not every intern, or even full-time engineer, had. By the luck of the draw, Jay was the intern chosen to help with the UC-Berkeley seismic retrofit project; as a result, he had the unique opportunity to work closely with Henry. This open access to the company founder had a profound impact on Jay. Henry was always happy to answer questions from the younger engineers, and to this day, Jay (and other senior principals at the firm who worked with Henry) have an open-door policy at the office. Senior staff make a point to generally be approachable and available for younger engineers who may have questions.
That’s not to say that Henry let Jay off lightly, however. It was well-known outside the firm that Henry did not suffer fools lightly and could sometimes come across as intimidating. Though Jay had a strong mentor/mentee relationship with Henry, there was one occasion where Henry made Jay jump. Jay was working on a small hospital project in the central valley. The contractor proposed a change in the design, from one approach to another, and written to Jay asking for sign-off on the change. Jay checked with the principal in charge and composed a reply letter indicating the change would be acceptable; that reply was put in a pile of mail to be sent out. At that time, the firm only had five principals; the tradition then was that any letter going out of the office was put in a bundle of letters that was circulated amongst the principals to read. Henry, in particular, liked to keep track of stuff going out of the firm, and came across Jay’s response to the contractor: “When the hell did we start letting contractors design our buildings?” Henry bellowed as he came down the aisle between the desks, bearing down on Jay. After taking a deep breath, Jay pulled out both designs and showed them to Henry, explaining the change and why he had approved it. Henry harrumphed and muttered, then quietly murmured “ok.” Just then, over the intercom came a voice “Henry, phone call on line one,” and Henry left, presumably in search of a phone to take his call. After that, the matter must have been resolved as Henry didn’t bring it up with Jay again.
This interaction also reflected Henry’s belief that Degenkolb’s role was to protect the interests of the building owners over the contractors’ interests. He preferred working with owners to help protect their financial interests in their buildings, as well as ensure they weren’t being taken advantage of by their contractor. He strived to ensure that building owners received the full value of their seismic design and was adamant about working on their behalf.
Interning in the time of Coronavirus – Part 2
Every year Degenkolb Engineers invites aspiring structural engineers to join us as interns for the summer. It is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. The interns get a chance to apply what they have learned in school to a real world setting, while our engineers get to pass on their knowledge to those entering the field. This year, all of our interns worked fully remote as we continue working during the Coronavirus pandemic. We wanted to hear how it was going for them, completing an internship without ever setting foot in an office. This is the second installment of our intern interviews.
Skye Yang
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I went to UC San Diego for undergrad and will be returning to UC San Diego in the fall for graduate school.
Why structural engineering?
It is because structural engineering is intellectually stimulating to me. I like that it makes tangible impacts to our world and it allows us to build aesthetically pleasing yet practical things.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I learned about Degenkolb through a career fair at UCSD. Some of my TAs during my undergrad also interned here for the summer before. I used to see engineering paper with the Degenkolb logo in some of the solutions posted by my TAs for homework assignments.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
It has been good. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. They make this challenging internship a lot easier to navigate.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
In the beginning, it was kind of strange to have no one sitting around me, especially since I don’t know a lot of people, so it kind of makes me feel alone. Then, as I started talking to more people, I feel more connected. Using the remote desktop is also challenging because the connection can get very slow or the connection could break a couple of times in a day, so quite some time during the 8 weeks was spent talking with IS and solving technical issues.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Learn as much as you can and talk to as many people as you can.
Describe your ideal day off?
My ideal day off would involve eating a lot of good food, and I would not have to cook any of the food. It will also involve me getting fruit tea from my favorite boba tea shop. I would like to finish off the day with watching 1-2 movies that I do not have to spend hours picking.
Teagan Allen
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I just finished my undergrad in ARCE at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the spring and I’ll be going back in the fall to start my master’s.
Why structural engineering?
I was always interested in the construction industry, starting with a Bob the Builder obsession when I was five. Eventually I decided I wanted to pursue architecture, but I wanted to do the “math and science” of engineering. I toured Cal Poly and learned about the architectural engineering program, and I realized that’s what I wanted to do all along!
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I had heard the name around Cal Poly through SEAOC meetings and Structural Forum and I knew Degenkolb was a great firm, so I was very excited when I won the scholarship/internship!
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
It’s been an awesome learning experience because all the work I’ve done is stuff that I wasn’t taught in school. I’ve been seeing a different side of the industry through construction engineering work, and I know that’s a unique experience I wouldn’t have gotten at another firm.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
Bouncing between different teams chats, calls, and emails. It got a little lonely at times, but it was fun to see little glimpses into peoples lives through video calls once in a while (I loved seeing people’s pets!).
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything. Have conversations with people you’re not directly working with. Always be open to learning something new!
Describe your ideal day off?
I love going on short, low stress day trips. I would sleep in a little, eat a small breakfast then drive somewhere with a friend or family member. Eat lunch when we get there, and wander around with no real plans as to where to go or what to do, just doing what looks fun and getting lots of snacks. Take the scenic route back home at sunset.
Claire Killian
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I just finished my undergrad at UCLA this June and will be starting my master’s at Stanford this fall!
Why structural engineering?
I actually wanted to be an architect right up until I started college. My high school offered drafting classes using AutoCAD and Revit and I absolutely loved the whole process. When I applied to colleges, I realized I enjoyed the math and physics concepts behind the building process much more than the aesthetics. I chose civil engineering as my major and have not regretted it since!
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I first heard about Degenkolb through attending UCLA ASCE’s career fairs. I liked that the firm does a lot of work in healthcare, higher education, and tech, so I was excited to apply.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
Throughout the summer, I was able to learn so much through the projects I worked on and through interacting with my co-workers. I had the opportunity to work with existing buildings this summer, which was quite interesting since I’ve only worked with new construction before. More often than not, my tasks helped push me out of my undergrad comfort zone to work with nonlinear problems or materials I’ve never had classes in before. I also became more familiar with programs like PERFORM-3D and ETABS; this seemed daunting at first, but everyone is very helpful and friendly in answering any questions that I had.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
After my obligatory morning coffee, I hop onto the network every day around 8 AM and start wherever I left off the previous day. One benefit of a remote internship is more flexible hours, so I’ve occasionally gone out for runs mid-morning as well. I usually wander downstairs (currently living at my childhood home) a few times a day for food, more coffee, or a nice stretch break. I also meet with my mentors twice a week for lunch and check in with the engineers on my projects as needed.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Ask questions and be opportunistic! As much as working out problems by yourself is a good thing, it’s never necessary to spin your wheels as an intern. Everyone at Degenkolb is very knowledgeable and also very willing to take some time and explain anything that confuses you. Degenkolb does a wide array of work, so be open to trying new types of projects! When I started, they asked if I wanted to be on an analysis project—even though I wasn’t really sure what that even meant, I ended up learning so much about nonlinear analyses and was glad I said yes.
Describe your ideal day off?
I would start with coffee (a must) followed by a morning run, hit the beach with my friends in the afternoon, make some type of dinner that involves warm carbs, and finally watch a movie while eating popcorn.
