15235 Alton Parkway, Suite 120 Irvine, CA 92618
ADAM ABBES YALA, PH.D., P.E. SENIOR MANAGING CONSULTANT [email protected]
Dr. Adam Abbes Yala is a Senior Managing Consultant at Engineering Systems Inc. (ESi). He has over 25 years of professional experience and specializes in the forensic investigation of residential, commercial, and industrial structures. Dr. Yala also specializes in the repair of damaged structures, cause and origin of structural failures, determination of extent of damage, fire damage, and water intrusion. His expertise also encompasses emergency response to evaluate structural conditions in the context of disasters including fire, collapse, and flooding.
Dr. Yala has been involved in the analysis, design, and construction inspection of new construction, as well as renovation and retrofit projects. Additionally, he has played an essential role in all phases of design, investigation, and restoration projects for steel, concrete, masonry, and timber structures. Dr. Yala has directed project staff in preparing contract documents that include drawings and specifications. He communicates with clients to understand project requirements and to resolve complex construction or engineering problems.
Areas of Specialization Structural Engineering Analysis Damage Assessment Structural Design, Repair, and Renovation Emergency Response Failure and Collapse Cause and Origin
Education Ph.D., Structural Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1993 M.S., Structural Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1986 B.S.C.E., National Polytechnic School of Algiers, Algeria, 1983
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) State of California…………….. License No. C83632 State of Wisconsin …………… License No. 30520
October 2017
Phone: 949-336-9001 | Fax: 949-336-9020 | Toll Free: 866-596-3994 www.engsys.com
Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
Academic Honors 2014, Vision Award – Historic Redevelopment Category, Urban Land Institute, Metropolitan Tower Chicago, IL 2012, IDEAS 2 Award, American Institute of Steel Construction, Great American Tower Tiara, Cincinnati, OH 2011, Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit, Structural Engineering Association of Illinois, Great American Tower Tiara, Cincinnati, OH 2009, Preservation Excellence Award, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Metropolitan Tower, Chicago, IL Vision Award – Historic Redevelopment Category, Urban Land Institute, Metropolitan Tower Chicago, IL
Languages French, Fluent Arabic, Beginner
Positions Held Engineering Systems Inc., Irvine, CA Senior Managing Consultant, 2017 – Present Thornton Tomasetti, San Diego, CA Vice President, 2012 – 2017 Thornton Tomasetti, Chicago, IL Senior Associate, 1999 – 2012 A. Epstein and Sons International, Chicago, IL Senior Engineer, 1989 – 1999
Technical Publications and Presentations “Steel Provides Answer to Building on Top of Existing Parking Garage,” by A. Yala, K. Maschke, K. Jackson, Structure Magazine, February 2009. “ASCE Guidelines for Forensic Engineering: Case Study of Partial Building Collapse,” Co- author, presented at the Structural Engineers’ Conference & Expo, Chicago, Illinois, November 2005. “Serviceability Load Test of a Reinforced Concrete Flat Plate Retrofitted with Drop Panels,” Co- author, presented at the ACI Convention: Spice Up Your Concrete, Kansas City, Missouri, November 2005. “High-Tech High Rise,” Co- author, Modern Steel Construction, July 2005. “Plastic Collapse, Incremental collapse and Shakedown of Reinforced Concrete Structures," by S.A. Guralnick and Abbes Yala, American Concrete Institute, V. 95, No. 2, March-April 1998.
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Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
"Dynamic Behavior of a Multi-Lane Skewed Highway Bridge Under Traffic Loads," J. Mohammadi and Abbes Yala, Structural Engineering Review, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1992. "An Investigation of the Effect of Moving Loads on Dynamic Behavior of Highway Bridges," Abbes Yala, J. Mohammadi, 27th Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, San Antonio, TX, May 1986.
Representative Project Experience
Residential and Hotel Fairbanks at CityFront Plaza, Chicago, IL. Structural design of a 31-story residential tower featuring 281 condominium units, a 55,000-square-foot supermarket, restaurants, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, media room, and parking for more than 620 vehicles.
55 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL. Structural design of a 56-story residential tower with 214 condominium units, retail, an activity floor, three levels of skyhomes, and 11 parking levels.
CityFront Plaza, Low-Rise Complex, Chicago, IL. Structural design of a low-rise complex for a multiphase development. The project includes a 10-story parking structure and a two-story podium, which features retail space and a supermarket. The base structure is designed for a future addition of a 14-story hotel and residential tower.
