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SDCI Announces New Principal Engineer and New Building Official

Kai Ki Mow (left) and Ardel Jala (right)The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) is pleased to announce that we have hired Kai Ki Mow to take on the Principal Engineer role for the department. His primary role will be to provide technical leadership for engineering-related portions of Seattle’s building codes, as well as providing leadership for SDCI’s Emergency Response program. Mr. Mow brings to the position seven years of engineering plan review experience with the City of Bellevue and 13 years of engineering design experience prior to that. He is registered in Washington State as a Civil and Structural Engineer and in California as a Civil Engineer.

SDCI is also pleased to announce that we have promoted Ardel Jala to take on the Building Official role for the department. Her primary role will be to provide technical leadership for the portions of Seattle’s building codes not directly related to engineering. Ms. Jala has been with SDCI for nine years, most recently serving as one of SDCI’s Engineering and Technical Codes Managers, assisting the current Principal Engineer/Building Official in establishing policies related to enforcement of the Seattle construction codes. Before coming to SDCI, she spent over 15 years working in design and project management for local engineering firms. Ms. Jala is registered in Washington State as a Civil Engineer.

Both Ms. Jala and Mr. Mow are well-regarded in the industry, having demonstrated their technical skills, collaboration skills, and leadership qualities in their service on local and statewide professional association committees. SDCI expects they will enhance SDCI’s reputation as a leader in building code administration. They will assume their new positions on August 19, replacing Jonathan Siu. Mr. Siu will be retiring in October after 20 years of service as the Principal Engineer and Building Official, and a total of over 35 years of service to SDCI and Seattle.