Sara Ahrens
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I recently finished my undergraduate studies in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO and will be starting my Master’s in Architectural Engineering at SLO this fall.
Why structural engineering?
I truly did not know what I was getting into when I first started college to pursue a degree focused in structural engineering. My first design class and laboratory was Steel Design and while it was an incredible amount of work, I felt so accomplished from the end result. It is especially rewarding to know that the work I put into projects has a real, positive effect on communities.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I learned about Degenkolb through Cal Poly’s Structural Forum. After speaking with the Degenkolb representatives, Laura Rice and Matt Barnard, and seeing the broad range of work the company offers, I knew I wanted to intern for the firm.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
Everyone in the office has been super nice and incredibly helpful, and although having to work from home meant no face to face interaction, I still felt welcomed. I have been able to participate in a variety of projects including RCN for residential and SPC4D analysis for rural hospitals. Being able to learn about and work on a range of different projects helped make every day of this summer interesting and unique.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
While it was sad not being able to see the brand-new Sacramento office and meet everyone in person, it has been nice not having to commute downtown. I have a great set up in my at home office, which helped enhance the experience, even at home.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Let your mentor know what types of projects or work you are interested in, especially if it is a topic that you do not traditionally learn about in school. Internships are a great opportunity to explore and learn about different types of work in structural engineering. Degenkolb has a lot to offer in terms of field of work and everyone is incredibly open and nice, so do not be afraid to ask any questions.
Describe your ideal day off?
Sleeping in, going to the beach with friends, watching a movie at the theater, and overall, just being super relaxed and carefree.
Interning in the time of Coronavirus – Part 1
Every year Degenkolb Engineers invites aspiring structural engineers to join us as interns for the summer. It is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. The interns get a chance to apply what they have learned in school to a real world setting, while our engineers get to pass on their knowledge to those entering the field. This year, all of our interns worked fully remote as we continue working during the Coronavirus pandemic. We wanted to hear how it was going for them, completing an internship without ever setting foot in an office. This is the first installment of our intern interviews.
Eden Wong
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I just graduated from UC San Diego in June and will be heading to UC Berkeley in the fall for my Master’s.
Why structural engineering?
I’ve always been a curious person that loves asking questions. With structural engineering, I never run out of questions. And, with each mystery I solve, I find myself more and more fascinated by structures. Structural engineering also allows me to exercise creative thinking while making a positive impact in the community.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
All of my favorite TAs from UCSD work at Degenkolb in various offices. I wanted to surround myself with people like them, that encourage and challenge me to grow as an engineer.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
I find myself facing new problems and challenges every day that give me an opportunity to grow. This pushes me out of my comfort zone, but everyone is approachable, patient, and glad to help whenever I have questions. The engineers I’ve worked with are more than happy to spend extra time to pass down their knowledge to me. One of the most enjoyable parts of my internship is hearing about their experiences and lessons learned on other projects.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
I’m living in my childhood home in Rowland Heights. Working remotely has its perks (like saving me 2 hrs/day on commute time), but I still wish I could meet everyone in-person!
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Embrace your curiosity. Dig deeper so that you understand problems and their solutions thoroughly. Ask yourselves and others lots of questions because it’s the best way to learn.
Describe your ideal day off?
Going for an early hike with friends, followed by lunch at WingStop. Stopping for boba on the way home, then spending the rest of the day watching Netflix together. Ending the night with spicy hot pot for dinner.
Lauren Posey
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I graduated from UCLA and will be starting my master’s program at UC Berkeley this Fall.
Why structural engineering?
I developed an interest of how things are built from growing up watching my dad take apart and rebuild things, from his cars to sections of our house. I love following a project progress from design to construction, and I enjoy the challenge of new projects.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
They attended all the UCLA career fairs.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
It was difficult at first getting adjusted to a remote internship, but once I realized how eager my coworkers were to help me out through constant messages and phone calls, it became much easier. Everyone constantly checked in to make sure I had enough projects to work on, and they always encouraged me to learn and try new types of projects.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
Lots of phone calls to ask questions and connect with people!
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Reach out to people as much as possible (especially in a remote environment) to ask questions and get to know your coworkers. Try to take on a variety of different projects to learn as much as you can, especially if it’s something you’ve never been exposed to in your coursework.
Describe your ideal day off?
I love to explore new places and exercise. My favorite hobbies are traveling, hiking, and going to the gym!
Valentina Couse-Baker
Where are you attending school and what year are you in?
I got my B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from UC Davis. For Fall 2020, I will be in my last quarter of my M.S. Structural Engineering degree at UC San Diego.
Why structural engineering?
The statics and the principles of structural engineering felt intuitive to me during undergrad and I appreciate being able to see and touch the work I’m doing.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I first heard of Degenkolb after engineers from the San Diego office presented for a graduate seminary series at UCSD.
What has your experience so far been like at Degenkolb?
Very friendly and very welcoming. Everyone that I’ve met has been happy to talk about what they do and happy to teach me what I need to know and more. I got to work with programs, like ENERCALC, Risa, and CalcSet, for the first time and got to work on a variety of projects that I have not before.
What does a remote internship look like for you at Degenkolb?
After breakfast, I take a very short commute to the third bedroom (previously dubbed the fish/pet/miscellaneous room, now dubbed “the office” after I took up residence there) where my desk and second monitor is located. After reaching out over Teams to my colleagues and touching base, I’ll spend the day working on a variety of projects from RCN work to Revit drafting to lateral calculations. Depending on the day, I’ll attend a remote “stretch time” where I socialize with the other engineers.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Take notes. Ask questions. Ask yourself if you need that calculation. Ask people about their projects. The people you’ll be working with have a variety of expertise and interests, each one is happy to let you in on what they do.
Describe your ideal day off?
Autumn/Winter. Its foggy, overcast, slight breeze, and chilly outside. Perfect sweater weather. Ideally raining while I’m cozy inside, but not before I’m able to go for a chilly morning walk to the bakery a few blocks from my apartment. I’ll have previously made plans to see my friends, probably brunch or to play board games or to watch a bad movie, but not something that takes up the entire day. I’ll spend the remainder of the time enjoying not needing to be anywhere.
80 Years of Excellence: Earthquake Reconnaissance, A Passion, and A Business Practice
In the next part of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Chris Poland, retired CEO, who talked with us about earthquake chasing at Degenkolb
Chris Poland, former CEO of Degenkolb, credits John Gould, the company’s founder, for many of the practices that firm name sake Henry Degenkolb pushed forward, particularly visiting the sites of earthquakes. Henry himself was a real student of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake; though it was before his time, he took the time to study the buildings and the damage that occurred because of the quake. John, who was a bit older than Henry, had visited Long Beach after the 1933 earthquake. School buildings suffered some of
the worst damage in that earthquake, mainly because many of them were constructed as unreinforced masonry buildings, a building type that would become known to fail during seismic events. After visiting the field, John wrote the structural provision of the Field Act, which became the basis of the Field Act today. (The Field Act is a law that, among other things, requires earthquake forces be taken into account when constructing public buildings, such as schools.) John’s passion for earthquake chasing was easily adopted by Henry and became deeply embedded into the culture of the firm.
