Thousands of older wood and concrete apartment buildings in Los Angeles that would be vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake would need expensive seismic retrofits under rules passed recently by the City Council.
An estimated 13,500 “soft-first-story buildings,” wood-frame structures with large parking areas on the ground floor, would be impacted. Some 1,500 brittle concrete buildings would also be affected.
Still undecided is how to pay for the estimated $5,000-per-unit retrofitting costs. One proposal is to split the costs 50-50 between tenants and landlords and cap possible monthly rent increases at $38.
Wood buildings would have seven years to complete construction after the owner is contacted by the Department of Building and Safety to retrofit the structure. Owners of brittle concrete buildings would be given 25 years to complete a retrofit.
Related Stories
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Oct 15, 2021
7 game-changing trends in structural engineering
Here are seven key areas where innovation in structural engineering is driving evolution.
Seismic Design | Mar 31, 2021
Vancouver’s building codes may underplay seismic hazard
Vancouver, Canada’s third largest metropolitan area, has the country’s highest seismic risk.
Sponsored | Building Team | Jun 20, 2017
Plan ahead when building in the west
Getting a project through plan review can be an unusually long process, anywhere from six months to two years.
Seismic Design | Jul 28, 2016
Risk of man-made earthquakes now factor in seismic hazard analysis
Significant risk increases seen in some areas of the U.S.
Concrete | Jul 20, 2016
Arup ensures Mexico City concrete skyscraper can withstand seismic activity
Double-V hangers and irregularly spaced gaps allow the structure to bend.
Seismic Design | Jul 5, 2016
How design mitigates environmental stressors
For employees, certain design strategies can lessen stress, improve health, and promote a greater sense of community connectivity, writes Perkins+Will project manager Jon Penndorf.
Seismic Design | Jun 28, 2016
ASTM International updates seismic risk standards
Expected to improve consistency of risk evaluation on commercial real estate transactions.
Seismic Design | Apr 20, 2016
Carbon fiber strings make Japanese office building earthquake resistant
Kengo Kuma developed the rods, which are stronger and lighter than iron.
High-rise Construction | Mar 28, 2016
SOM’s Salt Lake City skyscraper uses innovative structural system to suspend itself over a neighboring building
The hat truss-supported office tower was topped off in January, rising 25 stories above the Salt Lake City streets.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Mar 7, 2016
Fire Resistive Curtain Wall Helps Hospital Meet Fire and Seismic Requirements
SaftiFirst’s custom curtain wall complied with all the seismic requirements while still blending in seamlessly with building’s design