Excellence in Engineering Award, 2006, Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC)
Once the tallest structure in the
city, the building was dwarfed by its neighbors by the start of the 21st
century. An addition was proposed, in part to justify the cost of restoring the
original façade which had been heavily damaged by installation of metal
over-cladding in the 1960s. The addition was designed as a modern,
architecturally quiet “new”, intended to complement the Romanesque Revival
“old,” which was uncovered and restored. The 12 additional stories were stepped
back from the original building’s street wall, acting as a sympathetic
subordinate element.
The original cast iron columns were strengthened with reinforced concrete jackets, and an entirely new foundation system was constructed, consisting of reinforced concrete underpinnings inserted below load bearing columns, arches, and walls following a sophisticated installation sequence.
The original cast iron columns were strengthened with reinforced concrete jackets, and an entirely new foundation system was constructed, consisting of reinforced concrete underpinnings inserted below load bearing columns, arches, and walls following a sophisticated installation sequence.