Charles Pankow, Construction Pioneer, Dead at 80

Charles Pankow

LOS ANGELES -- Charles Pankow, founder and chairman of the board of Altadena-based Charles Pankow Builders and an innovator in construction technology for more than half a century, died of natural causes on Jan. 12 at his San Francisco home. He was 80.

During his distinguished career, Pankow invented processes for manufacturing hollow concrete piles using a slip-form technique and slip-forming vertical air conditioning ducts, He also created innovative systems for increasing project automation, including total onsite precasting of structural and architectural elements. And he is perhaps best known for his leadership in the development of moment-frame technology that has advanced the science of earthquake resistant construction.

Pankow was a leading member of more than a dozen national associations and academies, including the American Concrete Institute, American Arbitration Association, Structural Engineers Association of Southern California and American Society of Civil Engineers. In 1980, Pankow served as president of the American Concrete Institute; he helped form its Southern California chapter in 1957. He was elected into the National Academy of Engineering in 1997. He was a noted speaker at numerous state and national conventions, and he authored several chapters in the Concrete Construction Handbook by Joseph Waddell.

After 15 years in the design and build industry, "Charlie," as he was known to his family, friends and colleagues, formed his own construction company in 1963. For more than 40 years, Pankow was a pioneer in concrete-forming technology and a champion of the design-build method for faster and more efficient construction of buildings (Pankow once completed a 40-story condominium in seven months).

Pankow Builders has constructed more than 1,000 structures from Hawaii to New York, including department stores, office and residential complexes, medical and sports facilities as well as the tallest precast concrete building on the west coast. Recent projects in Los Angeles include the Metropolitan Transit Authority Headquarters and East Portal, the Metropolitan Water District Headquarters and Paseo Colorado in Pasadena.

Pankow was recognized in 1999 by Engineering News-Record as one of the Top Six World Builders during ENR's 125-year history. His career was also replete with other awards and peer recognition for his many contributions, such as Design-Build Institute of America's Brunelleschi Medal for Lifetime Achievement in 2003 and many others.

Pankow was well known as a connoisseur of the arts, having established a considerable collection of ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Russian artifacts. He amassed one of the largest private collections of Russian and Greek icons in the United States. Pankow also contributed to numerous educational institutions and charitable organizations over the years, most notably to his alma mater, Purdue University.

Pankow was born in 1923 in South Bend, Ind. His college education was interrupted by a stint in the U.S. Navy during WW II. An ensign in the Navy, he was stationed in Japan until 1946. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in 1947; 36 years later Purdue presented Pankow with an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering.

Pankow is survived by his wife of 58 years, Doris, four children-sons Charles III (Chip), Richard and Stephen and daughter Betsy Rue, nine grandchildren, a brother, James, and sister, Mary Brothers.

Services were held Jan. 16 at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church in Pasadena.Donations may be made to City of Hope, UCSF Medical Center-Kidney Transplant Unit or California Pacific Medical Center Foundation.

Lessons Learned From Northridge Earthquake: AC Martin Partners Showcases Successful Seismic Solutions

LOS ANGELES -- In the 10 years since the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake shook up the seismic engineering community, Los Angeles-based AC Martin Partners has implemented seismic solutions that set a new standard for building design throughout California. Applying these solutions to both historic and new buildings, ACMP has pioneered the use of performance-based building design to make buildings both safer and more functional.

"As engineers and architects, we want to ensure not only that a building remains standing, but also that the building can be used and occupied shortly after a quake," said company CEO Christopher C. Martin, FAIA. "After the Northridge quake, it was even more clear to us that there are many important aspects of building performance that must be included in a successful seismic design."

ACMP's innovative methodologies have been developed in the firm's work on some of Los Angeles' most important buildings, including Los Angeles City Hall, on which ACMP was one of the original architects in 1928.

"Our method of addressing a wide variety of complex seismic and preservation issues in the City Hall renovation exemplifies the new mode of thought after the Northridge quake," said Carey McLeod, principal of the ACMP architecture/engineering studio.

"Looking at the long-term goals for the use and preservation of City Hall, we were able to determine the best engineering strategies for the renovation."

In the City Hall project, the ACMP engineers had two objectives: to improve the overall performance of the building in case of a future earthquake and to protect the building's historic architectural elements. They designed a base-isolation system modified to include viscous dampers, making City Hall the tallest building in the US to use this method. This system is designed to protect the historic resources on the building's lower floors by isolating the building movement from the ground movement.

"The base-isolation system will not only ensure that City Hall remains standing, but will also ensure that it remains a safe and effective workplace," McLeod said.

ACMP also used a performance-oriented methodology in its seismic evaluation work for several historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles - the Oviatt Building, Pacific Mutual Building and Biltmore Hotel and Tower.

ACMP's performance-based design takes a complex view of a building's performance during an earthquake.

