CASE STUDY: SEISMIC DESIGN

Location: Los Angeles
Architect: HOK
The Project: LA Emergency Operations Command Center

The LA Emergency Operations Command Center is a critical facility located in downtown Los Angeles. Housing the city’s fire department, police department, and emergency preparedness department, the 29,000-square-foot building is designed to withstand a magnitude 8.3 earthquake—a level of protection greater than that required by California’s Title 24.

Base isolation and friction pendulum technology help the Command Center achieve the distinction of being the most earthquake-proof building in Los Angeles. Construction Specialties (CS) designed seismic moat covers that allow for 27 inches of movement while leaving the surface free of gaps or openings. In order to maintain the project’s aesthetic, the covers were filled with concrete that blends well with surrounding finishes. CS worked closely with the architect early on in the design of the expansion joint covers to eliminate problems that may have occurred later in the project phase.

CASE STUDY: FIRE-RESISTIVE, BLAST-RATED GLASS

Location: West Coast
Architect: RLF/US Army Corps of Engineers
The Project: Army Hospital in the West Coast

The newly opened Army Hospital is designated as a critical facility. The DoD requires that such buildings remain operational during periods of national crisis and recognizes that they may be subject to a terrorist attack; consequently, the Army required that building elements meet certain standards of blast and fire resistive performance.

The project architects chose a high-performance, custom-engineered curtain wall for the Army Hospital. The curtain wall was to consist of a dramatic glass and framing system that spans 45 feet and cants out a few degrees. In addition, the curtain wall system needed to meet the standards of the DoD United Facilities Criteria UFC 4-010-01: Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings. Specifically, the laminated glass, framing members, and connections had to meet required blast ratings, and certain sections also had to meet a 2-hour ASTM E-119 fire-resistive rating (as per Section 1023.7 of the IBC). At the same time, the curtain wall system had to meet windload and thermal movement requirements and satisfy static and dynamic water testing and air infiltration testing.

The system that was manufactured consists of custom fire-resistive glazing with one tempered and laminated lite with a minimum interlayer of 0.030 inches, which can be engineered to meet all levels of blast protection. It is also available in standard and custom finishes, which range from high-performance fluoropolymer to anodized finishes to any species of wood veneer to ornamental metal. The stairwells and atriums, for example, incorporated a specialized, high-performance glazing and framing system that incorporated warm gray spandrel glass for a decorative effect.

“Recent advances in fire-resistive systems allow architects to test the limits of design,” says Tim Nass, vice president of national sales at SAFTI FIRST. “A myriad of new clear, wireless glass options that mimic the appearance of nonrated glass are not available—options that are flexible, durable, and capable of achieving the design community’s vision without sacrificing quality or performance.”

CASE STUDY: BLAST-RATED DOOR SYSTEMS

Location: West Point, New York
Architect: Clark Nexsen
The Project: Davis Barracks, United States Military Academy at West Point

The United States Military Academy at West Point is steeped in history. Founded in 1802, the entire central campus is a federally registered National Historic Landmark. The Davis Barracks were the first to be built in 30 years, on a restricted site surrounded by historic structures.

In addition to the historic requirements, any new structure built at West Point must also be built to exacting standards, protecting cadets and other military staff in the event of an attack. An industry-leading manufacturer of specialized doors and windows was contracted to design and fabricate the gothic-style entranceway for the new facility. The company’s experts were tasked with matching the craftsmanship with precise specifications to ensure the entrance doors met the stringent federal anti-terrorism/force protection (ATFP) blast criteria. The complex internal structure and blast frame had to be able to withstand significant blast loads, all the while maintaining the striking design envisioned by the architect.

The entranceway is 16 feet high and 17 feet wide. The sizeable frame was fabricated in two mirrored sections then shipped to site. There it was assembled according to the manufacturer’s meticulous instructions, which took into account both the integrity of the main door structure as well as the anchoring system into the structurally reinforced concrete wall.

In a project statement released by Clark Nexsen, architectural and engineering designer of record, the firm noted: “The door met the designer’s intent while simultaneously satisfying the government’s stringent anti-terrorism/force protection (ATFP) blast-resistance criteria.”

In 2017, the new Davis Barracks opened its doors to 650 cadets. Davis Barracks honors the Central Post’s designation as a National Historic Landmark while providing a modern, state-of-the-art building for Academy cadets.

CASE STUDY: FIRE-RATED ASSEMBLY WITH MINERAL FIBER INSULATION

Location: Portland, Oregon
Architect: SERA
The Project: Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building

Originally built in 1974, the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building houses more than 16 federal agencies and 1,200 federal employees. The building was renovated between 2009 and 2013 to become one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the country.

Key to the building’s energy performance are building envelope improvements, including a variety of high-performance insulation products that save energy, provide enhanced fire protection, and, because they are formaldehyde-free, improve indoor air quality at the same time. In addition to supplying topline materials, the manufacturer also reviewed drawings and provided engineering judgments.

“The introduction of the first North American formaldehyde-free mineral wool solutions represents a major building envelope innovation that allows architects to achieve multiple performance goals—energy performance, fire resistance, and indoor air quality—with one elegant product,” says Todd Fister, vice president for Owens Corning.

PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

Whether we are past the tipping point or not, many cities are grappling with the need to adapt to climate change, and some are actively planning for a future that may include rising sea levels, increased flooding or wildfire risk, and temperature extremes.

Adaptation and mitigation are terms being used more and more frequently to describe the position the building industry is taking toward climate change. Adaptation refers to strategies that protect buildings and occupants by reducing the vulnerability to climate-related hazards, such as sea level rise and extreme temperatures. Mitigation, in this context, refers to strategies aimed at reducing the rate of global climate change and/or the local extremes exacerbated by climate change. Redrawing floodmaps and restricting building in the newly defined floodplain is an example of adaptation; increasing the energy performance of a building’s envelope and specifying a green or cool roof are examples of mitigation.

Combining adaptation and mitigation in an integrated approach creates many co-benefits. Building with a super-insulated and airtight envelope also will be better at protecting building occupants from extreme temperatures.