How do you create an inspiring modern building within an industrial neighborhood?


<p>Russell Berkowitz has been with Forell | Elsesser since 1999 and is a Principal with 23 years of structural engineering experience. In addition to his project management work, he serves as Lead Analyst for the firm’s most complex structures. Russell’s strength lies in his ability to bring energy, dedication, and personality to his collaborations within a project team.</p>



<p>Russell has a passion for the analysis and design of advanced seismic protection systems. His knowledge of state-of-the-art structural analysis and seismic risk evaluation methodologies is instrumental in keeping Forell | Elsesser at the forefront of advanced seismic design and risk assessment.&nbsp; As Project Manager for the recent seismic rehabilitation of Giannini Hall at UC Berkeley, these qualities were instrumental in optimizing the seismic retrofit design of the geometrically complex structure. Russell’s experience includes new and retrofit design of educational, commercial, institutional, healthcare, and laboratory structures. Russell is a California licensed Structural Engineer and received a Bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley.</p>



<p>His passions outside of the office include training for the infamous Tour of California Death Ride on his bicycle and writing, producing, and performing live music</p>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Professional Associations</strong></h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), Learning From Earthquakes Team</li>



<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC): Seismology Committee, Former Chair; Existing Buildings Committee, Former Vice-Chair; Ground Motions Seismology Sub-Committee</li>



<li>American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), ASCE 31/41 Document Upgrade Committee</li>
</ul>


University of California, Berkeley, Giannini Hall

University of California, Berkeley, Tan Hall

Berkeley City College

Pixar Animation Studios’ Film Production Facility

Meta, MPK 20

Baker & Hamilton Building, Adobe HQ

350 Rhode Island Street Office Complex

LBNL, Building 6, Advanced Light Source Seismic Upgrade

USF, John Lo Schiavo Center for Science and Innovation

University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry

UC Merced Classroom & Office Building

UC Berkeley, Sutardja Dai Hall, CITRIS HQ

Los Medanos College, Brentwood Center

Santa Clara University Leavey Events Center

Santa Clara University Harrington Learning Center, Sobrato Technology Center, & Orradre Library

Foothill Community College Physical Sciences & Engineering Center

Pinterest TI

San Mateo Police Facility

Principal

Russell Berkowitz


<p>Masume is a Principal and licensed Structural Engineer at Forell | Elsesser who brings over 16 years of experience and a breadth of knowledge that includes all major construction materials for educational, cultural, laboratory, and commercial buildings. She is proactive in her problem-solving approach and always looks at an issue from different perspectives to find the most appropriate solution.</p>



<p>Masume possesses a broad skill base in the seismic analysis of structures including linear, nonlinear, static, and dynamic analysis techniques. She has experience with foundation design including various piling systems, pre-stressed and reinforced concrete design, steel design, viscous dampers, and Buckling Restrained Braced Frames (BRBF). She has particular expertise in data analysis and advanced computer modeling of buildings. In particular, her modeling of earthquake loading is used to demonstrate structural capacity and pinpoint the deficient areas of a building requiring retrofit work. Masume earned a Bachelor’s degree from Sharif University of Technology in Iran, and obtained Master’s degrees at both the University of Arizona and UC Berkeley.</p>



<p>Masume enjoys hiking, yoga, and Persian calligraphy. She is passionate about what she does—so much that she recently finished a seismic hazard analysis on her own home.</p>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Professional Associations</strong></h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Continuing Education Committee Chair (2009-2010)</li>



<li>Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)</li>



<li>San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR)</li>
</ul>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Recent Awards</strong></h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Giles Scholarship Recipient (2010)</li>
</ul>


Google, Office Building TI, 1001 Shoreline, Mountain View, CA

University of California, Berkeley, Heathcock Hall, College of Chemistry

BioMed Realty, Lincoln Center, Life Science Development

College of Alameda/Merritt College 860 Atlantic Avenue Adaptive Re-Use

Saints Peter & Paul Church Seismic Retrofit

Jewish Home of San Francisco, Frank Residences, and Byer Square

LinkedIn, Middlefield Campus

JCC, Mono County Courthouse, Mammoth Lakes, CA

UC Berkeley Jacobs Institute of Design Innovation

San Francisco Friends School Seismic Retrofit

California State University, East Bay, Student Services & Administration Building

Genentech Building 50

University of California, Berkeley, Bakar BioEnginuity Hub

Build Change Haiti Reconstruction Effort

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rooftop Garden

Presidio Children’s Theatre

Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

UCSF Parnassus Clinical Sciences Building

Masume Mansouri Dana


<p>Simin Naaseh is a Senior Principal, and serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Forell | Elsesser. She previously served as the firm’s CEO until August 2020. Simin is a recognized leader in the A/E/C industry and has devoted much time serving in leadership positions in many professional organizations. She thrives on building strong relationships with clients and colleagues and applies this strength internally to foster a collaborative working environment. She enjoys design-build projects and is a Designated Design-Build Professional (DBIA). Simin has an interest in large-scale and complex projects particularly because of their intrinsically collaborative nature. With a history of managing both large and small projects since 1983, Simin also recognizes that the key to a project’s success is working closely with clients to create a customized solution to suit each client’s goals, whether that means attention to seismic performance, cost-effectiveness, or a fast schedule.</p>



<p>Under her leadership as former CEO and president, Simin deepened the firm’s traditions of technical excellence and exceptional service and reinvigorated its long-standing tradition of investing in research and development. Simin’s special interest in advancing the firm as one of the most innovative structural engineering firms in the nation is shared by the new generation of firm leaders who continue to advance this goal. Simin is invested in mentoring the firm’s young staff, with an emphasis on supporting women and minorities to develop as leaders in the firm. Simin received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Azar Abadegan in Tabriz, Iran, and a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor.</p>



<p>When she is not busy with contributing to Forell | Elsesser’s success, Simin can be found hiking, cooking with her family, or indulging in her passion for music.</p>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Professional Associations</strong></h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Fellow, Past-President</li>



<li>Design-Build Institute of America, Western Pacific Region (DBIA WPR), Board Member</li>



<li>OSHPD Hospital Building Safety Board Member (HBSB), Former Member 2008-2016</li>



<li>American Institute of Architects, San Francisco&nbsp;(AIASF), Former Public Board Member</li>



<li>Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), Member</li>



<li>San Francisco Planning + Urban Research (SPUR), Member</li>



<li>California Preservation Foundation (CPF), Past Trustee</li>
</ul>


University of California, Berkeley, Weill Life Sciences Building Addition

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Biosolids Digester Facilities Project

San Bernardino County, Valley Communications Center

Gregory Bateson Office Building, Seismic Retrofit

Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center, Berkeley, CA

UC Merced Downtown Campus

San Francisco State University, George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts

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Highlights

Team

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