How do you provide an earthquake safe design for a highly irregular building in a high seismic zone?

San Francisco State University, Mashouf Wellness Center

Forell | Elsesser provided structural engineering services for this new 118,000 s.f. recreation and wellness center. The center includes two gymnasiums, weight and fitness spaces, an elevated jogging track, an indoor natatorium, and spaces for students to socialize.

Customized Solution

The shape of the building plan is highly irregular with three distinct wings on three primary axes.
Because of this irregular shape, the building was designed for earthquakes in three directions.
Tall open spaces with large floor openings required a creative seismic system design using buckling restrained braced frames (BRBF’s) strategically located throughout the perimeter walls.
One important window wall was desired to be free of any lateral bracing, so a portion of the building is designed as a strong-back allowing the architects to achieve their vision.