Henry went on-site after earthquakes as often as he could, and it became a standard practice in the firm to send engineers to the site of earthquakes, a practice that continues to this day. Though there is a large financial cost in sending people on site after a seismic event, it was something Henry felt strongly that the engineers should do and that the firm should prioritize. Henry himself would always share what he learned from an earthquake site visits and expected the same from other engineers. Every time engineers would return from visiting an earthquake, they were expected to teach fellow engineers in the firm, review photos they’d taken and discuss the damage they’d observed. After time, other engineers outside the firm started attending these lectures, and it became an effective way to learn about failures and improve the practice of structural engineering based on real, observed damage from actual earthquakes.
80 Years of Excellence: Bringing Computers to Degenkolb
In the next part of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Chris Poland, retired CEO of Degenkolb, who reflects on bringing computers to the firm, ushering in modern practices in the 1970s-80s.
When it came to hiring interns and new grads, Henry Degenkolb’s (Degenkolb Engineers name sake partner) preference for Berkeley graduates was pretty well-known. But an engineering colleague and drinking buddy of Henry’s kept pushing him to expand beyond Cal. That man, Larry Wise happened to be the Dean of the School of Engineering at Stanford and had a candidate in mind that he wanted Henry to interview: Chris Poland. But Chris wasn’t going in blind; the Dean wanted to make sure Chris was prepared for Henry, so he interviewed him himself first as a way to make sure Chris was ready to be grilled by Henry. The day Chris went into the offices for his in-person interview, the secretary told him to have a seat; she would inform him when Henry was ready. The pressure was immense, and when he first met Henry, Chris said he was scared to death of him. His interview was ultimately successful; in the summer of ’73, Chris was hired as an intern. He was asked back to the firm, and started his long career at Degenkolb in 1974.
When Chris initially started college, he majored in math. Math was always easy for him and he was fascinated with it. But when it came time to pick a graduate program, he went with something more practical, like structural engineering. The math and structural engineering combo led him to exploring computer science during school as well, so when he joined Degenkolb, he came in with a strong background in computer analysis of structures. This would put him respectfully at odds with Henry through the early years of them working together. Integrating computer analysis into structural engineering was in its infancy however, Chris had done computer analysis at Stanford, and brought that experience to Degenkolb. Early computer programs did not produce the same kind of analysis that is possible with modern programs, though, and the information they could provide was more limited.
At that time, Degenkolb had no computer processing abilities and outsourced any computer analysis work to an outside firm. The first year Chris worked at Degenkolb, Henry and he had numerous conversations about bringing computer analysis into the firm; most of those conversations centered around projects and whether or not computer analysis could be trusted to give an accurate picture of the building. Henry was wary—he’d spent his life studying earthquakes and their damage up close and academically. He’d tested various materials and their structural connections out at Treasure Island. All this work and experience helped him develop a strong intuition for how buildings would perform, and he wasn’t confident in the ability of computers to replicate that. Chris, however, believed that computers were yet another tool that could be used to better understand seismic forces, and pushed for their use at the firm. These back-and-forth discussions often took place on Friday afternoons, after Henry had returned from the Engineer’s Club, very chatty and ready to talk about anything, from structural engineering philosophies to the use of computer analysis in building design.
Though Chris and Henry may have butted heads, the discourse was never disrespectful. Henry wasn’t locked into his own views on something, according to Chris—if you respected his viewpoint and could talk his language, he’d listen and transition his thinking when he felt it was appropriate. He strongly believed that, when you approach a problem, you must recognize your own perception and look beyond that. Henry was willing to reach past his own experience and understanding, gather new information, and adapt his thinking. And though Chris was an ardent proponent of using computer programs to better understand building design, he wasn’t blind to their limitations. If someone were to say to Henry, “Well, that’s what the computer said,” that would have been like cursing and an unacceptable answer. When creating a computer program or developing an analysis, it is always important to understand what data the computer is given, consider the answers it puts out, and square those with what an experienced engineer knows and understands. Computer analyses always have to be put into the larger context. Henry and Chris were of two different generations and minds about using computers in structural design, and both were strong-willed engineers. Still, through respectful dialog and ongoing discussions, they managed to find some common ground that lasted for the rest of Henry’s time with the firm. Chris carried Henry’s collaborative and learning spirit through his entire 40-year career with the firm.
The Structural Engineering Office of the Future
Degenkolb’s CEO Stacy Bartoletti published an editorial in STRUCTURE Magazine in July of 2020. In it, he discusses what the future of structural engineering firms in the age of the Coronavirus pandemic. Read the editorial on STRUCTURE Magazine’s site here.
From STRUCTURE Magazine:
As I write this editorial, many communities and cities in the United States are just starting to “re-open” following the Coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders. My firm, like most, transitioned into a full work-from-home situation in March with only minor issues and challenges. Our business and employees have adapted remarkably well. We are conducting meetings virtually through video calls, developing and reviewing construction documents by sharing data and models, accessing information through the cloud or virtually from our servers, and participating in new project interviews remotely. Employees are doing their best to remain engaged and connected with one another.
The success with which we have transitioned into a remote company begs the question of why return to the old way of working in an office and why not maintain an entirely remote workforce? Answering this question and planning for the future is not simple. For our industry, I do not believe we can assume that what we have done for the past three months can continue into perpetuity. While it may sound appealing to eliminate a substantial portion of the real estate expense from our business and allow everyone to work remotely, I do not believe that is the future of the structural engineering office. I believe we will come to the realization that our physical offices are important to the long-term health of our business and our employees. However, I also believe that we will see a much larger fraction of our employees splitting time between the office and working remotely. Below I offer thoughts on a few issues that I am considering with my firm and the reasons why I believe we will continue to have offices.
Electronic Connectivity – This is perhaps the most straightforward issue to address. Clearly, the past few months have shown that technology solutions exist to allow the vast majority of our structural engineering work products to be completed remotely. At my firm, we are planning to make additional investment in our connectivity and hardware needs to give employees the flexibility to work efficiently both in the office and remotely. We believe this investment will pay off in productivity and engaged employees.
Training and Mentorship – As a professional services firm, much of what we do depends upon a highly-skilled staff that requires continuous training and development. Some of that training comes from formal programs, but I believe the vast majority at my firm comes in the form of mentorship and interaction on projects. Training also goes beyond technical work. Our engineers learn how to interact with clients, deal with difficult situations, and communicate with each other by seeing their mentors and co-workers do it. The personal experience and day-to-day immersion cannot be replicated over a video conference. I believe that we still need to come together in our offices to develop future generations of structural engineers effectively and efficiently.
Mental Health – I have become more concerned about the mental health of my employees as we have extended remote working longer and longer. As engineers, we have the stigma of being loners and anti-social. In my experience, that is not true. Our staff thrives on interacting with one another and enjoys the friendships that develop in the office. I do not believe it can be replicated in a fully remote environment. As engineers and as humans, we need interaction to maintain mental health. During the first couple of months of remote working, our productivity was high. Still, I predict it will decrease the longer our employees are isolated and working in a fully remote environment.
