Albany Schools to Review Seismic Safety of District Buildings

The has put out the call to hire an expert in seismic evaluations "to complete a of specific buildings within the District."

Criteria for selection include being a licensed structural engineer or architect; familiarity with ; experience in seismic evaluations, particularly in relation to public school buildings; experience in the seismic strengthening of public school buildings; and being knowledgeable about working with the Division of the State Architect.

The deadline for applications is Aug. 12.

Applicants must direct inquiries to Project Manager David Burke of Bollo Construction Services, and submit applications to Assistant Superintendent Laurie Harden.

Albany Patch , and found several school buildings on a list that could indicate either missing paperwork related to seismic reviews, or actual structural issues.

Three Albany structures were flagged by the state as recently as March:

• A 1930s-era Marin School building made of "concrete shear wall with flexible floor and roof diaphragms" (4,750 sq. ft.)
• A 1970s-era Marin School building with a "reinforced masonry bearing wall with flexible floor and roof diaphragm" (3,000 sq. ft.)
• The high school's Little Theater, which was built in the 1960s, and has "concrete shear wall with rigid floor and roof diaphragms" (11,200 sq. ft.)

Superintendent Marla Stephenson said in April that Albany Unified would be hiring someone to conduct a review of district buildings.

State paperwork related to the buildings was vague in reference to which buildings needed review, but the superintendent said there was a good chance that some of these buildings are no longer standing.

She said the district would hire a consultant to review the buildings and make sure seismic reviews are complete or that, if they are no longer standing, to have this information updated on the .

Everyone makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325, or email her at emilier@patch.com.