Manuel “Manny” Morden, a structural engineer who in a 52-year career with Brandow & Johnston in Los Angeles aided the city’s rapid growth through work on many of its iconic sights, has died. He was 90.
With Brandow & Johnston, Morden was a structural designer, licensed civil and structural engineer, department manager, and project supervisor. He became a principal of the firm, responsible for management and supervision of all phases of project development, construction administration, structural design, and the system selection and seismic design of major projects.
His many projects over the years involved work on the Rose Bowl, Kaiser Hospital, Bradley Terminal at Los Angeles Airport, Universal Studios (Hollywood and Florida), Sheraton Hotel (Qatar), the University of Southern California, The Convention Center, 400 South Hope, and the soon-to-be-opened MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.
Morden specialized in building evaluations, peer reviews, forensic engineering, earthquake studies, and retrofit strengthening; prestressed concrete design development and review for all company projects; development of alternative structural systems; and specifications for construction material. He also served as an expert witness in litigation.
He was a president, board member, and chair of the code committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California. He was given an official city of Los Angeles proclamation for his more than 50 years of service to the profession, the city, and Southern California. In 2014, Morden received an outstanding achievement award from the California Preservation Foundation for his work on a renovation of The Forum.
Morden enjoyed travel and with his wife of 70 years, Suzanne, toured throughout North and South America, Israel, Japan, China, and Europe, with Paris as his favorite city.