Office ABN AMRO Plaza, Chicago, IL. Structural design of an award-winning, 30-story office building with two levels of underground parking.
Great American Tower at Queen City Square, Cincinnati, OH. Structural engineering for a LEED Gold mixed-use tower with 40 levels of office space, seven levels of parking and a 130-foot award-winning steel crown at the structure’s top. The building is both the tallest and greenest building in Cincinnati. The building connects to 303 Broadway at Queen City Square.
Citadel Center, Chicago, IL. Structural design of an award-winning, 39-story, 1.4-million- square-foot office tower with retail shops and parking at the base level.
Sports U.S. Cellular Field Renovations, Chicago, IL. Major, multiphased modifications to the existing baseball stadium formerly known as Comiskey Park, including reconfiguration and partial demolition of the upper deck bowl, installation of a new upper deck canopy, addition of small balconies in the lower suite level, and construction of a new mezzanine in the office area.
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Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
Facade Repairs and Restorations General Services Administration, A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building, Façade Renovation and Repairs, Cleveland, OH. Facade replacement and blast services for the modernization of an existing federal building to accommodate security requirements and to improve the building’s energy performance.
One Indiana Square, Facade Conceptual Design, Indianapolis, IN. Architectural and engineering support services for the conceptual design of a new curtain wall system for a 1960s, 36-story building that was damaged by a windstorm.
Building Renovations, Restorations, and Repairs The Shoppes at Carlsbad Mall, Carlsbad, CA. Structural engineering for a major remodel, expansion and repositioning of an existing 564,800 gross-square-foot shopping mall.
1349 Abbott Kinney Renovation, Santa Monica, CA. Assessment of the existing conditions at this two-story timber framed structure. Retrofitted the structure for current code and new loading conditions, including an accessible terrace.
Shoreland Hotel, Chicago, IL. Structural engineering for the rehabilitation of an existing 13-story building with a penthouse. Scope of work includes reconfiguration of the basement, first, and second levels for parking, new elevators for parking, new car lifts for high-density parking, new pool above the Crystal Ballroom, and general work related to MEP improvements for the conversion.
Metropolitan Tower, Chicago, IL. Structural design and construction administration of the award-winning conversion of an office building into a mixed-use complex with retail, office, residential and parking functions. The project included the demolition and investigation of 318 South Michigan Avenue, including infrastructure logistics and sequencing.
Insurance Companies Related Work The Address Hotel, Dubai, UAE. Damage assessment of this 62-story, five-star hotel due to a fire loss. Services included strategies to reinstate this building to its original condition.
Belmont Fibers Roof, Damage Assessment, Montebello, CA. Property damage assessment following a roof failure to a one-story facility. Services included the identification of sustained damage and recommendation of necessary repairs.
350 South Grand, 18th Floor Water Intrusion Damage Assessment, Los Angeles, CA. Structural investigation of a mechanical room ceiling collapse on the 18th floor of a 54- story commercial office tower. The evaluation included scope of damage and repair and possible code upgrade issues.
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Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
Aluminum Precision, Damage Assessment, Santa Ana, CA. Damage assessment of a 5,000 square-foot free-standing metal warehouse following a fire loss. Scope included providing code review analyses of the repair copes and extent of damage evaluation.
SR 520 Pontoons, Cold Weather Protection Investigation, Aberdeen, WA. Evaluation of cold weather procedures for concrete placement in precast bridge pontoons. Cause and origin determination of freezing concrete at the site.
Carlsbad Desalination Plant, Carlsbad, CA. Structural investigation related to secant piles failure. Scope included reviewing documentation and construction procedures and damage cause and origin determination.
Investigations, Evaluations, and Condition Assessments The Village at Sherman Oaks, Damage Assessment, Sherman Oaks, CA. Damage assessment of a three-story retirement home composed of three wings experiencing cracking in the stucco wall finishes on the first level in Wing A.
Del Rey Estates Development, Building Investigation, Point Loma, CA. Structural investigation and assessment of three timber residential structures that experienced weather exposure.
O'Hare International Airport, United Airlines Terminal, Chicago, IL. Investigation of a leaking two-foot-wide by 800-foot-long expansion joint.