Personal/Work-Life Separation – Before the pandemic, a frequent topic of discussion was personal/work-life balance. After three months of shelter-in-place and remote working, I am now hearing more about personal/work-life separation. This has become particularly challenging for employees with young families. While most employees are enjoying their ability to capture the time that would have been spent commuting to the office, I believe most will still want to return to an office for some of their work time, creating a physical and mental separation between personal and work life.
Flexibility – As we get beyond the Coronavirus pandemic, I believe we will be structuring our offices and work schedules for more flexibility. At my company, I expect that most employees will return to working in an office, but we will also be providing more flexibility for them to work remotely.
Company Culture – Company culture is hard to define since every structural engineering company has its own. At my company, the items I have discussed above contribute to our culture. I do not believe our culture can survive long term with a fully remote workforce; it needs face-to-face interactions. A substantial contributor to how we have been able to survive and thrive, short term in a fully remote environment, has been our company culture and relationships built over years of face-to-face interactions. In essence, I believe we are drawing from our culture bank right now, and we will eventually need to replace those resources.
As an answer to my own question, I believe we will maintain our offices, and I believe the majority of our employees at my firm will eventually want to return to the physical office with their co-workers, colleagues, and friends. I also believe that we will need to provide the flexibility and tools necessary to allow our employees to balance their time between the office and remote work.
80 Years of Excellence: Earthquake Chasing as a Firm
In part 5 of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Loring Wyllie about Henry’s legacy and passion for improving buildings.
It was no secret Henry was an avid earthquake chaser. In 1972, he went down to Managua, Nicaragua after an earthquake there (as discussed more in this previous story). Loring, too, went down to Managua to see the damage, and met Filadelfo Chamorro as well. He recalls visiting the Banco de Central, Nicaragua’s version of the Federal Reserve. Though most of the building was heavily damaged, the vault, which was in the basement and required three men to open, was largely intact. When rebuilt, the building was not nearly as tall as it had been, perhaps a concession to the employees who didn’t want to work in a tall building again.
Several years after the Managua earthquake, in 1976, Loring went to Italy after the Fruili earthquake. The group was walking around and documenting the conditions when they came around a corner and were faced with a grim sight: caskets, including some that were child-size.
This stark reminder of the human cost of an earthquake, and the importance of good structural engineering, remains a lasting memory for Loring. Which was part of why Henry insisted the engineers at his firm go into the field after a quake. Earthquake chasing was not just a hobby for Henry; he believed in the importance of seeing the damage that happened to buildings during and after a quake. He felt strongly that engineers should see what performs well and what does not, and that first-person, up-close views help good engineers strive to design better buildings that would perform well in an earthquake. Degenkolb Engineers remains committed to Henry’s mission of continually improving building design, and still sends engineers out to the field after a major earthquake. These field missions are vivid illustrations of the importance of structural engineering and ongoing improvement.
80 Years of Excellence: Henry Degenkolb the Earthquake Chaser
In part 4 of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Paul Degenkolb, Henry’s son, about what it was like growing up with a structural engineer as a father.
Earthquake Chasing Goes South
On December 23, 1972, just after midnight, an earthquake hit Managua, Nicaragua, and Henry got down there as soon as he could, bringing 19-year-old Paul along (ostensibly to carry Henry’s many cameras). Though Paul had seen the damage earthquakes wrought and had heard his father talk about it many times, he was unprepared for seeing the devastation first-hand. But he also got to see how dedicated of an investigator his father was. During the plane ride down, the pilot had to get an idea of the ground conditions before landing. He brought the Boeing 707 down to 2,000 feet and turned hard to the left, then hard to the right; with a bank angle of 60 degrees, everyone on board was experiencing about 2Gs, meaning everything felt about twice as heavy. However, throughout this plane ride, Henry was going up and down the cabin trying to find the best locations from which to shoot pictures.
Aerial view of damaged buildings.
Once on the ground, Henry’s experience as a field investigator kicked in and he hired both a driver and experienced interpreter for the duration of the stay. That first day, they visited a parking garage that had collapsed. Paul had just finished documenting the conditions inside the garage when he was approached by a tall, thin, bandana-wearing man looking like he had walked straight out of an old Western movie. The man saw the USGS sticker on Paul’s hard hat and asked his name and affiliation. When he heard Paul’s name, he asked if he was related to the Henry Degenkolb. Paul confirmed that he was Henry’s son and introduced the man to Henry. The man, Filadelfo Chamorro, was one of the most respected structural engineers in Nicaragua and was familiar with Henry and his work. Filadelfo stayed with the team for the entirety of the trip and remained in contact with Henry and other Degenkolb engineers for many more years.
Several days later, the group visited a bank that Filadelfo had been the SEOR for, the Banco de America. Filadelfo said that, although it did not meet all the US codes on paper, he’d designed it the way he thought Henry might. The building had suffered minimal damage – some spalled concrete at four doorway locations on each floor where air conditioning ducts had been passed through the beam (header), not in accordance with the design drawings. Kitty-corner to that bank was Banco Central de Nicaragua, which, despite meeting the US codes, had suffered such severe damage it had to be almost completely torn down
One of the things that made Managua different from other earthquakes was the degree to which Henry and the other team members examined the social impacts of some of the damage. In Managua, it became apparent that, in a post-disaster situation, hospitals and fire stations were critical. As Paul remembers, at that time, there were only two of each in the city; one of the fire stations collapsed on the fire engines and both hospitals were damaged to the point that they could not be used.
Henry’s Technical Competency
Aerial view damaged and minimally damaged buildings.
The trip to Managua presented an interesting juxtaposition in building design. One building, which met code on paper, failed, while the other did not. These two examples illustrate the basis of Henry’s attitude towards the code – codes are guidelines and are not a substitute for good design. Codes help institutionalize knowledge – they help people understand what works and what doesn’t work. But codes aren’t going to get an engineer to the final answer about building design, and they shouldn’t be used to justify or cover for mistakes. Henry believed it is up to the engineer to know what’s a good design and what’s a bad design. He felt strongly that a good engineer should not only be able to put together a well-designed building, but also recognize a bad design when he sees one.
Henry always emphasized the importance of understanding things in context. Though he loved what computers could do for the understanding of buildings, he took it with a guarded approach. No matter what, there needs to be a person behind the computational work, taking the time to understand what is going on and viewing the bigger picture.
As an engineer, Henry enjoyed working with people of various professions and encouraged discussion. He always assumed that whoever he was dealing with had something positive to add, and never objected to being told he was wrong if the person talking to him was able to back up their assertion. Crucially for the future of Degenkolb the company, Henry wanted his engineers to really think about what they were doing and why they were doing it that way. This is one of the strongest legacies that Paul thinks Henry has left for the company.
