
<p>Forell | Elsesser Engineers developed a complete seismic rehabilitation and renovation of this 107,000 GSF 1932 vintage steel-framed classroom and office building.</p>


How do you achieve seismic resilience when renovating a historic building in a dense urban university campus?


<p>As Director of Technical Excellence and a member of Forell | Elsesser’s executive management team, Principal Steve Marusich is responsible for growing the technical health and reputation of the firm. In this forward-thinking role, Steve leads the research, development, and adoption of new systems and technologies, particularly in the areas of seismic design, resilience in the face of natural hazards, and the reduction of embodied carbon. He is also responsible for the overall technical training of the staff and the quality of our analytical and design solutions.</p>



<p>In his 20 years as a licensed engineer, Steve has developed a systematic approach to evaluating potential design options while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and constructability to develop high-value solutions for his clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;Steve has also managed or consulted on many of Forell | Elsesser’s base-isolated projects over the last decade, including the retrofit of Pasadena City Hall and the new UCSF Ray &amp; Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building.&nbsp; Due to his extensive knowledge and experience in new, existing, and historic construction, Steve is also sought after to consult on structural engineering plan check and peer reviews.&nbsp; Steve received a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley.</p>



<p>When away from work, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, travel, golf, basketball, hiking, and exploring new restaurants.</p>



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



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Structural Engineers Association of&nbsp;California (SEAOC), Member</li>



<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Member</li>



<li>Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), Member<br>American Institute of Architects (AIA), Professional Affiliate</li>



<li>Lean Construction Institute, Member</li>
</ul>


GSA, James R. Browning, U.S. Court of Appeals Building

Kenneth Hahn, Hall of Administration, Seismic Retrofit

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

San Francisco Olympic Club

Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center

Dignity Health, Saint Joseph’s Hospital Patient Pavilion, Women’s & Children’s Center

San Rafael Corporate Center

Meta, MPK 20

Pasadena City Hall, Seismic Retrofit

UCSF, Wayne & Gladys Valley Center for Vision

UC Berkeley Maximino Martinez Commons

Stanford University, McMurtry Art & Art History Building

San Francisco State University, Mashouf Wellness Center

California State University, Sacramento, The WELL Center

UCSF Parnassus Ray & Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine

Parkview Terraces, Senior Housing

Congregation Beth Sholom

Tulare County (Porterville) Courthouse

Meta, MPK 22

UCSF Parnassus Clinical Sciences Building

Director of Technical Excellence

Steve Marusich


<p>With the firm since 1984, Mason is a Senior Principal at Forell | Elsesser. One of Mason’s most effective roles at the firm is orchestrating teams of engineers to leverage their varied areas of expertise, and quickly develop solutions to even the most complex problems. He constantly explores solution concepts and ideas that are outside the norm, leading to unexpectedly elegant and efficient solutions–a practice he encourages with those he mentors. Mason has also had success in crossing lines between engineering disciplines and construction processes to improve existing structural engineering methods to the benefit of F/E’s clients.</p>



<p>As a well-known industry leader, Mason is a resource for in-house staff and colleagues. His engineering expertise includes such diverse areas as sustainable concrete mix design, seismic isolation of new and historic buildings, long-span bridge design, and performance-based seismic design of steel structures. He excels at the analysis, testing, and design for unusual projects that fall outside the scope of traditional building codes. In the early 1990’s, he developed specifications and testing requirements that were used for the U.S. Court of Appeals seismic retrofit in San Francisco, the first federally funded seismic isolation project.&nbsp;Mason is&nbsp;a licensed Structural Engineer in California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and licensed Professional Engineer in D.C. Mason earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Engineering degree in Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics from UC Berkeley.</p>



<p>Mason’s recreational interests include hiking, fly fishing, cinema, metalworking, and carpentry.  He sometimes integrates the latter two interests into his structural engineering practice by building physical models of structures and structural hardware to quickly enhance the clients’ and colleagues’ grasp of complex structural concepts.</p>