"Before the Northridge quake, buildings were engineered simply so that they would remain standing after an earthquake," said Onik Tahtakran, S.L, ACMP director of structural engineering. "During the Northridge quake many non-structural components of the buildings [interior partitions, ceilings, sprinkler and other mechanical and electrical systems] sustained major damage. That type of damage strengthened our resolve to look at more than just structure when we engineer buildings."

Through this integration of design and engineering, ACMP's projects-whether institutional, cultural, educational or government -- are now among California's best seismically designed and constructed buildings.

Material deformations and the response of multiple building systems during an earthquake are among the factors considered in the early stages of building design. This integrated and forward-thinking approach has already been applied to projects such as Popovich Hall at USC, Flintridge Preparatory School, and the STRB Lab at UCLA. The firm's current projects - including the LAPD Hoilenbeck Replacement Station, UC Davis Mathematical Sciences Building, CSU Los Angeles Combined Sciences Building, Chapman University Leatherby Libraries and Wallace All Faiths Chapel, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo College of Engineering -- continue to utilize site- and building-specific, innovative, efficient and effective seismic design solutions.

ACMP has also applied performance-based solutions to a variety of retrofit projects throughout California.

"Schools, hospitals, transportation hubs and office buildings all have complex and specific needs that must be considered when thinking about the long-term usability of the building," Tahtakran said. Serving these varied needs, ACMP's retrofit projects include Ventura High School, Orthopedic Hospital of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison/Long Beach office building, Long Beach Veterans Administration Building, and Transbay Transit Terminal in San Francisco.

The 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake occurred at 4:31 in the morning of Jan. 17, 1994.

Roel Completes Government Building

MODESTO -- Roel Construction has completed construction of the 26,500-sq.-ft Social Security Administration office located at 1521 North Carpenter Rd. The building is a wood-frame structure and includes 22,012 sq. ft. of office space for the SSA and 4,390-sq. ft. of future lease space.

Santa Ana Imperial Group LLC is the facility owner; Tim Howard is the owner's representative.

Steve Daniels of DD&A Inc. was the architect.

San Diego-based Roel Construction representatives included Donna Vargo as project executive, Dave McCarthy (group manager), Ron Underwood (superintendent) and Carmen Ramerez (project coordinator).

Subcontractors for the $2.7 million project included Thompson-Hysell Engineers, Land Technology Inc., Bailey Enterprises, Signature Contractors, Commercial Steel, Cal-Pacific Builders Inc., Equity Cabinets, Insulpro Projects Inc., The Schnell Company, Peterson King Contract Glass, Aderholt Specialty Co. Inc., Workplace Services Inc., DC Vient, Hawkins & Associates Engineering, Knox Landscape Architecture, Cen-Cal Fire Systems Inc., J.R. Pierce Plumbing Co., Inc. of Sacramento, ARC Comfort Systems USA Inc., and Barnum & Celillo Electric Inc.

Second Phase of Major Renovation Begins at Ojai Valley Inn

OJAI -- R. D. Olson Construction has begun the second phase of a major renovation and expansion of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort.

The 18-month-long project entails a massive overhaul of virtually every corner of the 80-year-old resort. The phase involves 165,750 sq. ft. of new construction and renovation at a cost of $46 million.

The first phase included new construction of 62 guestrooms.

The Phase 2 design team is comprised of three architecture firms. William Mahan, AIA, who is based in Santa Barbara and known for his work on many West Coast resorts, is in charge of the project's overall design concept. Three Architecture, a Dallas, Texas-based firm, designed the resort's hillside villas and common-area buildings including the pro-shop, convention center and restaurants. Cheryl Rowley Interior Designs of Beverly Hills is responsible for all internal design elements.

Phase 2 is dedicated to revamping the upper campus, which includes the construction of seven buildings housing 63 hillside suites overlooking the resort's championship golf course. Plans also call for constructing two new restaurants, the Oak Cafe and Demerat's Pub.

The resort's primary dining facility, the Hacienda Restaurant, will undergo extensive renovation of its kitchen and an addition of a new dining room. R. D. Olson will add to Topa Court, the resort's main lobby and expand the Topa Convention Center, tripling the space for business and social functions with the addition of a new ballroom and meeting room accommodations. This phase also includes constructing a new central-services facility, providing for the resort's administrative offices, shipping department, food storeroom and laundry area.

A new golf pro shop, main swimming pool and spa also are slated for construction. About 135,000 sq. ft. of renovation at a cost of $34 million will be completed during this second phase.

The resort, owned by the Crown family, was originally built in 1923.

"The Crown family is depending on us to ensure its world-class resort keeps its European charm and beauty while expanding its accommodations and bringing its amenities up to 21st century standards," said Robert Olson, CEO and president of R.D. Olson Construction.

The company was contracted for the job three years after completing construction of the resort's luxurious 31,000-sq.-ft. spa.

The second phase, which overlaps the first, is set for completion in March. In readying the resort for its major overhaul, R. D. Olson Construction spent one year providing pre-construction services. New roadways and infrastructure systems were put in place during this initial phase.

The spa, golf course, tennis center, ranch, stables and many of its suites will continue to remain open during the renovation and expansion.