Emergency Post Earthquake Rapid Visual Assessments
Washington Metropolitan Area

McMullan & Associates was asked by several government and private agencies to provide emergency response to the August 23, 2011 earthquake that affected the Washington, DC area.  McMullan fielded a team of 12 structural engineers to perform inspections of numerous buildings and bridges using the ATC–20 “Detailed Evaluation Safety Assessment” procedures.  Engineers were in the field within 4 hours of the earthquake and were able to recommend reopening most of the buildings with unrestricted access within 24 hours. The damage was locally severe enough at some buildings that restricted access was recommended. Reports were provided to summarize our findings and recommend repairs.  Buildings that were assessed include:

Smithsonian Museums

Arts & Industries Building, The Castle; D.W. Reynolds Building; Renwick Gallery; National Museum of American History; National Air & Space Museum; Freer Gallery of Art; National Museum of Natural History; National Museum of the American Indian

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Bridges – Harvard St, Beach Drive, and Stone Bridge; Pedestrian Bridges and Walkways – The Flight Cage, Bird House, Asia Trail, Upper Bear; Elephant House; General Services Building; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at Front Royal, Buildings 701-0740, 701-1180, and 701-9800

“I’d like to thank you and your firm for its response to our urgent need to assist us in the structural/seismic investigations of our mall museums.  The professionalism and dedication of your team that stayed late into the evening on Tuesday 23^rd,  August providing this much needed assistance should be commended.  Your firm’s professionals allowed all of the Smithsonian Institution Mall museums to open to the public on time Wednesday morning when many other federal facilities were still closed… including The Department of Homeland Security.

Thanks again for your outstanding support!

Mike”

Michael J. Carrancho, PE
Associate Director
Smithsonian Institution

District of Columbia Government Buildings

310 McMillan Dr, NW, 35 K Street, NE; 1901 Evarts Street, NE; Benning Park Recreation Center; Annex 8, 350 McMillan Dr. NW

“First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for your diligence in assisting the District in responding to the earthquake last week… It was your prompt response that allowed for us to open all DC Government office buildings on time the following day and for that we are grateful for your dedication and responsiveness.”

Curtis F. Clay, NCARB, AIA
Interim Deputy Director – Construction Division
DC Department of Real Estate Services

General Services Administration – NCR Buildings

Tax Court Building; DHS NAC Building 19; DHS NAC Building 1; Office of Personnel Management; Wilbur J. Cohen Building; Mary Switzer Building; National Courts, Historic Townhouses (Dolly Madison, Tayloe, Cosmos House); GSA Franconia Warehouses; Department of Labor; National Building Museum; Potomac Annex

National Institutes of Standard & Technology

Building 226; Building 101; Building 235

National Park Service

Ford’s Theater; Petersen House; Jefferson Memorial; Lincoln Memorial

US Government Printing Office

Pedestrian Bridges connecting the main buildings at Levels 3 to 8; exterior stairs at Annex Building; roof and exterior parapets

Phillips Realty Properties

6106 MacArthur Blvd., Bethesda, MD; 2626 – 2634 Tunlaw Road NW, Washington, DC; 4550 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Washington, DC; 1425 17th Street NW, Washington, DC; 3033 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 13893 Willard Road, Chantilly, VA

Private Owners

Union Station; St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School; Torpedo Factory; The Langley School; The Chelsea School; Washington Ballet School