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



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>University of California Office of the President Seismic Advisory Board (Charter Member, Chair 2017-2022)</li>



<li>Caltrans Seismic Advisory Board</li>



<li>Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC), Solar Photovoltaic Systems Seismic Committee, Voting Member</li>



<li>Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), Director (2003-2005); Convention Technical Committee, Former Co-Chair;&nbsp;Program Committee, Former Chair; Subcommittee on Protective Systems;&nbsp;Subcommittee on Non-Building Structures</li>



<li>American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)</li>



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



<li>International Association for Bridge &amp; Structural Engineering (IABSE)</li>
</ul>


University of California, Berkeley, Archeology Building

University of California, Berkeley, Hildebrand Hall

University of California, Berkeley, Latimer Hall

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

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City Main Temple, Seismic Retrofit

San Francisco Mint, Seismic Evaluation & Seismic Upgrade

PG&E HQ, 245 Market Street Complex

345 Brannan, Office Complex

Utah State Capitol Seismic Retrofit

San Francisco City Hall, Seismic Retrofit

San Francisco 911 Emergency Communications Center

Oakland City Hall Seismic Rehabilitation

LLNL, Building 453 Terascale Simulation Facility

Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building + Earl Warren Supreme Court Building

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Mokelumne Aqueduct Seismic Upgrade

JCC, Mono County Courthouse, Mammoth Lakes, CA

San Francisco International Airport Concourse H BART Station

West Cargo Facility

UCSF Mission Bay Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock Hall

UC Berkeley, Sutardja Dai Hall, CITRIS HQ

University of California, Berkeley, Simpson Training Center

UC Berkeley Jacobs Institute of Design Innovation

UC Berkeley California Memorial Stadium Seismic Upgrade

UC Berkeley, Blum Center for Developing Economies

UC Berkeley Barker Hall Seismic Upgrade

Stanford University, Bass Biology Research Building

Lick-Wilmerding High School, Expansion & Renovation

University of California, Berkeley, Bakar BioEnginuity Hub

San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge Seismic Retrofit

SFJAZZ Center

SFMTA, Central Subway Chinatown – Rose Pak Station

San Francisco International Airport Rental Car Parking Garage

San Francisco International Airport North & South Public Parking Garages

Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

Senior Principal

Mason Walters


<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

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

BioMed Realty, Lincoln Center, Life Science Development

San Bernardino County, Valley Communications Center

Gregory Bateson Office Building, Seismic Retrofit

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

UC Merced Downtown Campus

Pixar Animation Studios’ Film Production Facility

201 Post Street Seismic Rehabilitation

USF, John Lo Schiavo Center for Science and Innovation

UC Berkeley Undergraduate Academic Building

Santa Clara University Leavey Events Center

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

Genentech Manufacturing Facility CCP2

Genentech Building 50

Simin Naaseh


<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

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

University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry

San Francisco Friends School Seismic Retrofit

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

Build Change Haiti Reconstruction Effort

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rooftop Garden

Presidio Children’s Theatre

Principal

Masume Mansouri Dana


<p>As a Senior Engineer, Steve works to solve engineering challenges in new construction and seismic retrofit projects by combining his technical skills in structural analysis and design with his ability to visually communicate complex geometries and engineering ideas. With a strong background in computer programming and optimization methodologies from his graduate studies, he especially excels at working with the design and construction team to rapidly assess a large number of scenarios to find the optimal balance of performance, cost, and constructability. Steve received his Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and his Master’s from Stanford University.</p>



<p>Constantly seeking adventure, Steve enjoys long-distance bicycling, backpacking and mountaineering in National Parks, riding roller coasters, and trying spicy ethnic foods. In alignment with his structural engineering passion, he also hopes to someday build a network of treehouses in his backyard.</p>



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



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



<li>Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC)</li>



<li>American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)</li>



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



<li>American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)</li>
</ul>


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Highlights

Team

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