Nabih F. Youssef, a Los Angeles-based structural engineer recognized for his work in seismic engineering, has died. He was 83.
His well-reinforced structures should grace Greater Los Angeles for a good while. One, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, uses base isolation and is expected to stand for at least 500 years.
An ASCE life member, Youssef, P.E., F.ASCE, led the engineering division at A.C. Martin Partners before founding his own firm in 1989, Nabih Youssef & Associates, where he was design principal in charge. Among his achievements were Getty Villa and beyond southern California, expansion of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The 56-story L.A. Live! Tower was a late-career pinnacle. The first of its three development phases was finished in late 2007/early 2008 when the 7,100-seat Microsoft Theater opened. Xbox Plaza, formerly Microsoft Square) is the first building in Los Angeles to use an advanced steel plate shear wall system to resist lateral loads. The 40,000-square-foot open-air space arena features six 75-foot-towers with LED and static signage.
Phase two included Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge, The GRAMMY Museum, 13 restaurants, and the ESPN West Coast Broadcast Center. The last phase was complete in early 2010 with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Los Angeles, the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A.
Youssef received a bachelor’s degree in structural engineering from Cairo University in 1967. After emigrating to the United States he received a master’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles and then a postgraduate diploma in earthquake engineering from UCLA.
