About
Robert Merkel has nearly 20 years of experience in forensic engineering and structural design. He spent the first part of his career designing structural systems for numerous commercial buildings, including large convention and hospitality facilities, and structural repairs and alterations to many existing properties. Robert’s capabilities include property damage evaluation; structural failure cause/origin analysis; structural condition assessment; code compliance consulting; emergency shoring design; structural repair design; seismic safety evaluation and retrofit design; seismic risk assessment; and property portfolio risk assessment.
P.E./S.E.
CA, CO, FL, ID (SE), HI (SE), IN, IA, IL (SE), KS, KY, LA, MN, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE (SE), NY, ND, OH, OR, OK (SE), PA, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WI
Affiliations
Engineers Without Borders; EERI; ASCE; ACI; AISC
Certifications
ATC 20/45 Post-Disaster Safety Evaluator; Cal OES Safety Assessment Program Evaluator; Suspended Scaffold Competent Person; Certified Mobile Elevated Work Platform Operator
Featured Experience
- Tornado damage assessments (2019 Riverside, OH, 2019 Lowell, IN)
- Roof collapse investigation and repair
(Palmyra, WI; Mishawaka, IN; West Fargo, ND) - Earthquake damage assessments (2019 Puebla, MEX; 2017 Puebla, MEX; 2016 Kaikoura, NZL; 2013-2014 Cook Strait, NZL; 2010-2011 Christchurch, NZL
- Hurricane damage assessments (Ida)
- Hurricane virtual canvassing assessments
(Michael, Florence, Maria, Irma, Harvey) - School seismic safety evaluation and retrofit design
(multiple projects, Los Angeles, CA) - Commercial office portfolio seismic risk assessment (multiple states, USA)