Henry: One of three
Managua wasn’t the only time Paul was asked if he was Henry Degenkolb’s son. A few years later, when Paul was attending City College, he’d take the Bart train to Glen Park and walked the rest of the way home. It was a long walk though, so Paul was open to hitchhiking, especially when the weather was bad. One evening, on his way home in the rain, he was picked up by a man who was involved in the construction industry. When Paul told the driver his name, the driver said “Ah! Which one do you belong to?” Henry was only one of three Degenkolb brothers; according to the man giving Paul a ride home, if you were involved in construction, you were bound to run up against one of the Degenkolb brothers. Paul’s driver had come across all three, three and began sharing what he knew about them all. John was a fire engineer and former fire chief and had develop many of the fire codes on the books today. Oris was involved in bridges and transportation as he worked for CalTrans. Anyone involved in highway construction had come across or heard of Oris. Henry was the structural guy and part of the group who verified building codes for the state. If you wanted to get something through the code, you were very likely going to come across him. Henry was well-respected and didn’t necessarily hold onto ideas simply because he’d authored them. He was always open to changing his mind if the reasons added up.
80 Years of Excellence: Henry Degenkolb as the Life of the Party
In part 3 of our 80th Anniversary series, we talked to Paul Degenkolb, Henry’s son, about what it was like growing up with a structural engineer as a father.
Lady Degenkolb, a compelling conversationalist.
Henry Degenkolb was, as Paul describes, a bit of a Renaissance man. He built radios, worked on cars, built wood shop projects like bookshelves, tables, etc. He was very well-read and took an interest in a wide variety of topics. But at home, he was a somewhat serious man. Paul recalls one time when Henry’s curiosity took an endearingly philosophical turn. Paul and his wife, Michele, were at Henry and Anna’s home socializing. Henry, cigar in hand, and Michele, with a cocktail, were sitting in the living room watching Lady (Henry and Anna’s dog) and Knicker (Paul and Michele’s dog) play together when Henry turned to Michele and asked if she thought dogs talked to each other. By the end of the conversation, they both agreed that dogs do, in fact, talk to each other, and both were laughing, thoroughly amused by the direction of the conversation.
When Paul and his wife, Michele, decided to get married after nearly three years of dating, Henry’s response was “It’s about god-damned time!” When Henry, who loved throwing parties, found out that the date was set for February 29, he was dismayed. “That’s 16 months away!”
Henry and his wife Anna were known for throwing parties semi-regularly. As part of the family, Michele started attending them and meeting guests. At that time, Michele was a Biopsychology student at UC-Berkeley and had taken several engineering classes. She eventually went on to San Francisco State University, where she earned a degree in engineering with an emphasis in mechanics (the equivalent of a mechanical engineering degree). She often socialized with other engineering students, whether for fun, in class, or to study. When she told her friends about one of these parties and who was in attendance, her friends gave her a hard time, insisting the people she was naming didn’t really exist – they were just the names of textbook authors. But these authors of engineering textbooks were indeed guests, peers, colleagues of Henry’s, and they frequently socialized together at Henry and Anna’s house. For a man like Henry Degenkolb, it should come as no surprise, though, that his cocktail party guests were the ones literally writing the textbooks on the engineering subjects – it was in his nature to cultivate these relationships and networks with fellow engineers.
80 Years of Excellence: Henry Degenkolb’s Technical Skills and Engineering Advocacy Collide
Throughout the month of April, Degenkolb is celebrating 80 years of structural engineering by taking a look back at our founder, Henry Degenkolb. We talked with people who knew and worked with him, and present those stories here. Part 2 of the 80th Anniversary series is a continuation of James Malley’s recollections of Henry and his contributions to the field of structural engineering.
At the start of Henry’s career, the last “Big One” had been the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Henry and his contemporaries could look back at those buildings and see what had performed well and what hadn’t. Over the course of his career, the way buildings were constructed changed, such as going from riveted to bolted steel connection. Henry studied what had worked well and applied those elements to emerging methods and building construction practices.
In fact, the bolted steel connection became one of Henry’s favorites. But in the early 70s, testing was carried out on the seismic performance of welded connections, which were becoming more popular as a less expensive alternative. By the mid-80s, looking to codify the welded connection approach, the engineers writing the codes decided to add a penalty for using the bolted steel connection design. Henry was outraged. He was convinced the bolted steel connection was just as good and undeserving of the penalty these engineers sought to publish in the code books. He wrote a four-page letter to the Structural Engineers of California campaigning against the penalty. He began the letter with a preemptive apology; the language in his letter wasn’t his usual diplomatic self. He advocated that the steel bolted connection system not be penalized and outlined what he anticipated to be potential problems with the welded approach. Despite his passionate plea on behalf of the bolted connections, the code-writing committee proceeded.
It wasn’t until years later, after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, that Henry’s predictions about the weaknesses in the welded system turned out to be true. Sadly, he’d passed a little more than four years earlier in late 1989. But he’d been right after all; there were, in fact, problems with the welded system and the Northridge earthquake brought those deficiencies to light. Since then, those have been corrected. Henry’s brilliant understanding of engineering and how forces flow through a building panned out accurately in his predictions about problems with the welded connection details.
These predictions highlighted Henry’s deep intuition for structural engineering and how a building should be put together. He had an extremely well-developed sense of how structures would perform during an earthquake. He understood the importance of the load path, how the forces go through the structure, and how to design something that effectively resisted those forces. Throughout the years, the amount of seismic performance analyses and data that can be gleaned from buildings has grown dramatically. There’s so much more information that’s available to engineers today than there was during Henry’s career. He was careful not to always take numbers at face value. Data can give insights, but he believed it was important to step back from something and ask, “is this performing the way we expect?” He liked to dig into something and understand it at a deeper level.
80 Years of Excellence: Henry Degenkolb’s Legacy Lives On At A Modern-Day Firm
Throughout the month of April, Degenkolb is celebrating 80 years of structural engineering by taking a look back at our founder, Henry Degenkolb. We talked with people who knew and worked with him, and present those stories here. Part 1 of the 80th Anniversary series comes from James Malley’s recollections of Henry and his contributions to the field of structural engineering.
It is Henry Degenkolb, and his professional connections, who Jim Malley credits for his 37-year career at Degenkolb Engineers. In 1982, Jim was a graduate student at UC Berkeley, working with Professor Egor Popov, who was a friend and contemporary of Henry. As the semester wound down and summer was in sight, Egor informed Jim that funding had run out for his research project and he couldn’t keep him working full time during that upcoming summer. On Jim’s behalf, Egor contacted Henry, asking if Jim could intern with Degenkolb for the summer. Jim completed the internship and was asked back after graduating. He joined the firm the next year as an engineer and has stayed for the better part of three decades.
Henry was left-handed, like Jim, and was often seen with a cigar in his right hand, leaving his left hand free to hold a pencil. He was a passionate and curious engineer, and Jim saw this in action the first time he was asked to participate with him on a pier design project. Tom Wosser, president of the company at the time, approached Jim on a Friday about a potential design project for the Oakland Estuary. He suggested he speak with Henry about it, recalling that Henry had done some pier work in the 50s. Jim caught Henry in his office late on a Friday morning. After explaining the Port of Oakland design project, Henry discussed in detail previous pier designs he had done nearly 30 years ago. Henry also provided Jim with suggestions for in-house resources he could use and where he’d find more information on pier design.
