The potential for a mega-earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone is high, according to scientists, and that has provoked debate over the seismic resilience of Oregon schools.
Parents have concerns about the safety of the buildings in a major earthquake, and advocates for more resilient buildings also point out that schools are well suited for the role of disaster shelters if they are strong enough to withstand temblors. Schools tend to be evenly distributed throughout neighborhoods, and they often have large, open spaces like cafeterias and gymnasiums that easily can be converted to sleeping areas.
The school district in Beaverton, Ore., is using a $680 million bond to design its new schools to double as emergency shelters and be functional shortly after an earthquake. Its new $98 million high school is designed with an emergency generator, and plumbing and electric wiring constructed with emergency services in mind. These features cost the district $900,000.
A structural engineer that wrote a paper on Beaverton’s resilient school designs says that communities should have conversations about school resilience before putting bond measures to vote.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Dec 2, 2019
New GBCI certification recognizes expertise in sustainability
Provides third-party verification of competency to ‘making the world more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.’
Codes and Standards | Dec 2, 2019
New tool allows users to learn how to reduce embodied carbon
Calculator delivers first digitized EPDs.
Codes and Standards | Dec 2, 2019
Trade group challenges St. Petersburg, Fla., ordinance on construction contract mandates
Legality of requirement to hire apprentices, disadvantaged workers at issue.
Building Owners | Dec 2, 2019
What building owners and AEC teams need to know about New York’s Climate Mobilization Act
On April 18, 2019, the New York City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act, a suite of laws aimed to meet the city’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Codes and Standards | Nov 26, 2019
Updated ASHRAE standards focused on ventilation design, air quality in residential applications
Standard 62.1 and 62.2 updates provide new tables of ventilation rates per unit area.
Codes and Standards | Nov 25, 2019
Real estate professionals say coworking is not a flash in the pan
More than 60% say coworking space is in their portfolios.
Codes and Standards | Nov 22, 2019
Utility’s proposal threatens California’s rooftop solar mandate
Would allow customers to use solar farms instead of installing their own PVs.
Codes and Standards | Nov 21, 2019
Number of LEED commercial building projects surpasses 100,000
More than 2.6 million sf of space being certified each day.
Codes and Standards | Nov 19, 2019
Most U.S. voters support licensing standards for architects
NCARB survey shows strong support for architecture as a licensed profession.
Codes and Standards | Nov 18, 2019
Cambridge, Mass., teams up with utility on energy retrofit program
Buildings large than 25,000 sf targeted in initiative to further carbon neutrality goal.