Mark Sarkisian

College of Fellows Member

SOM, Partner of Structural and Seismic Engineering | San Francisco, United States

About

Mark Sarkisian brings a wealth of expertise in seismic and structural engineering into every SOM project. From adaptive reuse and seismic retrofits to designing long-span structures and some of the world’s tallest buildings, Sarkisian has established a reputation for leadership in the structural engineering industry.

Sarkisian holds 15 U.S. and international patents for high-performance seismic structural mechanisms. In 2021, he was elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, distinguished for his “innovation in efficient and aesthetic design of tall buildings and structures.” He also received the prestigious Fazlur Rahman Khan Life-Cycle Civil Engineering Medal, in 2014. The honor was in recognition of his contributions to the design of environmentally responsible structural systems. Additional recognitions include the H.J. Brunnier Lifetime Achievement Award by…

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Mark Sarkisian

CTBUH Roles

Working Group: Smart Building Technology (2018 – Present)

Annual Conference, Presenter (Shanghai 2014)

Expert Peer Review Committee (2014 – 2015)

Height and Data Committee (2013 – 2017)

Videos

03 November 2016

Interview: Pin-Fuse Seismic System

Mark Sarkisian, Partner of Structural Engineering, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Rupa Garai, Structural Engineering Associate, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, are interviewed by Chris Bentley...

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Research

01 September 2017

Site | Structure | Architecture – Projects that Create Change

Leo Chow & Mark P. Sarkisian, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

China’s rapid growth has created great opportunities for design and construction of projects that not only transform sites but cities. This work combines local, national,...

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Research

01 March 2016

Mechanical Amplification of Relative Movements in Damped Outriggers for Wind and Seismic Response Mitigation

Neville Mathias, Francesco Ranaudo, and Mark Sarkisian, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The concept of introducing viscous damping devices between outriggers and perimeter columns in tall buildings to provide supplementary damping and improve performance, reduce structural costs,...

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28 August 2019

2019 International Forum on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

In celebration of Jin Mao Tower's 20th anniversary, CTBUH China presents an international conference discussing the historical evolution and development trend of super tall buildings.

28 August 2017

Master's Thesis Challenge

CTBUH is launching a new academic initiative, empowering Master's-level architecture students to research new possibilities in rope-less elevator technology.

4 November 2016

CTBUH Names Shanghai Tower “2016 Best Tall Building Worldwide”

The CTBUH Awards Jury named Shanghai Tower, Shanghai as the “2016 Best Tall Building Worldwide” at the 15th Annual CTBUH Awards Ceremony and Dinner.

14 July 2016

Board of Trustees Names Lifetime Award Winners and 2016 Fellows

CTBUH has named its 2016 Fellows and two Lifetime Achievement Award recipients: Dr. Cheong Koon Hean of the Singapore HDB, and Ron Klemencic of MKA.

9 April 2015

Innovative Technologies for the Construction of Tall Buildings

This free conference will focus on new trends in tall buildings with a speakers on Static Concepts and Criticality and Innovative Techniques for the Construction of Tall Buildings.

7 November 2014

CTBUH Height Committee Meeting

The following topics were addressed: co-joined buildings, criteria for completion, gross-to-net building height, and structural definitions.

03 November 2016

Interview: Pin-Fuse Seismic System

Mark Sarkisian, Partner of Structural Engineering, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Rupa Garai, Structural Engineering Associate, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, are interviewed by Chris Bentley...

03 November 2016

Innovations in Building Performance and Resiliency: Pin-Fuse Seismic Systems

Throughout history, it has been proven time and again that the simplest innovations can often offer the greatest and widest ranging impact. This is certainly...

03 November 2016

2016 Awards - Session 2 Q&A

Ron Klemencic, Chairman & CEO, Magnusson Klemencic Associates; Joseph Chou, Chairman, Taipei Financial Center Corporation; Mark Sarkisian, Partner of Structural Engineering, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill;...

16 September 2014

2014 Shanghai International Conference - Technical Workshop 04 - Q & A

2014 Shanghai International Conference Technical Workshop 04 Questions & Answers session with speakers Don Davies, MKA; Mark Sarkisian, SOM; Dario Trabucco, CTBUH / Iuav University...

16 September 2014

Embodied Carbon in Our Future Cities

Innovative planning for cities of the future is essential. Cities are the solution to responsible habitation as issues of the environment gain increasing importance. Even...

16 September 2014

Interview: Mark Sarkisian

Mark Sarkisian of SOM is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2014 CTBUH Shanghai Conference at the Jin Mao Tower. Mark discusses sustainability of the...

15 May 2013

What Techniques Will Define Next Generation Tall Buildings?

Industry leaders answering this question include: Gianni Bardazzi, Maire Tecnimont; Peter Chipchase, Arup; Henry Cobb, Pei Cobb Freed; Helmut Jahn, Murphy/Jahn; Hafid Rakem, Ateliers Jean...

18 October 2012

2012 Awards - Session 1 Q&A

The Session One speaker panel consisting of: Helmut Jahn, Murphy/Jahn; Aybars Asci & Mark Sarkisian, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Gianni Bardazzi, Maire Technimont; Massimo Roj,...

01 September 2017

Site | Structure | Architecture – Projects that Create Change

Leo Chow & Mark P. Sarkisian, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

China’s rapid growth has created great opportunities for design and construction of projects that not only transform sites but cities. This work combines local, national,...

01 March 2016

Mechanical Amplification of Relative Movements in Damped Outriggers for Wind and Seismic Response Mitigation

Neville Mathias, Francesco Ranaudo, and Mark Sarkisian, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The concept of introducing viscous damping devices between outriggers and perimeter columns in tall buildings to provide supplementary damping and improve performance, reduce structural costs,...

26 October 2015

Three-dimensional Exterior Bracing Systems for Tall Buildings

Rupa Garai, Mark Sarkisian, Neville Mathias & Andrew Krebs, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

The use of outriggers with and without belt trusses has become an expedient of choice for harnessing the three dimensional potential of tall buildings to...

16 September 2014

Embodied Carbon in Our Future Cities

Mark Sarkisian & David Shook, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Innovative planning for cities of the future is essential. Cities are the solution to responsible habitation as issues of the environment gain increasing importance. Even...

10 October 2011

The Al Hamra Firdous Tower

Aybars Asci & Mark Sarkisian, SOM

Al Hamra Firdous Tower, rising 412 meters and scheduled for completion in fall 2011, will be the tallest structure in Kuwait. A new landmark, this...

01 February 2011

World’s Tallest Steel Shear Walled Building

Mark Sarkisian & Neville Mathias, SOM; Dasui Wang, ECADI; Sam Lee, Guangzhou Scientific Computing Consultants

Because of its iconic slender form, a key design challenge was to develop an efficient lateral system capable of resisting wind and seismic lateral load;...

01 May 2010

Organic and Natural Forms in Building Design

Mark Sarkisian, Peter Lee, Eric Long & David Shook, SOM

Safe, efficient structural forms are abundant in nature. The challenge, however, is to quantify these forms and to derive behavior that is adaptable, constructible and...

01 January 2010

Jinao Tower – The Design Integration of Structural Efficiency

Mark Sarkisian, Neville Mathias, Eric Long & C. Keith Boswell, SOM

The 56 story, 232 m tall Jinao Tower in Nanjing, China, is a next-generation tower which maximizes performance, efficiency, and occupant experience. Its faceted form...