About

Mark Sarkisian leads Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP’s San Francisco-based Structural Engineering Studio – an award winning group that collaborates with the firm’s other disciplines to create innovative and integrated structural solutions. His diverse portfolio includes commercial, laboratory, medical, historic, transportation, residential/hotel, and educational facilities, as well as mixed-use skyscrapers.

Scientific research, particularly in the area of seismic design, informs Mr. Sarkisian’s approach. He has published more than 100 papers examining seismic behavior, tall building design, and innovative uses of materials in structures. Over his 25 year-long career, he has received over 50 awards for innovation in structural engineering.

Mark’s career has focused on developing innovative structural engineering solutions for over 100 major building projects—several among the world’s tallest—including the 421 meter-tall Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, China; the 337 meter-tall Tianjin World Financial Center, Tianjin, China; the 412 meter-tall Al Hamra Fidrous Tower, Kuwait City, Kuwait; the 42-story St. Regis Hotel and Residences, San Francisco, California; the US Embassy in Beijing, China; and the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California.

Mark holds nine U.S. Patents and five international patents for high-performance seismic structural mechanisms designed to protect buildings in areas of high seismicity and for seismic and environmentally responsible structural systems. He is licensed to practice civil and structural engineering in 20 states. He has recently written and published a book titled “Designing Tall Buildings – Structure as Architecture,” and he teaches Integrated Studio Design courses focused on collaborative design opportunities that include students from the University of California, Berkeley, California College of the Arts, Stanford University, California Polytechnic State University, Northeastern University, and Pratt Institute. Mark also delivers lectures at universities around the world, with emphasis on creative structural engineering solutions in architecture.

Mark received his BS Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut where he is a Fellow of the Academy of Distinguished Engineers, and his MS Degree in Structural Engineering from Lehigh University. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Clarkson University.

Mark Sarkisian leads Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP’s San Francisco-based Structural Engineering Studio – an award winning group that collaborates with the firm’s other disciplines to create innovative and integrated structural solutions. His diverse portfolio includes commercial, laboratory, medical, historic, transportation, residential/hotel, and educational facilities, as well as mixed-use skyscrapers.

Scientific research, particularly in the area of seismic design, informs Mr. Sarkisian’s approach. He has published more than 100 papers examining seismic behavior, tall building design, and innovative uses of materials in structures. Over his 25 year-long career, he has received over 50 awards for innovation in structural engineering.

Mark’s career has focused on developing innovative structural engineering solutions for over 100 major building projects—several among the world’s…

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