Kip Gatto

PE, SE

Director of Engineering

Biography

Kip has broad expertise in forensic investigations, evaluations, and repair designs of existing structures. His experience includes evaluations of an array of different structure types and systems exhibiting distress resulting from all manner of causes including earthquakes, fire, water, defective construction, faulty materials and other conditions. In addition to his experience with modern building materials, Kip has experience with historic building materials such as clay brick, stone, historic concrete, and heavy timber.

Kip brings a detailed understanding of structural behavior and the unique way that building codes and industry standards are applied to existing structures. This understanding and his extensive experience working with existing structures allow him to develop innovative evaluation methods and repair designs for damaged or deficient structures.

Credentials

  • PE | Professional Engineer
  • SE | Structural Engineer

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport | SeaTac, WA | Evaluation of shotcrete placements in service tunnel.
  • Sound Transit Angle Lake Extension | SeaTac, WA | Evaluation and repair design for concrete placements in support piers.
  • Puget Sound Energy Substation | Redmond, WA | Evaluation of concrete and steel structural elements affected by transformer fire.
  • Veterans Administration Hospitals | Various locations in Northwest US | Seismic condition assessment of numerous facilities for capital planning purposes.
  • CenturyLink Field | Seattle, WA | Investigation and repair design for deteriorated concrete seating bowl joints and concourse topping slab.
  • Kent Development | Kent, WA | Structural evaluation and repair design for fire affected wood, concrete and steel elements.
  • Reservoir 5C | Pomona, CA | Leakage investigation and rehabilitation design for concrete water reservoir.
  • Kent North Corporate Park | Kent, WA | Repair design for condensation related decay of wood frame roof elements.

Professional Experience

  • 2021 - Current | Director of Engineering | YA Engineering Services
  • 2019 - 2021 | Senior Regional Supervisor | YA Engineering Services
  • 2018 - 2019 | Senior Regional Engineering Consultant | YA Engineering Services
  • 2001 - 2018 | Associate Principal | Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc.

Area of Practice

  • Damage Assessment
  • Earthquake Engineering
  • Failure Analysis
  • Litigation Support
  • Repair and Rehabilitation Design
  • Structural Analysis

Publications and Presentations

  • Gatto, K., Rethinking Engineering Licensure, Structure
  • Dethlefs R.A., Gatto K., Mahaney J. & Searer G., EERI, Rational Approach to Evaluation of Shear Wall Nail Spacing and Recommended Spacing Tolerances, Proceedings of 8th US National Conference on Earthquake Engineering
  • Gatto K. & Wong G., Moisture Analysis in Unconditioned Concrete, Interface
  • Gatto K. & Chia-Ming Uang, Cyclic Response of Woodframe Shearwalls: Loading Protocol and Rate of Loading Effects, CUREE Publication W-13
  • Martin Z. & Gatto K., Wood Panelized Roof Subpurlin Hanger Construction Defect Assessment and Load Testing to Establish Defect Tolerances, ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
  • Chia-Ming Uang & Gatto K., Effects of Finish Materials and Dynamic Loading on the Cyclic Response of Woodframe Shearwalls, Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Gatto K., Wong G. & Klaboe K., Simplifying Moisture Measurement in Concrete, Interface
  • Gatto K., Dethlefs R.A. & Martin Z., ASCE, Practical Evaluation of Two-Way Slabs with Distressed PT Strands, Proceedings of the Sixth Congress on Forensic Engineering
  • Gatto K., Subcommittee member, ACI, Code Requirements for Assessment, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures (ACI 562-19) and Commentary
  • Gatto K. & Romero R., A Comprehensive Approach to a Slab-on-Ground Repair, Concrete Repair Bulletin
  • Simons K., Martin Z. & Gatto K., ASCE, The Anatomy of the Failure of a Wood Panelized Roof Sub-Purlin Hanger, Proceedings of the Seventh Congress on Forensic Engineering
  • Gatto K. & Chia-Ming Uang, Effects of Loading Protocol on the Cyclic Response of Woodframe Shearwalls, Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Martin Z., Gatto K., Simonen J. & Sasaki K., ASCE, Examination of Wood Truss Failures by Creep Rupture, Proceedings of the Eighth Congress on Forensic Engineering
  • Dethlefs R.A., Searer G. & Gatto K., ASCE, Seismic Analysis/Upgrade Design for a Historic Steel-Framed Highrise, Proceedings of the 2004 Structures Congress

Education

  • University of California - Master of Science - Structural Engineering - San Diego
  • University of Washington - Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering

Affiliations

  • American Concrete Institute (ACI)

Licenses

  • AELT13359 - Alaska - Professional Engineer (Structural)
  • 65731 & 6273 - California - Professional Engineer (Structural)
  • PE86718 - Oregon - Professional Engineer (Structural)
  • 41197 - Washington - Professional Engineer (Structural)