Photo from the EERI series Connections: The EERI Oral History Series – Henry J. Degenkolb
The next Monday morning, Jim came into the office and found a pile of reference documents on his desk (with some notes in the margins), a set of pier design calculations, sketches of connection details, and a cost estimate for the whole effort. Over the weekend, curiosity, interest, and passion had gotten the best of Henry—and he’d completed the entire project. Once done, he’d left it on Jim’s desk to do the rest, leaving no note nor explanation.
Henry’s interests weren’t strictly limited to structural engineering. He was an intensely curious man and dedicated tinkerer; his home was full of various types of projects. The basement housed a printing press, where, every month, he’d print up newsletters for structural engineering organizations. He loved photography and had a full darkroom where he could develop his own film. Even within the realms of engineering, Henry was always trying to learn more. Both of his brothers, Oris and John, were engineers as well. Oris was a bridge and traffic engineer while John was a fire engineer. Henry made sure that Degenkolb Engineers had all the technical papers about fire and bridge engineering; he liked to read the latest articles so he could talk over the topics with his brothers.
Henry examining structural damage to a building.
Henry’s inquisitive nature made him an excellent mentor in the field of structural engineering. He sought out opportunities to meet with colleagues and discuss work of the day. Every Friday, Henry attended the local Engineer’s Club lunch in the Bechtel Building. It was a casual gathering of contemporaries and competitors, but the overall atmosphere was collegial and synergetic. Engineers from all over the city would talk excitedly about projects they were working on, sharing ideas as peers. After lunch, the group would make their way to the bar, where they’d have a drink or two, and then Henry would return to Degenkolb’s offices with a bottle of rye whiskey in hand. He’d put the bottle out on the table so the staff could have a drink and play cards late into the afternoon.
Henry’s passion for structural engineering could be seen in action just after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. He’d been seriously ill for some time and, when the earthquake hit, was confined to his home, unable to go out into the field and assess the damage for himself. For someone who’d dedicated his life to improving the seismic performance of buildings in San Francisco, being unable to go out into the field after the very event that he’d been anticipating was a frustrating position indeed. So, if he couldn’t see it firsthand, he made sure that at least he would get first-hand descriptions of how structures had fared. He called his secretary and had her set up a schedule to have the engineers come to him and describe what they were seeing in the field. Jim and his cohorts went to Henry’s bedside and recounted their sights. They described buildings that had performed well, and others that had not. “Oh, I knew that one wouldn’t do well,” he’d say, his intuition for structural engineering playing out with real-world results.
Henry liked to stress the importance of a good design from the start. In an interview with Stanley Scott for the EERI Oral History Series, Connections, Henry said: “What you start out, what your assumptions are, largely determine. With the right way of doing things, if a system is inherently good, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s a little stronger or not. But if you weaken it to the point where you permit bad details or poor anchorages, you only save peanuts while increasing the hazard tremendously… I think it’s like almost anything else—if you start off on the right path, it’s not hard to do things right.” This philosophy is something that Jim tries to carry forward with him today and pass down to younger engineers, and what he sees as one of the lasting legacies that Henry has left at the firm that bears his name.
Degenkolb Expands Forensics Engineering Practice to the Pacific Northwest
Degenkolb Engineers is pleased to announce the expansion of forensics engineering services in our Seattle office. Mike Bramhall, Scott Thomas, and Cecelia Larson join Lisette Terry to build on our long-established forensics practice in Northern California by covering Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Mike Bramhall, Principal
Mike has more than 30 years of experience specializing in structural and forensic engineering. He has an extensive range of design and forensic experience encompassing virtually all common building types, building materials, and damage types. His primary focus areas are repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings, structural damage investigations and assessments, and structural engineering expert witness services.
Scott Thomas, Senior Associate
Scott has more than 30 years of experience with investigation of causation and assessment of damage associated with structural, civil, and building envelope failures. He has an extensive background specializing in materials testing and inspection and provides engineering support to the insurance, legal, and building management industries for construction defect litigation.
Cecelia Larson, Associate
Cecelia has over a decade of experience specializing in structural forensics engineering. Her primary focus areas are structural damage assessments and investigations for property losses including fire, vehicle impact, water intrusion, foundation settlement, and acting as an expert witness for commercial, residential, and marine facilities.
Our Practice
Degenkolb provides expertise to unravel the technical mysteries of construction defects, structural failures, and other situations which give rise to disputes. Their addition to the firm provides a wide variety of engineering services to professionals in the insurance, legal, and construction industries. Our forensic engineering services include:
- Engineering investigations to determine the cause and origin of structural failures and extent of structural damages, and provide scope of repair recommendations;
- Reconstruction and repair documents such as calculations, plans, and specifications for building permits;
- Expert witness opinions, reports and testimony;
- In-house advanced analysis and analytical modeling; and
- Pre-lease and pre-purchase due diligence investigations for property condition assessment
- Post-disaster response (CAT) support.
Getting to know the Degenkolb summer interns
Every year Degenkolb Engineers invites aspiring structural engineers to join us as interns for the summer. It is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. The interns get a chance to apply what they have learned in school to a real world setting, while our engineers get to pass on their knowledge to those entering the field.
Before our 2019 summer interns made their way back to school, we wanted to hear how their internships at Degenkolb went. They were all more than happy to share their experiences:
Anthony Ayllon, Oakland
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I am currently at Stanford University and will begin the 2nd and final year of my master’s degree this fall.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I learned about Degenkolb during the ASCE Speaker Series at Stanford where Laura Weyl gave a presentation on the company.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
Some of my best memories have been playing on the Degenkolb softball team. We had some exciting late inning rallies this season and it has been great spending time with my coworkers after work.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Be willing to ask questions and take on challenging projects outside of your comfort zone. I feel that I have learned the most this summer from working my way through areas in the code I had no familiarity with previously and having the help of my coworkers to guide me whenever I needed it.
Describe your ideal day off.
I love to travel, whether it’s a quick trip to the beach or visiting a new city or country. Exploring different places and the feeling of being immersed in the unknown makes any day off great. I also feel that having my friends and family around can make it the ideal day regardless of where I am.
Daniel Item, Sacramento
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I graduated from undergrad at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo this last spring and will be attending grad school at UC Davis this upcoming year.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I was previously an intern for Barrish Pelham, who I found at the Structural Forum in San Luis Obispo, and found out about Degenkolb during the company merge between the two firms.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
So far in my time here at Degenkolb, my most vivid memory was my site visit at Greer Elementary School. Also, the food truck on a previous Friday near the local UC Davis Medical Center that I went to with some coworkers.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Do your best to get assigned project work because you will get to see how the design principles that you learn about in school are utilized.
Describe your ideal day off.
An ideal off day would start with me cooking some bacon and eggs for breakfast, then a little bit of morning exercise. Relaxing with Netflix, video games, and pizza for lunch and later finding myself with some friends playing games such as basketball, soccer, or board games.
