Degenkolb worked with the city to help craft a seismic ordinance program that will seismically evaluate and possibly strengthen three critically vulnerable building types in a proactive time frame.
City of West Hollywood, Building Inventory Survey and Seismic Ordinances
Degenkolb Engineers assisted the City of West Hollywood in the development of their seismic ordinance program. Degenkolb worked hand-in-hand with the city’s building department to survey over 4,500 buildings within the city limits. From this information, Degenkolb worked with the city to help craft a seismic ordinance to seismically evaluate and possibly strengthen Wood Soft Story Buildings, Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings, and Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frame Buildings. As the city’s consultant and adviser, Degenkolb assisted the city with community outreach and presentations to the City Council.
Staff on the Project
Alvaro Celestino
Principal
I went into structural engineering because buildings are my passion.
Anuj Bansal
Group Director Regional Practice Area Leader Senior Principal
I had a life dream of being a cricket star before settling on the ...
Bob Pekelnicky
Senior Principal
I had always been interested in how things are put together.
Chad Closs
Office Director Principal
I leaned toward an engineering degree where I could solve real world ...
Daniel Zepeda
Office Director Senior Principal Working Group Leader
Daniel has worked at Degenkolb close to 20 years.
Sandy Hohener
Principal
I was going to be a golf course designer but it turns out that’s a ...
Alvaro Celestino
Principal
San Diego
- (619) 814-7004
- acelestino@degenkolb.com
Education
M.S, Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 2007
B.Sc., Civil Engineering, Catholic University of Peru, 1997
Professional Registration
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 5580
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 71948
Why did you go into structural engineering?
Because buildings are my passion.
Question of the Day
What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Writing.
Anuj Bansal
Group Director, Regional Practice Area Leader, Senior Principal
Los Angeles
- (213) 596-5008
- abansal@degenkolb.com
Education
M.S., Civil Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, 1988
B.S., Civil Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, India, 1986
Registration
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. S4583
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. C53916
Little Known Fact
I had a life dream of being a cricket star before settling on the exciting life of an engineer in California.
Bob Pekelnicky
Senior Principal
San Francisco
- (415) 392-6952
- rpekelnicky@degenkolb.com
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering with Honors, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2000
M.S., Structural Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2001
Registration
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. S5083
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. C64989
TN, Professional Engineer, License No. 6419
Why did you go into structural engineering?
I had always been interested in how things are put together. My mom tells a story of how I took apart a clock when I was 3 or 4 to see how it worked inside. So, I was probably always destined to be an engineer. I chose structural engineering specifically because the scale of buildings and bridges interested me more than things electrical and mechanical engineers work on. I picked when I was a senior in high school and have found myself loving it more and more with each passing year!
Little Known Fact
I feel like our dog is my master, rather than I being his.
Question of the Day
What’s your favorite way to get to work?
Walk along the Embarcadero.
ideas
San Francisco’s Steel Moment Frame Problem: Degenkolb’s response to the New York Times
Carmen O’Rourley
Project Engineer
Los Angeles
- (213) 596-5000
- corourke@degenkolb.com
Education
M.S., Civil / Earthquake Engineering, University of California in Los Angeles, 2016
B.S., Structural Engineering, University of California in San Diego, 2010
Why did you go into structural engineering?
I wanted to help make earthquake-prone communities safer.
Little Known Fact
Sunlight makes me sneeze.
Question of the Day
What’s your favorite team?
ACE Mentors Downtown L.A. Team!
Community
New Year, New Promotions
Chad Closs
Office Director, Principal
San Diego
- (619) 814-7012
- ccloss@degenkolb.com
Education
B.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 2007
M.S., Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 2008
Registration
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 5946
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 75942
LEED Accredited Professional
Why did you go into structural engineering?
Heading into college, engineering was always something that I was interested in. My father was a small residential contractor and the idea of using math and science to design and build real world structures seemed like a lot of fun. One of my first engineering classes we got to crush concrete and pull apart samples of different materials to understand their properties. I was hooked after building a concrete canoe and applying these material principles I learned in class to compete against other schools in the ASCE conference.
Little Known Fact
I may have gone to culinary school if my preferred college choice, UCSD, didn't pan out. Instead I now watch cooking competitions and live vicariously through the chefs.
What’s your favorite team?
Deep down it will always be the San Diego Chargers football team. A piece of me left when they moved to LA.
Chris Hilson
Associate
Sacramento
- (213) 596-5026
- chilson@degenkolb.com
Education
B.A., Structural Engineering, UC San Diego, 2006
M.S., Civil Engineering, UC Los Angeles, 2010
PhD, Civil Engineering, UC Los Angeles, 2014
Registration
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 75049
ideas
Congratulations to our 2022 Mid-Year Promotions
Daniel Zepeda
Office Director, Senior Principal, Working Group Leader
Los Angeles, San Jose del Cabo
- (213) 596-5014
- dzepeda@degenkolb.com
- M.S, Structural Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2003
- B.S., Civil Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, 2002
- CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 5260
- CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 68493
Why did you go into Engineering?
I grew up helping my dad wrenching on his vehicles (ok, mostly holding the flashlight). I was also good in math and science and as a plus I liked to draw so it felt like a very natural thing to do. After so many years in the industry I am happy to say I picked something that I am not only good at but really enjoy doing.
Little Known Fact
I love to work with my hands and therefore own a ton of tools that I use to work on my own cars, bikes, and house. A good weekend for me would involve fixing something.
What hobby would you go into if time and money weren’t an issue?
I love to spend my free time off-roading so if I had more time, I would do a lot more of it.
Garrett Hagen
Principal
Orange County
- (657) 331-4233
- ghagen@degenkolb.com
Education
M.S., Architectural Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2012
B.S., Architectural Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2012
Registration
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 82112
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 6449
NV, Structural Engineer, License No. 24025
Justin Tan
Associate
Los Angeles
- (213) 596-5023
- jtan@degenkolb.com
- B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Davis, 2013
- M.S. Structural Engineering, UC San Diego, 2014
- CA, Civil Engineer, License No. C86524
- CA, Structural Engineer, License No. S6858
Little Known Fact
I can make a surprisingly loud snap with my tongue.
What’s your favorite band?
Earth, Wind & Fire
Laura Basualdo
Associate Principal
Los Angeles
- (213) 596-5002
- lbasualdo@degenkolb.com
Education
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles 2008
M.S., Stanford University, 2010
Registration
CA, Civil Engineering License No. 80026
CA, Structural Engineering License No. 6486
Little Known Fact
I used to be a soccer referee.
Myron Curlee
Senior Project Manager
Los Angeles
- (213) 596-4939
- mcurlee@degenkolb.com
Education
B.S., Architecture University of Southern California, 2005
Why did you go into AEC industry?
I like creating & designing, bringing imagination to life, working with brilliant people, and solving difficult problems.
Little Known Fact
I REALLY love to cook/bake/entertain. I love creating spaces where people come together and share stories, food, and drink.
Question of the Day
Apple or Samsung?
Samsung.
Sandy Hohener
Principal
Los Angeles
- (213) 595-6471
- shohener@degenkolb.com
Education
M.S., Civil Engineering Stanford University, 2009
B.S., Civil Engineering Stanford University, 2008
Registration
CA, Civil Engineer, License No. 78559
CA, Structural Engineer, License No. 6186
Little Known Fact
Once upon a time I was an All-American Water Polo player at Stanford. Now I’m relegated to rec league basketball where I struggles to make it up and down the court.
Question of the Day
What were you going to be when you grew up?
I was going to be a golf course designer but it turns out that’s a pretty difficult gig to get.
