SOHA in the News

Daniel Shapiro Receives three (3) Achievement Awards in Engineering

Daniel Shapiro, Principal & Founder of SOHA Engineers, recently received three engineering achievements awards for his many professional contributions and his significant volunteer and professional services for the advancement of earthquake safety in California, and for his achievements in Structural engineering.

The California Earthquake Safety Foundation awarded Mr. Shapiro the coveted 2003 Alquist Medal for Achievement in Earthquake Safety. The Alquist Medal is awarded annually by the Foundation to raise the level of public awareness and commitment to earthquake safety. It is named in honor of the Honorable Senator Alfred Alquist, who had a long and distinguished career supporting earthquake safety in the California legislature.

Mr. Shapiro was also awarded the 2003 H. J. Brunnier Lifetime Achievement Award by the Structural Engineers Association Northern California for excellence in Structural Engineering. The award is named for H.J. Brunnier, a world-renowned pioneer in the field of Structural Engineering design to resist-earthquakes.

In February of 2004 he was awarded the George W. Housner Medal at the annual meeting of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The Housner Medal is the Institute's highest honor. It is awarded periodically to recognize sustained leadership and contributions to earthquake engineering or earthquake loss reduction.

Mr. Shapiro currently serves as a member of the California Seismic Safety Commission, Chair of the Board of Examiners for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, and as a member of committees of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Building Seismic Safety Council active in the development of seismic regulations.

SOHA Engineers was recently awarded two new (renewals) contracts by The Division of the State Architect (DSA) to provide plan check services. DSA is California’s policy leader for building design and construction, and provides design and construction oversight for public K-12 schools and community colleges. DSA currently has regional offices in Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego, which provide the oversight within each of these regions. SOHA Engineers is under contract with DSA in two (Oakland and Sacramento) of the four regions to assist them in their architectural and structural plan check process.

The California Preservation Foundation awarded SOHA Engineers with its 2001 Design Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation of the Sunol Water Temple.  The Sunol Water Temple is a historic structure owned by the City and County of San Francisco. It was built circa 1910 and is constructed of concrete and timber. The project consisted of architectural restoration and historical renovation of the exterior and seismic retrofit of the structure. Restoration included strengthening of the decayed timber roof while preserving the painted art on the underside. The retrofit also required strengthening of the columns and foundation while maintaining the historic exterior.

San Francisco MUNI Central Subway
San Francisco, CA
SOHA Engineers is the Structural Engineering Consultant to Parson Brinkerhoff and P.H. Wong Engineers (A Joint Venture) on this new MUNI Light Rail project. Preliminary engineering will start in July, 2003. This project is an extension of the MUNI Third Street Project currently under construction. It is a tunnel project from PacBell Park to Chinatown, under the Third Street right of way.

Ohlone College Newark Center
Newark, CA
Master planning and design of the new Newark Center for Ohlone Community College. This new campus includes a new Joint-Use Library/Learning Resource Center with City of Newark, a new Student Services Building, new Education/Classroom Buildings, and a new Gymnasium/Shop Building. The new facility will provide approximately 200,000sf of mixed-use floor space.