Daniel Look, Oakland
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I went to Cal Poly Pomona for undergrad and will be going to UC Berkeley for graduate school this Fall Semester.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I was on the seismic design team for EERI SDC during my undergrad and I saw this funny little triangle on the sponsor banner of the competition. I also attended the Student Awards Night a few years ago for SEAOSC in Downtown LA and listened to a presentation by one of the Degenkolb Principals.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
My most vivid memory would be winning the Office Olympics alongside my fellow intern, Kiana Underwood.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
It’s all right to forget some things from school or to not know some things. The best part of interning is learning and overcoming new challenges!
Describe your ideal day off.
A rainy day with a dog on my lap and a cup of hot chocolate in my hand. The simple days are always the most relaxing.
Hagen Tam, Sacramento
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I just finished up my third year as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley and will be graduating this December.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I first found out about Degenkolb when Abe Lynn was my professor (the one semester he lectured at UC Berkeley) and he mentioned that he was working for Degenkolb. Afterwards, several of my friends and colleagues from UC Berkeley graduated and went on to work for the company.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
My most vivid memory so far at Degenkolb is from my site visit to Folsom Hills Elementary School. It may not be an impressive sight for everyone, but I will always remember seeing the first actual beam I designed. It is a 5 1/8 x 12 Glulam beam framing an opening and supporting a portion of the roof and the ceiling framing and finishes.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Keep yourself as busy as possible by asking for work BEFORE you run out. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Take advantage of having an experienced, friendly mentor who knows a lot about structural engineering. Get to know your coworkers by going to company social events outside of work (i.e., Thirsty Thursdays, the company picnic, softball, soccer, camping, etc.). Eat lunch in the office and talk to your coworkers!
Describe your ideal day off.
During the snow season, my ideal off day is an early morning trip up to Tahoe to go snowboarding, a hobby I picked up in the last few years. All other times of the year, I love going to the beach with friends and family to play Spikeball, beach soccer, or just relax.
Hannah Thompson, San Francisco
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
This fall, I’ll be finishing my masters’ degree at Stanford, which is where I did my undergrad (class of 2018)!
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I met two Degenkolb engineers – Ariel Creagh and Katie Boisseree – at a Stanford career fair for the structural design and construction industry. In addition to Degenkolb’s reputation as a top-notch firm, I was excited to apply for the internship because of the clear representation of young, successful female engineers at the firm. I’m lucky to have Ariel and Katie (and many others) as role models!
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
In addition to the fun social events (it’s easy to have fun when your coworkers are all very nice and welcoming), my favorite Degenkolb memory so far has been building an entire Rhino model, and then converting it into a complete ETABS model, in one day. I learned a bunch of tips and tricks from Peter Fobel, a great mentor, for automating the process – and I completed something in 8 hours that could have taken me 3 weeks!
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
In my experience, everyone at the firm (from your peers who are only one year out of school to the most experienced senior engineers) is very invested in helping you learn. You’ll get the chance to do a lot of fascinating work, but it never has to be a trial by fire – all you have to do is ask, and you’ll get precious wisdom or a much-needed push in the right direction!
Describe your ideal day off.
I’m a huge cyclist, so an ideal day would start with a bike ride with my cycling friends (maybe into Half Moon Bay for lunch). After a shower and a lot of carbs, I’d love to play some music with my orchestra friends or hit the town and see a movie.
Josh Lange, Los Angeles
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I just graduated from Cal Poly SLO in June, and I am heading to UC Berkeley for my master’s degree this fall.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
Through our career fair at Cal Poly. I knew nothing about the firm when I applied for the internship.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
Being tasked with planning our company picnic with all the new hires. It was a fun way to bond with some of the other young people in the office.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Try to get to know as many of your coworkers as you can, because you’ll enjoy your time much more if you’re working with people that you connect with, and you can learn a lot from them!
Describe your ideal day off.
I would start by sleeping in until 11am, then I would spend the whole day hanging out with friends, possibly going to the beach, playing games, or watching movies. And eating lots of Cheez-its, my favorite food.
Kiana Underwood, Oakland
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I just finished my undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO and will be starting my Master’s in Structural Engineering this fall at UCSD.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I learned about Degenkolb through our networking events at Cal Poly. I got connected with the company after receiving a scholarship from Degenkolb at the end of my third year.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
My team winning first place in the Degenkolb Olympics!
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Get involved in the company and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Degenkolb offers many opportunities to learn and interact with coworkers. Taking advantage of it will definitely enhance your experience as an intern.
Describe your ideal day off.
My ideal day off would involve enjoying any outdoor activities (like hiking or going to the beach), eating some delicious Bay Area food, and hanging out with my friends.
Laura Hernandez-Bassal, Sacramento
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I currently go to school at UC Davis and I will start my second year of the PhD program in the fall.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I have known about Degenkolb for years through seminars. I also worked remotely with one of their engineers on a project (when I worked at my previous company).
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
I have truly enjoyed learning about wood design, which I did not have much exposure to before. Also, it was interesting to learn about the DSA and OSHPD review process for schools and hospitals, respectively.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Ask all the questions you have. If you are unsure about something, an engineer can explain to you the concept and it will be a rewarding and learning experience.
Describe your ideal day off.
Wake up around 9:00 am, make myself an amazing breakfast, go for a bike ride around Davis, come back and jump in the pool for an hour or so. Have lunch at a Thai restaurant and just walk around downtown. Come back and play Ticket to Ride and watch an episode of Money Heist.
Luis Hernandez-Velasquez , San Diego
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I am currently working on my master’s degree at UC San Diego and will be starting my 4th quarter there this year (2nd year).
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
I found out about Degenkolb at a SEAOSC meeting during my third year at Cal Poly Pomona. Daniel Zepeda was presenting that day on the recent earthquake to hit Mexico and I have been a fan of Degenkolb since.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
My most vivid memory is actually very recent. It is of our office Padres baseball game. It was my first baseball game ever and we got a chance to see the team during batting practice up close.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
My advice would be to definitely ask questions if you are confused. Everyone here is more than willing to help.
Describe your ideal day off.
My ideal day off would involve waking up early and getting a good workout in. Then after that I would love to cook some food. I’m a huge fan of cooking and an even bigger fan of eating.
Robert Wang, San Francisco
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I am a graduate student at Stanford University. I will be completing my Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering next winter.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
A combination of word of mouth, reputation, and career fairs. Degenkolb is very well known in the Bay Area for their expertise in seismic evaluations and retrofits. But what really piqued my interest was when my non-linear analysis professor, on the first day of class, showed us a case study of an office tower seismic retrofit here in San Francisco. It was a Degenkolb project and they were installing viscous dampers to improve the building’s seismic performance. The technicality and complexity of the project was fascinating. I got curious and decided to look more into the firm. Luckily, they were accepting interns at that time so I applied immediately.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
Aside from working with and learning from some of the smartest engineers in California, my most vivid memories at Degenkolb so far are the many happy hours, softball games, and other team-building activities planned throughout the summer. I enjoyed the abundance of opportunities I had just chatting and socializing with my co-workers. It felt like a community to me. Most of the designers have lunches together, the senior project managers join in when they are not too busy. There were after-work happy hours, camping trips, picnics, lunch-and-learns, afternoon snacks, celebrations for new-hires/anniversaries/career milestones, and many other social opportunities. I think HR and the social committees do an excellent job making us interns feel welcomed. It’s been a fantastic internship so far.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
Ask questions and try to learn as much as possible from the other engineers. This internship is such a valuable learning opportunity in that you can actually see how the materials we learn in class are applied in the real world to generate value and impact our society. Also try not to shy away from after-work social opportunities with co-workers.
