These two large structures within the San Francisco Civic Center landscape combined the challenges of creating a design for a new, high seismic performance building while maintaining the historic fabric of an older building during its retrofit.
Customized Solution
- This massive two-building complex includes a new 850,000 s.f., 14-story office building, and the seismic rehabilitation and renovation of the adjacent 200,000 s.f., 7-story historic San Francisco State Supreme Court Building. Separated by a seismic joint, the two structures will act independently in an earthquake, minimizing damage to both.
- The new State Office Building employed the first use of welded connections in conjunction with 292 high-tech supplemental “passive dampers” which act as structural shock absorbers. This engineering advance was so ahead of its time that the analysis used to test the system was an innovation itself. The supplemental dampers reduce seismic accelerations by 50% and seismic deformations by 30%.
- This design/build project was implemented on a fast-paced schedule, and the project team worked closely with the participating consultants to facilitate the construction process.
Highlights
- General Contractor: Clark Construction Group; Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill/Page & Turnbull Architects
- Owner: State of California Department of General Services
- New State Office Building is welded steel moment framed with test-proven welded connections with supplemental “passive dampers.” State Supreme Court Building is steel framed masonry infill. The Earl Warren Supreme Court Building was retrofitted with shotcrete shear walls.
- Energy efficient design with large atria providing natural light and high efficiency electronic ballasts throughout the facility
Team
Allen Nudel
Director of Business Strategy
Mason Walters
Senior Principal