Maryann Phipps Gives Keynote Speech at EERI National Conference

Maryann Phipps gave a keynote speech entitled “Toward Performance Based Construction – Better Buildings by Design” at the EERI 11th National Conference of Earthquake Engineering held in Los Angeles on June 25-29, 2018. Maryann’s speech was a tribute to the late Professor Steve Mahin, “an earthquake engineering visionary and foot soldier who during his 50-year academic career at UC Berkeley made a difference by reducing seismic risk worldwide.”

Maryann’s address drew from her experience assisting clients with projects designed for enhanced performance. She explained challenges faced during design and construction and presented strategies to deliver on the promise of better buildings. Among the themes discussed were the need to better communicate design options and consequences, the benefits of collaborating early in design to achieve better performing buildings that integrate seamlessly with the building program, and the need for more attention to “delegated designs” to ensure that they satisfy project performance objectives. The June 29, 2018 edition of the New York Times highlighted her presentation in an article and wrote, “Maryann Phipps…urged engineers to explain to their clients that by spending an additional one or two percent a building is more likely to be usable after an earthquake” and quoted Maryann: “My takeaway is communication is important. We need to keep it simple and clear.” A related tweet from Judith Mitrani Reiser stated: “Every structural engineer should be required to see this morning’s lecture, by Maryann Phipps, on performance-based construction.”