Jonathan C. Siu presented ICC's prestigious Bobby J. Fowler Award.

Siu honored for the years of commitment and tireless effort bestowed on the engineering and building professions.

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International Code Council Board of Directors Immediate Past President Alex Olszowy (right) presents the Bobby J. Fowler Award to Jonathan C. Siu.

Jonathan C. Siu, principal engineer/building official for the city of Seattle, Department of Construction and Inspections, was presented the prestigious Bobby J. Fowler Award during the Annual Banquet at ICC's 2016 Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The Bobby J. Fowler Award is the most prestigious award presented by the International Code Council. The Fowler Award honors the memory of the first chairman of the ICC Board of Directors who led the charge to consolidate three regional model code organizations into one association. The award is presented to individuals whose contributions to the building safety industry advance the Code Council's goals to achieve a safer built environment. The recipient is a leader who demonstrates integrity, professionalism and compassion to further building safety. For the past 16 years, Jonathan C. Siu has been instrumental in the code development process. He has had considerable success in developing code changes and improving the code's consistency, clarity and effectiveness. Through 30 years of public service, Siu has been an exemplary public servant and has contributed countless hours working to improve the safety of the built environment both at a national and regional level. A lot can happen in 30 years. His interest in civil engineering may have been sparked by his father's profession as the city of Los Angeles' District Engineer, where he found himself involved with the aftermath of the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. Jon received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Structures and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering Structures, both from the University of California, Los Angeles. His first job out of college was working for Boeing on wing and fuselage components, and then he moved to a structural plan review position for the city of Seattle. Thirty years later, he still calls Seattle home. Siu's primary contributions and interests are in seismic design and safety, the challenges of existing buildings, and in other safety issues such as egress. His years of involvement in the seismic field just may be him following in his father's footsteps. Siu's dedicated efforts have been to improve the built environment by serving on committees, and developing and improving the International Building Code and the International Existing Building Code. Other involvements have been with:

ASCE's Seismic Task Committee ASCE 7 Main Committee and the General Requirements Task Committee Building Seismic Safety Council's Code Resource Support Committee Washington Association of Building Officials Structural Engineers Association of Washington

Currently, Siu is on the WAsafe steering committee, a coalition of WABO, SEAW, AIA, and ASCE with WA State Dept. of Health assistance. This organization is setting up a statewide registry and dispatch system for volunteer building evaluators after a natural disaster. For more than 20 years, Jon has been an active trainer for ATC-20 (Post-Earthquake Evaluation of Buildings), and served on the Building Seismic Safety Council's Code Resource Support Committee for over a decade. He was on the 2011 SEAW reconnaissance team to Japan, and later returned as a volunteer to help with recovery from the Tohoku earthquake. Siu's service to the ICC community started in the 1990s, beginning with more than five years on IBC Structural Code Development Committee, and two years on the General Design Code Development Committee. For at least four years, he served on, or chaired the IEBC Committee, and currently is on the Ad Hoc Structural Committee on Tall Wood Construction. In addition to his direct service in furthering ICC's goals, Siu has been a voting member for 16 years on ASCE's Seismic Task Committee and its Task 9 (Administrative and QA Provisions) Committee. He has also been a voting member of the ASCE 7 Main Committee and the General Requirements Task Committee for the past nine years. With over 30 years of dedication to his profession, his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Siu has received a number of "peak performer" awards given by the city of Seattle to employees to their coworkers, as well as thanks by grateful permit applicants. In addition, his public service has been recognized by several awards:

1997 — ICBO Board of Director's Award of Appreciation for contributions to development of the IBC through service on the Structural Technical Subcommittee Washington Association of Building Officials President's award for dedication to the ICC code development process 2001 — ASCE Honor Award for structural engineering excellence in the Nisqually Earthquake Response

"Service" should be Siu's middle name. Here is a list of some of the professional organizations and code-related activities that he has dedicated his time and efforts:

President, Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) (2014–present) Director, Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW), Seattle Chapter (2003–2005) Member of IBC Structural Code Development Committee (1996/1997–1998, 2012, 2016; Chair, 1999 & 2000) Member of ICC Code Technology Committee Balanced Fire Protection Features Study Group (2007–2009) Member of Building Seismic Safety Council Code Resource Support Committee (2011–present) Member of Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) Building Code Committee (2005–2010) Member of ICC Region II Code Development Committee (2014–present) Member of Building Seismic Safety Council's Code Research and Development Committee (1996/1997) Washington State Building Code Council (1991 & 1994)

"Tireless effort would be an understatement for the years of commitment Siu has bestowed on the Engineering and Building professions," commented International Code Council Board of Directors Immediate Past President Alex Olszowy. "His passion for the built community is to be commended, and we can all wish to aspire to your level of excellence."