Title: Principal
Company: ELT & Associates
Location: Santa Rosa, California, United States
E. Leroy Tolles, principal at ELT & Associates, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in structural engineering.
Dr. Tolles, a leader in structural engineering, has been a principal consultant at ELT & Associates, a firm established in 1984 that specializes in structural design and analysis of adobe, rammed earth, brick, and wood buildings. His firm is also well-versed in all areas of seismic testing of adobe construction.
Throughout his career, Dr. Tolles has become highly skilled in system design, seismic design of earthen and adobe buildings, and adequately investigating buildings for structural damage, primarily in California. Notably, earthen buildings are made primarily of soil since it has been widely available since prehistory. In contrast, adobe buildings are comprised of clay and straw baked into hard bricks or large stones cemented together with adobe.
Aside from his contributions to ELT & Associates, Dr. Tolles was a senior civil engineer at FTI Corporation in San Francisco from 1986 to 1995. He also worked as a civil engineer for Failure Analysis Associates in Palo Alto, California, between 1982 and 1985. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tolles garnered success and expertise as a structural designer at Tuan and Associates from 1980 to 1981 and William S. Kaplan Inc. between 1979 and 1981, both located in San Francisco.
Highly educated, Dr. Tolles studied at Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1977, a Master of Science in structural engineering in 1982 and a PhD in structural engineering in 1989. Additionally, he holds a credential as a registered professional engineer in California. Dr. Tolles was notably a collegiate wrestler who spent several years as his team’s co-captain. The sport taught him the importance of commitment and focus, which has resonated with him throughout his career.
Active in his professional community, Dr. Tolles has been affiliated with several industry-related organizations, including the Structural Engineers Association of California and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. He also engages in community initiatives and served on the Piedmont, California, school board for almost a decade.
As a seasoned researcher, Dr. Tolles has extensively studied various topics, including housing in developing countries and earthquake damage and investigations. He has also become a well-written writer, having contributed to The Getty Conservation Institute numerous times between 1991 and 2003. His most recent work was co-authored with E. Kimbro and William S. Ginell and titled “GCI Scientific Program Reports – Planning and Engineering Guidelines for the Seismic Retrofitting of Historic Adobe Structures.” The report was 210 pages long. Additionally, Dr. Tolles has hosted numerous workshops and was a principal conference organizer at various professional events.
Among many career accomplishments, Dr. Tolles devised a new approach to retrofitting or understanding how earthen buildings behave in earthquakes and how to make them safer. He also had the opportunity to spend 15 years on the Getty Seismic Adobe Project, beginning in 1991. The three-phase program was directed by the Getty Conservation Institute as a multi-year, multidisciplinary investigation of seismic retrofit strategies for historic adobe buildings that are both effective in protecting life safety and minimizing the impact on a building’s significant historic fabric.
Now preparing to retire, Dr. Tolles is winding down his daily responsibilities. He spends most of his time doing design work, structural calculations, and drawing preparation. He also occasionally spends time in the field inspecting properties. Grateful for his success and longevity in the field, Dr. Tolles is excited about the next phase of his life.
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