GMS collaborated with Gensler on a concept design of a new system for New York City construction sheds. This design was one of four winning entries in a competition organized by the New York Building Congress.
From 4/17 to 4/27, the International Code Council (ICC) convened the 2016 Committee Action Hearings in Louisville, KY to review the International Building Code (IBC), and other International Codes. On behalf of the Structural Engineers Association of New York, Karl Rubenacker, co-chair of SEAoNY’s Codes and Standards Committee and partner at GMS, presented 7 proposals for revisions to structural design provisions (chapter 16) of the 2015 IBC. If adopted, these proposals would be incorporated into the 2018 IBC. Proposals included revisions to regulations regarding construction documents, load combinations, live loads, special inspections, as well as an entire new section on structural peer review.
On Saturday, April 16, 2016 a massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake rocked Muisne, Ecuador, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). GMS’s Ramon Gilsanz and Virginia Diaz traveled to Ecuador to help in relief efforts, assist other rescuers and collect data on the performance of structures during the event. The reconnaissance trip was coordinated by Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association (GEER), sponsored by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from the Applied Technology Council (ATC).
Earlier this week, Gary Steficek, founding partner of Gilsanz Murray Steficek, spoke at the 6th annual IUAV International Conference on Tall Buildings in Milan. The program was divided into two sessions, one on new technologies and a second on new uses for existing tall buildings. His presentation, “Reinventing Woolworth: Adaptive Reuse of an Historic Skyscraper,” was part of the Existing Structures Session.
GMS is again sponsoring the ACE Greater New York Mentor Program Team #6 (Manhattan) and Team #35 (Long Island). Our staff serve as mentors to high school students to expose them to careers in Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE). GMS staff have proudly participated in the ACE Mentoring Program within the greater New York City region, the founding affiliate of this national organization, since 2006.
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) has awarded the American Physical Society’s headquarters expansion project this year’s IDEAS² Award for projects less than $15 million. This program recognizes projects where structural steel has been utilized in an innovative manner.
The new Virgin Hotel New York broke ground last fall and construction is on track for opening in 2018. This 39-story, tower will occupy the full block between 29th and 30th Streets along the west side of Broadway in NoMad (north of Madison Square), Manhattan, halfway between Herald Square and Madison Square in the Flatiron district.
The Partners of Gilsanz Murray Steficek are pleased to announce our 2016 promotions.
Achim Hermes, PE has been promoted to Partner, joining Joe Blanchfield and Susanne Mackiw to lead our Building Envelope team. He specializes in curtain wall and window consulting including involvement in all phases of design and construction. Achim has worked on a wide range of projects, both new construction and renovation, including new curtainwalls for the Pierhouse at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, 150 Charles Street and the office building at 510 Madison Avenue.
Jose Mendoza has been promoted to Associate. Jose has worked with our Building Envelope team since 2006 after obtaining his Architecture degree from the University of Sevilla and working in Spain. He specializes in façade investigation, curtain wall and window consulting through all phases of design and construction. His projects include the new JetBlue Terminal at JFK and One Jackson Square residences in Greenwich Village.
On March 10th, the New York-Northeast Chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and the Deep Foundations Institute’s (DFI) Women in Deep Foundations Technical Committee co-hosted a Reception and Panel Discussion on Professional Women in the World of Construction.
Last month a team including Gilsanz Murray Steficek (GMS) engineers Ramon Gilsanz, Cathy Huang, Jessica Mandrick and Joe Mugford, Cerea Steficek from the Earth Sciences department at Northeastern University and Mehmet Celebi from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) accompanied by Sheng-Jhih Jhuang from the National Center of Research for Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan (NCREE) visited the earthquake stricken city of Tainan and vicinity to survey, study and document damage and site-related observations from the recent 6.4 Meinong Earthquake. GMS coordinated this effort with the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and the Applied Technology Council (ATC).