Scientists visit L.A. to discuss list of buildings at risk in quake

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The six-story concrete Barrington Building -- home to prominent dentists and psychiatrists to the stars -- suffered severe damage to its columns in the 1994 Northridge quake. That damage can be seen in the X-shaped cracks, precursors to a collapse. (Jonathan Alcorn / For The Times)

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San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital patients wait for evacuation to other facilities as the ruins of collapsed buildings are searched for victims after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit near Sylmar on Feb. 9, 1971. Two hospitals and two major freeway interchanges were destroyed. (Bruce Cox / Los Angeles Times)

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Two concrete buildings at the San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital crumbled in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, killing 49 people.

(Bruce Cox / Los Angeles Times)

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An aerial view of the San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. (Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times)

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The dangers of brittle concrete buildings were underscored by the collapse of the Bullock’s department store at Northridge Fashion Center in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The store was built in 1971, before more robust building codes were enacted. (Steve Dykes / Los Angeles Times)

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The Pyne Gould Corp. building collapsed when the magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand. It was built in the 1960s, before the adoption of modern seismic standards for concrete buildings. (Hannah Johnston / Getty Images)

By Rong-Gong Lin II

Nov. 19, 2013 7:30 AM PT

Scientists who have a list of concrete buildings in Los Angeles that could be at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake will meet with L.A. officials Tuesday to discuss their research.

The group is led by UC Berkeley engineering professor Jack Moehle, who has so far not agreed to provide the list to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The agency asked for the list at the direction of Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Last month, Moehle wrote that the university was “investigating the legal and ethical constraints” of releasing preliminary research data. Moehle had earlier rejected a verbal request by the city for the information.

IN DEPTH: L.A.’s hidden dangers

Researchers led by Moehle have compiled a database of about 1,500 concrete structures in Los Angeles built before 1980 that may be at risk of collapse in an earthquake. Seismic experts say obtaining the list is critical for the city to begin tackling the problem. Structural engineers have said hundreds could die if even one concrete building collapsed.

Garcetti has told The Times that seeing the list would be helpful to the city.

“I think it would be helpful to see, as long as people understand … that it’s not definitive,” the mayor said last month.

FULL COVERAGE: Earthquake safety

Backed by a $3.6-million grant from the National Science Foundation, Moehle and his team have been working since 2006 on the issue. By the most conservative estimate, as many as 5%, or 75 buildings, could collapse in a major earthquake, according to the scientists’ figures.

In Los Angeles, several attempts to create a list of vulnerable concrete buildings over the last 40 years have failed after opposition from property owners. A report in The Times last month refocused political attention on the issue.

Councilman Bernard C. Parks has said that the city should demand the list, saying it would be irresponsible for the city to do nothing.

“Whoever made the original call, I don’t think they should stop and say, ‘Well, they didn’t speak to me, so I quit,’ ” Parks said.

Moehle has said his team was willing to assist Los Angeles with efforts to create its own inventory of concrete buildings.

ALSO:

How a New Zealand earthquake led to building reforms

Quake researchers refuse to share building data with L.A.

Campaign to map earthquake faults has slowed to a crawl

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