Summit Country Day School, Cincinnati, OH. Forensic and causation services associated with the partial collapse of an 1890 school building.
Tenant Work Fletcher Jones Chicago, 1111 North Clark Street, Renovation, Chicago, IL. Structural engineering for extensive renovations of a car dealership including removal and reinstallation of a new façade, installation of new roof-top handling units, and the creation of new openings between showrooms.
Great American Tower at Queen City Square, Tenant Modifications, Cincinnati, OH. Structural engineering for improvements to levels 34, 35, and 36 to accommodate new data rooms, library areas, storage areas, moveable partitions and internal stairs.
Metropolitan Tower, Tenant Build-Out for Private Residence, Chicago, IL. Investigative and structural design engineering services to assess portions of the existing base building to meet the requirements of a tenant on the 25th floor. Requirements included new terrace pavers, planted areas and new railings, and a new internal stair.
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Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
Due Diligence 160 Folsom Street, Due Diligence Assessment, San Francisco, CA. Property condition assessment for an office building owned by Tishman Speyer. The assignment included evaluating the current physical condition of the site, structural systems, building envelope, interiors, and other components of the property.
350 Rhode Island Street, Due Diligence Assessment, San Francisco, CA. Property condition assessment of a commercial office building and associated subterranean parking garage owned by Tishman Speyer. The assignment included evaluating the current state of the site, structural systems, building envelope and parking.
AT&T and USG Towers, Chicago, IL. Due diligence report for two office buildings, 60 and 35 stories respectively. The two buildings share a block-long lobby.
Wilshire Courtyard, Los Angeles, CA. Property condition assessment and seismic risk assessment for two, three-story office buildings for Tishman Speyer.
Peer Reviews 155 North Wacker Drive, Pedestrian Bridge, Chicago, IL. Structural peer review of a pedestrian bridge linking a high-rise building to a parking garage.
Aero Solutions LLC, Chicago, IL. Peer reviews and/or analysis of cellular towers for additional antenna loads. Analysis included superstructure and foundations.
Olympia Centre, Chicago, IL. Peer review of proposed repairs to the concrete spandrel beams of a 64-story condominium building.
Citadel Center, Tenant Work Peer Review, Chicago, IL. Peer review of structural documents for nine levels of building and tenant work within a 38- story building.
Failure Investigations and Emergency Response 1007 Church Street, Garage Collapse, Evanston, IL. Failure analysis of a four-story partial collapse of a garage structure that is part of a mixed-use complex. Scope of work included determining cause of failure, construction in conformance with design, general scope of necessary repairs and opinion of cost.
Steel Production and Manufacturing Facility, Fire Response and Repair, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Detailed structural and architectural evaluation and documentation of fire damage to a 130,000 square-foot steel production and manufacturing plant. Scope of work included production of detailed architectural, structural, and MEP design drawings for extensive repairs throughout the entire facility. In addition, systematic testing and commissioning protocols were implemented for evaluating and repairing the electrical, gas, compressed air, fresh water, and other MEP distribution systems throughout the plant.
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Adam Abbes Yala, Ph.D., P.E. October 2017
Special Structures Museum of Science and Industry, U-505 Relocation, Chicago, IL. Consulting with the owner’s representative and design team to study the feasibility and cost associated with moving a historically significant submarine and providing new exhibition space, including a peer review of the procedures and equipment for executing the relocation.
McCormick Place South Hall Exposition Facility and Grand Concourse, Chicago, IL. Structural design of a 3.3 million square-foot award-winning structure with long spans and steel.
Parking Queen City Tower, Cincinnati, OH. Structural design of an eight-story post-tensioned parking structure with four stories below ground.
Stadium Park West, St. Louis, MO. Investigation and repair of a post-tensioned parking structure. Beams with bounded strands were replaced with new post-tensioned concrete beams.
Midway International Airport Expansion, Chicago, IL. Design of a six-story, one million square-foot parking structure, accommodating 3200 cars. The structure is supported on belled caissons, and consists of a post-tensioned slab supported by post-tensioned beams. The structure was analyzed for blast.
Industrial Army Air Force Exchange Service, Newport News, VA. Construction coordination for a 312,000 square-foot warehouse expansion.
Army Air Force Exchange Service, Atlanta, GA. Site planning of a military compound warehouse, including design of three parking lots to accommodate 70 docks, 250 trailers and 130 cars.
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