HUGH BROOKS, JR., S.E. 1926–2026
Hugh Brooks, Jr., S.E., a pioneering figure in structural engineering and tilt-up concrete construction, died peacefully on April 8, 2026, at his home in Newport Beach, California. He was 99.42 years old (engineering humor).
Hugh earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from USC in 1950 and passed the California Structural Engineering examination in 1957, the same year he founded Hugh Brooks Associates Structural Engineers. Over a 40-year career, he designed more than 3,000 commercial structures, with particular expertise in tilt-up construction, precast concrete systems, and parking structures.
Contributions to Tilt-Up Construction
Hugh was a founding member of the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) in 1986 and served on ACI Committee 551 (Tilt-Up Concrete Construction). His Tilt-Up Design & Construction Manual, first published in 1988, went through six editions and became the definitive reference for tilt-up design—what many called the "Bible" of the industry. The TCA acquired the manual in 2002, building subsequent editions on the foundation Hugh established. He received the TCA's highest honor, the Peter Courtois Memorial Award, in 1996.
Following the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, Hugh directly observed failures in wall-to-roof anchorage in older tilt-up structures, contributing to the corrective code changes of the 1970s that strengthened panel connections. His involvement with SEAOC and SEAOSC technical committees helped translate practical field observations into codified design improvements, particularly for slender wall provisions.
Publications
Hugh authored works that remain in active use today:
- Tilt-Up Design & Construction Manual (1988; six editions)
- Basics of Retaining Wall Design (1996; now in 11th edition), co-authored with John P. Nielsen beginning with the 9th edition
- Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary of Building & Construction Terms (Prentice-Hall, 1976), cited by the U.S. Court of Appeals as an authoritative source
- Encyclopedia of Building & Construction Terms (Prentice-Hall, 1980; updated 2017 edition with J.P. Anderson)
- Building & Construction Resource Directory (1992)
Software Development
Hugh developed RetainPro, one of the first widely-adopted retaining wall design software programs, in the mid-1990s. The software began as a companion tool to his retaining wall book and became an industry standard for preliminary design. All seven RetainPro earth-retention modules were eventually integrated into the ENERCALC Structural Engineering Library, developed by his son Michael Brooks, S.E.
Innovation
Beyond his consulting practice, Hugh was an inventor and systems innovator. He held U.S. Patent 3,082,887 for the "Marinalift" boat storage system (1963), an automated crane-based dry stack concept that presaged modern automated marina storage. In the early 1960s, he developed the "Flip-Slab" construction system for precasting roof deck panels on-site—an early experiment in hybrid precast/steel construction.
Awards and Recognition
- Peter Courtois Memorial Award, Tilt-Up Concrete Association (1996)
- Steve Barnes Award, Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (2015)
- Consulting member, ACI 551.2R-15: Design Guide for Tilt-Up Concrete Panels
Hugh was a frequent speaker at World of Concrete, TCA conferences, and SEAOSC seminars. He conducted tilt-up seminars in Anaheim, San Francisco, Portland, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and at Purdue University. To sharpen his presentation skills, he was a Toastmasters member for nearly a decade.
Personal
Hugh served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, training in radar and electronics before assignment to the USS Hancock. He was honorably discharged in 1946 as Electronics Technician 3rd Class.
He is survived by his son Michael Dyer Brooks, S.E., founder of ENERCALC; his brother John Dyer Brooks; his companion Marilyn Petrivich; and the many engineers whose practice was shaped by his writings, software, and mentorship. He was predeceased by his wife Becky Hall Brooks in 2020.
