Upcoming FEMA Seismic Mitigation Workshops

Below are some upcoming training workshops offered by FEMA’s National Earthquake Technical Assistance program (NETAP).

All of the trainings are PDH eligible (Note: In the case of multiple participants watching the training on the same device, a PDH certificate will only be issued to the individual who registered for the training.)

NETAP Web-Based Training: FEMA 395, Earthquake Safety and Mitigation for Schools
Tuesday, June 1 | 1pm-5pm (Pacific) / 12pm-4pm (Alaska)
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5849713435432705549

Instructor: Barry Welliver, Owner and Principal Engineer, BHW Engineers
Description: This free web-based training teaches participants how to: (1) assess and analyze seismic risks typical to school buildings; (2) develop actionable plans for reducing and managing these risks; (3) secure nonstructural components in school facilities; and (4) implement incremental seismic rehabilitation as an affordable approach for protecting existing school buildings and ensuring occupant safety.

Audience: School officials, school administrators, teachers, facility managers, engineers and other stakeholders interested in reducing earthquake risks in school facilities.

Document: Download for free using this link.

NETAP Web-Based Training: FEMA P-50 & P-50-1,Simplified Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Guidelines for Detached, Single-Family, Wood-Frame Dwellings
Wednesday, July 14 | 1pm-5pm (Pacific) / 12pm-4pm (Alaska)
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/553015180226509069

Instructor: Kelly Cobeen, Principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc
Description: This course guides the participant through a simplified procedure for seismic assessment for detached single-family wood-frame dwellings and provides guidance on how to retrofit the most common seismic deficiencies.

Audience: Building owners, building officials, home inspectors, design professionals, home builders, emergency planners, insurers, and lenders.

Document: Download for free using this link.

NETAP Web-Based Training: FEMA E-74, Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage
Wednesday, June 16 | 9am-1pm (Pacific) / 8am-12pm (Alaska)
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3430155635139552525

Instructor: Keith Porter, Research Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, and Principal, SPA Risk LLC
Description: This free web-based training describes the sources and types of nonstructural earthquake damage and the effective methods and guidance that individuals and organizations can use to take action now before the next earthquake and minimize future injuries and property losses from nonstructural risks. Nonstructural components of buildings include all elements that are not part of the structural system; that is, the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other contents.

Audience: Property owners, facility managers, local officials, engineers, architects, small businesses, and emergency managers.

Document: Download for free using this link.

NETAP Web-Based Training: FEMA P-767, Earthquake Mitigation for Hospitals
Wednesday, June 23 | 9am-1pm (Pacific) / 8am-12pm (Alaska)
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7739029554207681293

Instructor: Ed Huston, Owner and Principal, Huston Structural Engineering
Description: In this training, participants are introduced to earthquake hazards in health care settings and learn about methods that can be used to analyze and reduce risks of damage in hospitals and other medical buildings. Such facilities have unique nonstructural components, including equipment and infrastructure systems that can become sources of injury or damage even during smaller earthquakes. By implementing sound, cost-effective mitigation measures, health care facilities can reduce seismic risks and ensure that, in the event of an earthquake, they can remain in operation to serve their communities.

Audience: Hospital facilities managers, engineers, administrators, and other hospital personnel.

Document: Download for free using this link.

NETAP Web-Based Training: FEMA 232, Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction
Tuesday, July 20 | 1pm-5pm (Pacific) / 12pm-4pm (Alaska)
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2628335681072324877

Instructor: Morgan Griffith, Senior Managing Engineer, Exponent
Description: This free web-based training provides seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses in a manner that can be utilized by homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.

Audience: Building officials, engineers, architects, building owners, emergency managers, risk analysts, and other interested citizens and volunteers.

Document: Download for free using this link.

Earth Day Greetings from COTE

Greetings from the AIAO Committee on the Environment (COTE). On this Earth Day, we are motivated and inspired to build upon the spirit of collaboration and commitment that brought AIA members together from across the State of Oregon to discuss climate action and social justice during this extraordinary year.

COTE is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve. We are working to reframe how we define good design, with an understanding that sustainability and design excellence are inextricably linked. We are championing the AIA Framework for Design Excellence – formerly known as the COTE Top Ten – as a robust design resource and educational tool that highlights the connections between equitable communities, ecosystems, water, economy, energy, wellness, resources, future adaptation and resilience, and post-occupancy evaluation and engagement. We need all hands on deck to help us reach this goal, so please join us!

