Miyamoto International
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Industry | Structural engineering and disaster management |
|---|---|
| Founded | Sacramento, California (1946) |
| Founder | Arthur A. Sauer |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 25 |
Area served | International (US, Costa Rica, Haiti, Liberia, Italy, Turkey, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Japan and New Zealand) |
Key people | Hideki Kit Miyamoto President & CEO |
| Services | Earthquake strategy, structural engineering and disaster management |
| Revenue | $15.1 million (2012)[1] |
| Website | www |
Miyamoto International is a global structural engineering and disaster management firm best known for its work in California earthquake design for new and existing buildings as well as in the reconstruction of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Christchurch, New Zealand following earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Based in West Sacramento, California, the company has 25 offices in 12 countries worldwide.[2]
What would become Miyamoto International was first founded as Arthur A. Sauer - Structural Engineer, by Arthur Sauer in Sacramento, California in 1946.[3] A former employee in the structural division of State Division of Architecture, Sauer served in World War II as a commander in the Navy Seabees, exploring a suitable site in the Pacific Northwest where an air base made of ice could be constructed (the project was canceled) before being stationed in Japan to oversee reconstruction projects until he was discharged, when he returned to Sacramento to start his own firm.[4] As the company expanded to open offices in Stockton and Fresno, Sauer made three of his engineers, Ken Marr, Charles Grimes and Joe Wood, associates and then partners, with the company known as Sauer-Marr-Grimes-Wood Consulting Engineers until Sauer's retirement in 1979.[5]
Kit Miyamoto joined the firm - which was at that time called Marr Shaffer & Associates - in 1989.[6] A former running back for Butte College until a knee injury forced him to shift his focus to engineering, Miyamoto was mentored by CEO John Shaffer, who retired and sold him the company in 1997, when it became Marr Shaffer & Miyamoto, Inc.[7][8] In 2002, the company purchased Martin & Huang, when it became MHI Miyamoto before changing its name to Miyamoto International in 2004.[9][10] Miyamoto International expanded into risk management in 2005 when it partnered with Global Risk Consultants to form Global Risk Miyamoto.[11] In 2010, Miyamoto earned his Phd in Earthquake Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.[8]
Following the Haiti earthquake in 2010 Miyamoto assisted in post-disaster assessment and reconstruction, and established a location as a Haitian company.[12] In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Miyamoto partnered worked on the reconstruction of Christchurch and implemented an earthquake risk reduction program in New Zealand.[13] In 2012, Miyamoto Thailand was added to address earthquake risks in Southeast Asia.[12] They now have offices in the US in Sacramento, San Francisco, Pleasanton, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, as well as international locations in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Haiti, Italy, Turkey, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand.[14] In 2011, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed Kit Miyamoto to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.[15] In 2012, he was awarded the Allied Professions Honor Award by the American Institute of Architects, California Council.[16]
Structural engineering, risk management and disaster response
Miyamoto International provides structural and earthquake engineering and disaster management for the public and private sector in the United States and internationally.[17] They design new and retrofit existing buildings to withstand the effects of large earthquakes.[18]
2010 Earthquake in Haiti
On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by an earthquake that registered 7.0 on the Richter Scale.[19] Some estimates quoted the death toll as high as 300,000, with another 300,000 wounded and more than one million people left homeless.[20] In a partnership with Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Miyamoto International arrived shortly afterward to aid local professionals in the reconstruction.[21][22] The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) worked with the Haitian government and Miyamoto International in Port-au-Prince to assess the extent of the structural damage.[23] Miyamoto International also trained locals in masonry and structural engineering so they could repair their homes or rebuild new quake-proof buildings.[24] Over 500 locals were trained as structural engineers, and over 400,000 homes were inspected, with Miyamoto issuing a statement that most of the homes could be "repaired in less than three days for $1,000 to $1500 each."[25][26] Following these events, Miyamoto International also established a permanent office in Haiti.[12]
2011 Christchurch earthquake
On February 22, 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand was badly damaged by an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale.[27] The reported death toll was 185 with several thousand injuries reported.[28][29] Amir Gilani from Miyamoto International went to Christchurch that week to assess the extent and the causes of the damage, reporting "extensive damage to downtown buildings and widespread soil liquefaction throughout the region."[30] Dr. Miyamoto directed the New Zealand team from his location in Haiti.[31] Miyamoto worked with groups and individuals within the city on a structural response plan that repaired damage while attempting to retain as many buildings as possible in the city, specifically heritage buildings.[32] Residents were severely divided when plans were announced to demolish ChristChurch Cathedral.[33] Representatives from Miyamoto International said that the building, erected in 1904, could be preserved and made safe using modern techniques.[34][35] Currently, the building has been partially deconstructed with advocacy taking up a case with the Supreme Court in New Zealand to stop its demolition.[36]
2011 Japan earthquake
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 occurred off Japan's east coast, resulting in a tsunami that claimed the lives of 15,883, and damaged the cooling system at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.[37][38] At the time, Kit Miyamoto was on a train near Ikebukuro station after delivering a speech on earthquake engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and had to walk with his family to the next station.[39][40] He remained in Japan to assess the damage.[41] He also provided technical advice regarding structural engineering issues at Sendai, an area that had been severely damaged.[42]
Affiliations
United Nations Global Compact
Miyamoto International has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2011.[43] The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses committed to focusing operations on ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption in order to perform ethical business practices that will benefit economies worldwide.[44]
Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief
Kit Miyamoto is also CEO of the nonprofit, Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief, launched in 2011.[45] The company provides technical assistance for disaster reconstruction efforts around the world in communities lacking financial resources, partnering with national governments, United Nations, and non-government organizations, using funding from private donors.[46][47]
