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Santa Barbara Apartments

When framing estimates for the 120-unit Santa Barbara Apartment complex in Rialto, California came in over budget, developer BM Investments turned to value engineering to make the numbers work. Engineer Amir Deihimi of Core Structure, Inc. identified key opportunities to reduce costs by replacing expensive prefabricated steel shear wall frames with wood structural panel portal frames using the force transfer around openings (FTAO) method — a widely accepted shear wall analysis approach in high-seismic California construction. 

This publication is designed for: engineers, architects, builders, designers 

This case study discusses how using glulam beams delivered cost savings and simplified installation.  

Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.

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