“The Framework for Design Excellence represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and accompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. These are to be thoughtfully considered by designer and client at the initiation of every project and incorporated into the work as appropriate to the project scope. The Framework is intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project, regardless of size, typology, or aspiration. The Framework for Design Excellence challenges architects with a vision of what the profession strives to achieve, and the Toolkit provides practical resources to help all architects achieve the vision.”

Over the last year, AIA Oregon has incorporated the AIA Framework for Design Excellence into the annual design awards program. Each submission is now required to address a minimum of four of the ten principals of the Framework. In this way, AIAO is recognizing sustainability as an essential aspect of design excellence. COTE is eager to support this effort by providing training opportunities and by featuring presentations of exemplary projects during our monthly Digital Design Series events.

COTE is also excited to announce that we are joining forces with the AIA 2030 Working Group this year. We will focus our combined efforts on methods to track and meet the AIA 2030 Challenge through the AIA’s Design Data Exchange (DDX) framework reporting tool. Using project based, data-driven metrics to predict and measure energy performance, design excellence is tied to outstanding environmental performance.

You can now meet with AIAO COTE and the Architecture 2030 Working Group at our new time, noon to 1pm each third Thursday of the month. We will focus on reducing carbon and greenhouse gasses, while planning upcoming Digital Design Series presentations and the upcoming 2021 Green Champion Summit. It is not necessary to be an AIA member. You can register to attend the meetings HERE. If you have previously register to attend COTE meetings, please note that the zoom link has changed. Follow the link above to re-register.

Welcoming AIA Oregon's Next EVP/CEO

Heather Wilson headshot.jpg

We are excited to announce a change to the leadership team at AIA Oregon. Heather Wilson will become our new executive vice president/CEO on April 26.

Heather joins us from AIA Utah, where she served as executive director since 2011. She has worked for AIA chapters for 16 years, also having served as director of programs and communications for AIA North Carolina.

At this critical point in AIA Oregon’s journey—as we look ahead to life without the restrictions of COVID-19, continue our journey as a single state chapter, and focus on integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion into all we do—Heather is well-positioned to guide us. Throughout her tenure with AIA, she has worn the many hats of an AIA executive: coach and lobbyist, event planner and leader. She has partnered with members to increase the value of membership, boost participation, create meaningful partnerships with other organizations, manage finances and operations to ensure ongoing growth, and more.

“Heather is energetic, positive, motivating and honest,” said Seth Anderson, recent AIA Oregon Past President and EVP Search Committee member. “She has empowered sections in Utah with valuable tools and resources, and I believe she will help our architect members break the mold and show others the benefit we bring.”

Throughout her career, Heather has shown creativity and a commitment to meaningful results. In 2018, she navigated a collaboration with the University of Utah’s College of Architecture and Planning to open the first student architectural design studio embedded in an AIA office. In addition to her involvement in design and construction of the studio, Heather helped secure nearly $400,000 in contributions and financing for the project.

An avid volunteer herself, Heather also understands the challenges of volunteering and uses that insight to support AIA members. For her, that means providing high-quality service, a listening ear, and tools to accomplish an organization’s strategic goals.

“I’m looking forward to [Heather’s] leadership and perspective as we emerge out of the pandemic and as AIA Oregon,” said Han-Mei Chiang, who served on the EVP Search task force.

The search for the new EVP/CEO kicked off in fall 2020 with the creation of a task force that included representatives from all five sections and a variety of architects at different levels in their careers. The job announcement garnered a response from 90 applicants and, after interviewing the most promising candidates, the task force recommended their choice to the board on March 19. 

Heather will succeed Curt Wilson, who has served as interim EVP/CEO since 2019.

“I don’t think we could have found a better person than Heather to help guide us at this critical moment,” Curt said. “She has experience with two other state chapters and has already demonstrated a strong capacity to observe and understand who we are and who are trying to be.”

Curt will stay on to support Heather during her first weeks in the role. His full time tenure ends on May 7.

Heather will start with AIA Oregon remotely from Utah and will move to Oregon with her family early this summer. We wish her a warm welcome as she takes on this important role in the AIA Oregon community!