Grand Opening Ceremonies for the nees@berkeley Equipment Site - November 09, 2004

This open house was the official grand opening of the nees@berkeley Equipment Site.

The grand opening of nees@berkeley was coordinated with the November SEAONC Dinner Program. The event featured brief statements by invited dignitaries, a laboratory tour including exciting demonstration experiments, refreshments and a catered dinner, and an after-dinner presentation by Professors Mahin, Stojadinovic, and Moehle. These professors are the Principal Investigators for the project to develop the new facility. The presentation introduced NEES, described the special capabilities of the nees@berkeley, including the new hybrid simulation capability. Through an open dialogue with attendees, the professors explored ways that SEAONC engineers can join in using the unique new facility to advance earthquake engineering practice.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, November 09, 2004, 4:30pm-9:00pm.

	4:30 - 5:30	nees@Berkeley Open House Reception with refreshments Building 484 Richmond Field Station
	5:30 - 6:00	Official opening (Building 484)
		Introduction -
		Prof. Moehle
		Presentations
		Prof. Beth Burnside, Vice Chancellor for Research
		Prof. Richard Newton, Dean of Engineering
		Dr. Mark Coles, Deputy Director for Large Facility Projects in the NSF Budget, Finance, and Award Management office
	6:00 - 6:15	Demonstration tests (Building 484)
	6:30 - 7:45	Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) Dinner
	8:00 - 9:00	SEAONC Presentation
		nees@berkeley - A Northern California Playground for Structural Earthquake Engineering Research by Professors Jack P. Moehle, Steve A.Mahin and Bozidar Stojadinovic

Photos

Nicholas Sitar, Professor and Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Center, is the Principal Investigator of Operations and Maintenance of the nees@berkeley facility.

Don Clyde, Equipment Site Operations Manager with Professor Gilberto Mosqueda from SUNY Buffalo. Gilberto was the graduate student in charge of algorithm development in the construction of nees@berkeley.

Professor Jack P. Moehle talks with Professor Bozidar Stojadinovic, co-Principal Investigator of the construction and operations and maintenance of nees@berkeley.

Professor Bozidar Stojadinovic and Professor Steve A. Mahin (center), co-Principal Investigators of the construction of nees@berkeley, and a number of professional engineers.

More than 100 people registered for the event.

Professor Moehle introduces nees@berkeley.

Professor Richard Newton, Dean of Engineering at UC Berkeley addresses the audience.

Dr. Mark Coles, Deputy Director for Large Facility Projects in the NSF Budget, Finance, and Award Management office, relays the congratulations of the NSF directors.