SDSE Structural Engineers

Because of the exposed structural elements and design challenges of the new estate called “Suncatch,” structural engineers at SDSE played a vital role in the finished appearance of this extraordinary residence. The home is notable not only for its size and expense, but also as a structural “wonder” for its exposed structural steel beams that appear to defy gravity as they reach to the sky and leave people wondering, “How did they do that?”

To elicit this response, the structural engineers assisted the project’s architect, Norm Applebaum, in going beyond his signature use of cantilevers (structural elements that are attached only at one end) to stretch the bounds of geometric form. The exposed structural steel beams are painted oxide red primer and in-filled with Douglas fir. The beam spans and cantilevers reach up to 80 feet and extend up to 85 feet beyond the exterior walls.

The home also features glass clerestory windows creating a visual affect of the roof floating above the structure. The tallest window panel reaches to 30 feet in height at the dominant main entry.

Norm Applebaum Architect, AIA, was the architect with Lang Contracting the general contractor.

Degenkolb Engineers

Degenkolb Engineers received a Merit Award for the retrofit of a Naval Training Building into High Tech Media Arts. Originally a communications training center for the Navy, the building was renovated to serve two entities, High Tech High and Explorer Elementary Charter School. High Tech High occupies the top two stories of the building with Explorer Elementary on the ground floor.

The existing structure had been built in 1957 utilizing concrete infill shear walls to resist earthquake forces. In order to create open floor plans with adaptable common spaces for the new school, select interior shear walls were removed and new shotcrete (sprayed-on concrete) shear walls were added around the exterior of the building and at discrete locations in the building interior. Degenkolb also developed a comprehensive destructive testing program to determine the structural properties of the existing concrete shear walls.

A new 10,000 square foot third story was added above the existing two-story structure. Engineers designed this top story to minimize its weight and lessen the impact on the existing structure below. An efficient structural steel frame with a metal deck roof was used to minimize the weight of the new story. At the entry, the structural engineers helped design a new monumental staircase and glass encased elevator tower as dramatic focal points.

Carrier Johnson was the architect, with Bycor General Contractors the general contractor.

SDSE and Degenkolb received their awards at the recent Annual Convention and Exhibit of the Structural Engineers Association of California. Winners were selected by a team of structural engineer judges as being projects demonstrating exceptional innovation and creativity in finding economic solutions to complex engineering problems.

Source : Business Wire