Saunders Construction Blog
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Value Engineering & Budgets
Saunders Construction has over four decades of experience performing seismic retrofits. We have completed thousands of projects on every type of building with our top management logging thousands of hours of field experience. As a result, we have encountered countless...
Is “Hurriquake” a real thing?
In mid-August, California was on watch of Hurricane Hilary which by the time it hit land would be downgraded to a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center said, it had potential for “life-threatening” floods and debris flow warnings which remained in effect...
What is Functional Recovery?
According to Ryan Kersting,(Associate Principal, Buehler Engineering) Functional recovery is a post-event (e.g., post-earthquake) performance state in which a building or lifeline infrastructure system is maintained, or restored, to safely and adequately support the...
What is the buzz in the Industrial sector of Commercial Real Estate?
Ever since the pandemic which was the primary factor that brought about hybrid and work-from-home flexibility companies have been relying on special resources and building amenities to lure employee back to the office. However, industrial and warehouse building...
Structural Risks to Commercial Buildings in Extreme Heat
Summer has just begun and according to recent news outlets, millions of people and structures across the country are experiencing severe weather including thunderstorms and a deadly heat wave that is sweeping the South. Just as the heat takes a major toll on us,...
Saunders Proud Sponsor of SEAOSC Technical Summit & President’s Luncheon
SEAOSC Technical Summit took place on June 22nd this year and the focus was on three important topics that are defining the current landscape of structural engineering and seismic safety. The philosophy of Functional Recovery which the industry codes are shifting...
Seismic Retrofits for Occupied Buildings!
Performing seismic retrofits on a building can be a daunting and intimidating project for commercial building owners and real estate professionals to take on and manage. And, then add to the mix the building is occupied with tenant(s) operating thriving businesses. It...
Will AI (Artificial Intelligence) Impact the Construction Industry?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is expected to play an increasingly significant role in the future. So yes, AI is expected to have a major impact on every industry including the construction industry. One of the key areas where AI is being used in construction is in...
What are the main methods of seismic strengthening in soft-story buildings? (Multi-family Commercial Real Estate Sector)
A soft-story retrofit refers to a building that is a multi-story structure built with a first floor that is open in nature, much less rigid than the floors above. For example, multi-family apartment buildings with tuck-under parking or subterranean parking and retail...
What is the future for the office sector in commercial real estate?
Office assets have been a sure thing in commercial real estate for a long time and considered a reliable source of revenue for owners and lenders. However, since the pandemic the future of the office sector in commercial real estate is unclear. While industrial assets...
Are you located in an area with hazard-resistant building codes?
HAZARD-RESISTANT building codes are designed for buildings to be constructed to withstand earthquakes, flooding, and high winds. According to FEMA, they conducted an analysis based on 18-million actual buildings, the frequency of hazard events in each area and the...
10 Industrial Insights from I.CON West 2023 -NAIOP’s Industrial Conference
Below are the key takeaways from I.CON West 2023: The outlook for the U.S. economy is closely tied to the labor market, which is historically tight. Industrial absorption is cooling but demand remains strong overall. The COVID-19 pandemic upended the supply chain and...
Important Factors to Consider when Deciding on a Structural Engineer and Why Costs May Vary
It is time your building needs to be brought up to Life Safety standards and reduction of PML (SEL and SUL now) or for your peace of mind. It is time for a seismic upgrade and/or structural repairs, the first step is to find a structural engineer to complete the...
Do you have a PML rating for your commercial real estate assets? What is PML?
PML or Probable Maximum Loss is a term the insurance industry created decades ago to reference the maximum loss an insurance company should expect to pay for a claim based on the seismic assessment of a property / building. PML, SEL and SUL are defined below. Due to...
JOIN US for a WEBINAR hosted by NAIOP featuring Steven Saunders – Earthquake Retrofits for Industrial Assets
NAIOP will be hosting a webinar featuring Steven Saunders Date: Tuesday, March 14th 2023 Time: 11:00AM (PDT) – 45 minutes Topic: Earthquake Retrofits for Industrial Assets NAIOP Members – FREE Non-members – $49 Register Here:...
What are the benefits of performing a seismic retrofit sooner than later?
