Is Your Soft Story Building Safe? Here’s Why Retrofit Matters
- Isela
- Jun 19
- 1 min read
If your building in Los Angeles was constructed before 1970, there’s a good chance it could be a soft story structure—and that means it may be vulnerable in the event of an earthquake.
What Is a Soft Story Building?
A soft story building typically has large open spaces on the ground floor, such as parking garages or commercial storefronts, with residential or office units above. These open areas lack the structural reinforcement needed to support the upper levels during seismic activity.
Why Are Pre-1970 Buildings at Risk?
Before modern building codes were adopted in the 1970s, earthquake resilience wasn't a major design consideration in Southern California. As a result, many soft story buildings from that era were not built to withstand lateral shaking. Over the years, devastating earthquakes like the 1994 Northridge quake have exposed just how vulnerable these structures can be.
Retrofit Is Not Just a Recommendation—It's Essential
Retrofitting strengthens the weak first story with steel frames, shear walls, or moment-resisting systems, bringing the building up to modern seismic standards. In many areas of Los Angeles, soft story retrofit is now mandatory for older multi-unit dwellings.
How Sinai Construction Can Help
At Sinai Construction, we specialize in soft story retrofit solutions that are both code-compliant and cost-effective. With decades of experience serving Los Angeles property owners, our expert team ensures your building is fortified for safety and resilience.
Don’t wait until the next earthquake hits. Protect your investment and your tenants. Call Sinai Construction today at 323.655.0960 for a consultation.
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