Gwenyth R. Searer

Experience

Gwenyth Searer works on projects involving a wide variety of structural materials, including steel, concrete, timber, masonry, and aluminum. She also has significant experience evaluating facade access issues and existing claddings as well as peer review of new claddings.

Ms. Searer has particular expertise in the field of earthquake engineering. Her experience includes the investigation of earthquake-damaged structures after a number of major earthquakes, including Loma Prieta, Northridge, Turkey, Nisqually (Seattle), Tōhoku (Japan) and Napa. She has performed linear and nonlinear seismic analyses of concrete shear wall buildings, concrete and steel moment-frame buildings, steel braced frame buildings, unreinforced masonry structures, and wood structures.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Earthquake Engineering

• Aloha Stadium - Honolulu, HI: Seismic, wind, and gravity strengthening of steel-framed stadium structure
• Investigation of damage from a number of major earthquakes, including Loma Prieta, Northridge, Nisqually (Seattle), Tōhoku (Japan), and Napa
• U.S. Department of State: Seismic assessments of more than 350 structures worldwide
• Yosemite Rangers’ Club - Yosemite, CA: Seismic strengthening of a National Historic Landmark

 

Facade Access

• One Bush Street - San Francisco, CA: Assessment of existing facade access system, and design/testing of new system
• Metrowest Building - Naperville, IL: Assessment/testing of facade access system
• Parris Landing - Charlestown, MA: Assessment of fall protection system
• 50 Fremont Street - San Francisco, CA: Investigation of distressed building maintenance unit
• 246 Second Street - San Francisco, CA: Design and testing of new intermittent stabilization anchors

 

Facade Assessment

• One America Plaza - San Diego, CA: Structural and architectural reclad design for “crown” of building
• 10th Street Garage - Olympia, WA: Investigation of glass cladding distress
• 888 O’Farrell - San Francisco, CA: Aluminum panel rainscreen reclad design for twin fourteen-story towers

Failure/Damage Investigation

• Glendale Adventist Academy - Glendale, CA: Investigation of a glue-laminated beam failure
• Solus Facility - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: Investigation of structural damage from explosion
• Water Reclamation Plant - Palmdale, CA: Investigation of fracturing reinforcing steel

 

Fire Damage Investigations

• I-5 Tunnel - Los Angeles, CA: Assessment of fire damage to a concrete tunnel
• I-710 / SR-91 Interchange - Los Angeles, CA: Assessment of fire damage to a concrete overpass
• 760 South Vail Avenue - Montebello, CA: Investigation of fire damage to precast concrete walls

 

Load Testing

• San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge: Cyclic fatigue testing of structural components
• Courthouse Square - Salem, OR: Load testing of flat slab structures

 

Peer Review

• Spring Condominiums - Austin, TX: Structural design review of a forty-two-story concrete high-rise tower
• Temple Lofts - Long Beach, CA: Structural design review of two five-story concrete residential towers

 

Structural Analysis

• Alexander Dam - Kauai, HI: Design of replacement spillway
• Harmon Tower - Las Vegas, NV: Assessment of structural design
• Prince Kuhio Parking Garage - Honolulu, HI: Design of new vehicle barriers

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)
Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC)

Registrations

Civil Engineer in CA, NV, OR, and WA
Professional Engineer in NY
Structural Engineer in AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, and WA

Education

University of Delaware
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1992

Cornell University
Master of Science, Civil Engineering, 1994