Are seismic retrofits mandatory for commercial real estate assets? What if the properties are not located in a known earthquake region? Short answer is, no, seismic retrofits are not mandatory. However, the old saying pay now or pay later applies here! Many people...
Is the West Coast ready for the big one? Earthquake that is!
Experts predict the West Coast should be prepared for the next big earthquake to hit very soon, as early as tomorrow! Are you ready? Mid-December of 2022, USA Today released the article, ‘It could happen tomorrow’: Experts know disaster upon disaster looms...
2023 Commercial Real Estate Outlook
There is a lot of speculation regarding a recession on the horizon in 2023. And, if true high interest rates and a potential recession will make 2023 a challenging year for commercial real estate. The top factors in 2023 to influence commercial real estate are...
Common Structural Repairs
Structural repairs consist of any repairs to structural members of a building. Structural repairs mean repairs or replacement to the roof, foundation, floors, and permanent exterior walls and support columns of the building. The repairs can be made on any type of...
Structural Engineers Association Southern (SRAOSC) California Risky Business Breakfast
Saunders Construction took advantage of the opportunity to sponsor the “Risky Business Breakfast” hosted by SEAOSC. The morning discussion focused on risk management and protecting the future of engineers’ careers. The speakers consisted of Jeff Crosier (Senior...
Are you interested in buying or selling a building but wonder what a seismic retrofit would cost? Budgets for Seismic Retrofits!
Saunders Construction provides budgets for acquisitions! Budgets come with estimate ranges of low, median, and high with many factors that affect pricing. Information to submit for a budget may include, leasing plan/tenant leasing plan (this helps determine access to...
Did you take part in the “Great California Shakeout?”
Are you familiar with International ShakeOut Day? It is where you have a one-minute earthquake drill to prepare for proper emergency protocols during an earthquake and it takes place the third Thursday every October. This year the International ShakeOut Day was...
Soft-Story Ordinances
A soft-story building is a multi-story structure built with a first floor that is open in nature, much less rigid (soft) than the floors above. There are many examples of buildings with soft-story conditions including multi-family apartment buildings with tuck-under...
New Findings on Major California Coast Fault Line
After reviewing the seismic risks specific to California last month there are new findings regarding the fault along the LA/ OC coast known as the Palos Verdes fault zone. According to scientists at Harvard University, this fault was previously thought to be a...
California Seismic Risk – Real Estate Assets & Earthquakes!
When people think of earthquakes, probably the first thing that comes to mind is “California!” Therefore, the threats and risks associated with earthquakes have been a longtime hazard to Californian’s yet, the risk is growing to neighboring states, such as Washington...
Saunders Construction & Guardian Fall Protection Annual Safety Training
It is always an eventful day when Saunders Construction and Guardian Fall Protection meet up for a day of safety training. The day consisted of several trainings including: Safety Orientation Full Body Harnesses Boom Lift / Forklift / Scissor Lift Saunders...
Risks and potential dangers of roof condensation with this year’s record heat in the US notably Northwest!
According to the Washington Post, the most severe heat wave in the history of the Pacific Northwest has climaxed, obliterating scores of long-standing records in the U.S. Portland and Seattle broke all-time records by enormous margins. Just as the heat takes a major...
Is there a shift in the Industrial sector of Commercial Real Estate from logistics to data centers?
Industrial is KING has been the overall theme in commercial real estate since the pandemic sent the e-commerce industry into over-drive and the demand for warehouse/ distribution centers skyrocketed. However, it seems the industry giant, Amazon is sending a message as...
The Added-Value in our Seismic Retrofit Projects is the Pre-construction Plan or Phase!
We specialize in seismic solutions and provide efficient services from start to finish on each and every project. Our estimating bids set the standard being precise, detailed and technical with our specialized processes down to the phase of the final daily routine...
Does Your Soft-Story Building Need a Balcony Inspection? What is the Balcony Inspection Bill?
SB 721, Hill. Building standards: decks and balconies: Inspection for apartments not an HOA or condominium. The issue is the scope (or extent) of the inspection is not clearly defined in the ordinance. Saunders Construction is working with engineers and state...