The renovation of the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building, built in the Beaux-Art style in 1932, revolved chiefly around a seismic upgrade and repair to damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
The Building Team, headed by Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SE), decided that massive foundation hold-downs would be impractical: the terra cotta–clad, concrete infill walls of the steel-framed structure posed too many life safety hazards.
Instead, the team used a system of rocking concrete shear walls, which eliminated the need for deep foundations and reduced the shear force on each wall. To allow the walls to rock, 250 shear lugs constructed of steel pipe were cast into the new walls and grouted into a greased sleeve in the existing foundation.
The final design thickness of the walls was 10 inches. Analyses indicated wall uplift of about 0.5 inches at the ends under maximum considered earthquake shaking.
The building’s MEP, HVAC, and lighting systems were upgraded, as was the theatrical system in the Herbst Theater, a performing arts space in the memorial building.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Bronze Award Winner | San Francisco, Calif.
Building Team: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (submitting firm, SE, building enclosure manager); San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (owner); San Francisco Public Works (architect); Carey & Co. (historic architect); SJ Engineers (mechanical/plumbing); Glumac (electrical); Charles Pankow Builders (CM).
Details: 235,000 sf. Construction cost: $156 million. Construction time: July 2013 to October 2015. Delivery method: CM at risk.
Related Stories
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 16, 2015
Lumberyard turned into Chicago charter school
While the existing structures were in poor condition, the Building Team preserved and restored 75% of the spaces and incorporated historic elements in the final design of the Intrinsic School on Chicago's Northwest side.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 12, 2015
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School grows with the times
The 251-year-old NYC school was a design-build project that overcame issues like tight space and zoning appeals during its redevelopment.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 10, 2015
Restoration of the Whitney Building provides hope for Detroit
Four years ago, Whitney Partners purchased the 253,000-sf Whitney for $3.3 million. Their mission was to turn the 19-story structure into a mixed-use hotel, rental apartment, and retail center that would serve as a reminder of more prosperous times in Detroit’s past.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 9, 2015
University of Chicago uses space economically with Saieh Hall
The five-story, 100,000-sf seminary was converted into a modern education facility that would be fully integrated into the university’s Hyde Park campus. The project demonstrated the university’s commitment to finding a balance between new construction and adaptive reuse of historically significant buildings.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 9, 2015
King of kings: Classic brooklyn movie theater stages a return engagement
The theater, which withstood vacancy, neglect and vandalism, has been redeveloped with a goal: balance preservation with the creation of a modern performance space.