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STRUCTURAL |
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The R&C/WAI Joint Venture Team has familiarity with new and innovative systems that we incorporate into building structures when appropriate to reduce to effects of seismic forces. Following are a few relevant examples. Base Isolation: Rutherford & Chekene Unbonded Brace Frames (UBFs): R&C is a leader
in the field of unbonded braces with the use of buckling-restrained
brace frames. In the design of the Stanley Hall Replacement Laboratory
at UC Berkeley, the lateral system consists of steel buckling-restrained
braced frames (BRBFs) above grade, which transfer lateral forces
to concrete shear walls below grade to mitigate the effects of seismic
activity. R&C undertook project-specific subassemblage tests
necessary to comply with proposed provisions for the BRBF system.
Tests of this type had never before been performed anywhere, and
benefited the structural engineering community WAI has contributed greatly to the advancement of technology and provided new and innovative systems to reduce the effects of seismic events. The firm has developed advanced computer programs for nonlinear analysis of the seismic response of structures and their components. The availability of these techniques permits the rapid and reliable analysis required for seismic assessment of structures. They result in improved safety and, at the same time, lead to a reduction of construction cost. WAI is also leading the exploration of damping technology in the Northeast and has completed projects in which dampers have been used or are being considered to suppress earthquake-induced motions. Other innovation examples include composite materials used for both seismic and blast for which they wrote the section in ASCE pre-standard on the use of composite materials for seismic designs. High-Rises: WAI has designed many notable high rise buildings in the United States and abroad. An early milestone was the CBS Headquarters Building, the first reinforced high rise office building erected in New York. Also in the 1960s, a unique economical “flame shield” fireproofing system was developed for One Liberty Plaza. In the 1970s the firm designed several significant towers with dramatic geometric shapes, such as the Georgia Pacific Headquarters Building in Atlanta and the Solow Building on 57th Street in New York. Weidlinger Associates also designed the highest office building on the African continent at the Carlton Center Complex in South Africa and several corporate high rise buildings in Paris. In recent years high rise buildings are serving more complex functions,
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recently
completed the seismic isolation and damper retrofit of the Hearst
Memorial Mining Building, which is on the National Register of Historic
Places. R&C has also incorporated base isolation in the design
of new buildings such as Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville and
the New de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Due
to the importance of its deadlines, Pixar opted to use base isolation,
which allows the studio to resume operations within 48 hours of
a major seismic event. The de Young wanted to protect its valuable
art
collection in the event of an earthquake.
as a whole. The testing revealed the excellent performance of the
chosen unbonded braced frames under significant axial and flexural
strains.
Weidlinger Associates has designed towers that house hotels, apartment
buildings, laboratories, and hospitals. These include Leighton House
Residence Tower on 88th Street, the Marriott Marquis Hotel on 46th
Street, and Rockefeller Laboratory for Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center and Hospital. The firm continues to improve high rise
technology with each project, supporting architectural innovation
and excellence We work to accommodate long span needs for column
free auditoriums, atriums, and other public spaces. We capitalize
on new building materials for economy and flexibility, and we work
with other professionals to provide sophisticated internal building
systems.
