2017 Bronze Medal Award

The group is recognized for innovative engineering methods and code provisions for mitigation of disproportionate collapse of buildings. Recent building failure events have shown that localized failures in building systems can progress to result in total collapse and significant loss of life and property. For the first time, accurate advanced analysis methods, validated with experiments, were developed enabling design against disproportionate collapse. The methods have been adopted in provisions for structural integrity of buildings in the International Building Code and the American Concrete Institute standards, and are being implemented in a new American Society of Civil Engineers design standard and guidelines for enhanced building safety.