Describe your ideal day off.
Tennis and rock climbing in the morning. Movie + Korean BBQ in the afternoon. Board games with friends in the evening.
Scott Sprouse, San Francisco
Where do you go to school and what year are you in?
I completed my undergrad at UC San Diego in June and will be returning to San Diego to get my master’s degree starting in September.
How did you find out about Degenkolb?
My favorite professor at UC San Diego encouraged me to apply for an internship here.
What is your most vivid memory of your time so far at Degenkolb?
I really enjoyed participating in the Office Olympics and visiting job sites with all the other Bay Area interns.
If you could give any future interns advice on how to get the most out of interning with Degenkolb what would it be?
My advice for future interns would be to ask questions when you don’t know something and to make sure that you look at the internship as an opportunity to develop as an engineer. Internships, particularly at a firm like Degenkolb, are an opportunity to expose yourself to different things or applications of structural engineering than what you see in school.
Describe your ideal day off.
My ideal day off would involve sleeping in, watching Netflix, and eating ice cream at the end of the day.
We appreciate all the hard work our 2019 summer interns have done during their time with us. We wish them all the best of luck as they continue their education this fall!
Ridgecrest Magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 Earthquake Reconnaissance
The City of Ridgecrest was greeted with strong ground shaking before they could celebrate Independence Day.
On July 4, 2019, most Californians were enjoying the day off to celebrate July 4th, Independence Day, but a few Degenkolb engineers and residents of one city in particular, the City of Ridgecrest, got a little more excitement than they bargained for.
At 10:33am, a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake rippled through Searles Valley, its epicenter located eleven miles from Ridgecrest, CA, where it caused house fires, non-structural damage in businesses, and road cracks. Reports indicate the seismic event was felt as far as Las Vegas to the east, Bakersfield to the west, and Los Angeles to the south.
USGS Shaking Intensity Plot for M6.4 EQ
(Reported as of July 8, 2019)
Degenkolb Engineers was contacted soon after the event by Ridgecrest Regional Hospital to assist in assessing the structural damage after the event. According to USGS, the shaking intensity at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital was approximately 6.5, which is considered strong. Degenkolb immediately assembled a team composed of Richard Franco, Daniel Zepeda, Justin Tan, and Daniel Phelan to conduct the task. Our team arrived on site on July 4, 2019 at around 5:15pm. The Hospital was completing a full voluntary evacuation of their patients and staff when our team arrived. Degenkolb was greeted and briefed by the hospital staff who then walked the team throughout the hospital while assessing the buildings. Our team was glad to see that no structural damage had occurred in the Hospital structures and a couple of their clinic buildings. While driving around town, it appeared the town too had fared well against the earthquake with no signs of exterior damage to any of the structures along the way.
The Degenkolb team visits Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.
After a long day, the team headed back home to enjoy the 4th of July festivities and celebrated a successful survey by having dinner together.
The Degenkolb team enjoys 4th of July after a successful reconnaissance.
Just when the July 4th festivities were winding down, Ridgecrest was rattled again at 8:20pm on July 5th by an M7.1 quake. A mere 34 hours after the earlier M6.4 event, which USGS recategorized as having been a foreshock to this larger earthquake. Our Degenkolb team, always up for the challenge and not shying away from earthquake chasing, quickly reached out to the Hospital to understand how they were affected.
Dr. Lucy Jones on the news after the M7.1 EQ
USGS Fault Rupture Plot
(Reported as of July 8, 2019)
CESMD Recording Station Locations.
(Reported as of July 8, 2019)
The following morning, Richard Franco, Daniel Zepeda, Justin Tan, Daniel Phelan, and Sandy Hohener headed back to the site to re-assess the damage. The team arrived at 12:45pm and were again greeted and briefed by the hospital staff before the team began their assessment of the hospital buildings. Our team was surprised but glad that this stronger earthquake also caused no structural damage to the Hospital. The facility was also excited to hear the news and was in the process of getting the hospital ready for reoccupation.
Entering the City of Ridgecrest.
The team meets with hospital staff.
The team discusses with hospital staff.
During our visit to Ridgecrest our team also visited the nearby Home Depot and Albertsons stores to see how they had fared in the event. It was amazing to see that both stores had suffered little non-structural damage and no apparent damage to their structures. We had heard news reports indicating many of the stores had shut down due to broken merchandise, but both Home Depot and Albertsons returned to operation within hours of both events. We spoke with a worker at Home Depot and he informed us that they received a lot of support from their franchise stores to get back to business and we assume it was the same for Albertsons. Despite their proximity to the large event, Home Depot only had one heavy stacked pallet fall from the warehouse racks. They indicated that many of the pallets slid forward during the earthquake, and as the first priority following the earthquake re-set the pallets to the back of the racks.
Shelves and pallets at Home Depot and Albertsons after the M7.1 EQ.
Before leaving the area, our team headed towards the small town of Trona, which was reported to have suffered severe damage. Along the way we found some of the roads had displaced vertically causing minor traffic, which ended up being a good stopping zone to better understand the associated earthquake ground movement. In some areas our team observed vertical offsets that were over 1.5 feet. However, it was not clear whether the offset was due to vertical displacement or settlement, but we noticed many geologists were in the area trying to make sense of it.
It will be interesting to see how the USGS refines the shaking intensity maps in the coming weeks, and what we can learn from the geotechnical community. You can see from the current USGS map below that the fault seemed to have ruptured to the Northwest, away from Ridgecrest. This might have spared Ridgecrest from the worst of the damage-causing ground shaking.
USGS Shaking Intensity Plot for M7.1 EQ.
(Reported as of July 8, 2019)
Fault ruptures across Highway 178.
The team investigates the fault ruptures.
Upon reaching Trona it was clear that the small town had suffered a significant amount of damage, even though the shaking intensity that is currently being reported by USGS is similar to what Ridgecrest is thought to have experienced. Most of the area is populated with single story homes without the benefit of modern seismic codes, and the area is located on an old lakebed. The damage appears to have been primarily caused by settlement and lateral spreading as indicated by the ground movement / cracks which appeared towards a lakebed. Unfortunately, the buildings that were damaged did not appear to have any significant reinforcing in them to prevent the damage.
Entering the Searles Valley region.
Examples of earthquake damage in Trona.
The trip proved to be beneficial to our Hospital client and educational to our team. Although the magnitude of the earthquake was high there is still a lot of research to be conducted to better understand the shaking intensity and related damage under the populated areas. We hope this can be accomplished in the near future by our team and other researchers that were in the area.
The team poses for a group photo above a fault rupture.
