Architecture Engineers Award

Ensuring the operational continuity of socially critical facilities such as schools following earthquakes is essential for community resilience and disaster recovery. In Türkiye, where seismic risk is high and portions of the public building stock lack adequate engineering design, assessing structural vulnerability and implementing effective retrofitting strategies are urgent priorities. This study investigates seismic strengthening approaches for representative school building typologies to enhance structural safety and post-earthquake functionality. Characterization of School Building Typologies and Seismic Parameters Three commonly used reinforced concrete school building types (8-, 14-, and 22-classroom configurations) were selected to represent vulnerable public building stock. Parametric analyses incorporated variations in peak ground acceleration (PGA), local soil conditions, and material strengths to reflect regional seismic diversity. These parameters allowed for realistic ...

  Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is revolutionizing sustainable construction with its strength, versatility, and environmental benefits. Multi-storey CLT buildings, however, face challenges in lateral stability under wind and seismic forces. Recent research shows that perpendicular walls play a crucial role in improving structural stability, reducing lateral displacements, and efficiently distributing loads. Understanding Shear Walls and Perpendicular Interactions Shear walls are primary elements resisting lateral forces in CLT structures. This study highlights the synergistic effect of perpendicular walls , which share overturning forces and enhance the overall stiffness of the building. By analyzing hold-downs and wall-to-wall connections, researchers have quantified how perpendicular walls reduce stress on shear walls by up to 50%, contributing to safer and more resilient timber structures. Lateral Stiffness Gains Through Perpendicular Walls Through a combination of analytic...