Engineering the WaaTeeKaa Historic Rail Car for a New Home
In celebration of Bechtel’s 125th anniversary, the historic WaaTeeKaa railcar was relocated from Northern California to the Bechtel headquarters in Reston, Virginia, as part of a new commemorative exhibit. For its new use, the building officials required upgrades to meet the modern building code, notably for the structure to resist building loads and the enclosure to meet the energy code. The railcar, measuring 52 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 14 feet high, features a wood-framed structure supported by its original trucks. The exhibit includes a concrete access platform with integrated stairs and ramps, sheltered by a cantilevered steel canopy with a 3,000 sq ft photovoltaic (PV) glass roof.
In this webinar, we will discuss this award-winning project and share how the team overcame several challenges. SGH provided structural engineering and building enclosure consulting alongside A2 Architects to evaluate and renovate the existing railcar and design the new steel and PV glass canopy and concrete access platform. We will also discuss design considerations for temporary works for the crane pick that allowed for the railcar’s remarkable flight into its final resting place.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify challenges associated with new energy code requirements when engaging in an adaptive reuse project.
- Recognize the importance of considering construction means and methods during the design process to provide constructable details and stay on schedule and budget.
- Evaluate factors affecting building enclosure performance when changing interior use or surrounding regional climate.
- Specify robust quality control mockups for the unique use of conventional materials.
Participants will earn 1 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the webinar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register.
About the Speaker
Christopher Brandmeier provides both building enclosure and structural design consulting services for a range of domestic and international projects. As a member of SGH’s Building Technology group, he focuses on the design and investigation of glazed enclosure systems. Christopher has broad experience in both new and rehabilitation design with various roofing and below-grade waterproofing systems.
Rachel is a member of SGH’s Structural New Design practice and serves as a liaison for multidisciplinary structures-enclosure teams that tackle integrated repairs and rehabilitation of historic buildings. She works on projects involving new structural design, building renovations, condition assessments, historic preservation, and investigation of existing buildings. Her experience includes all phases of structural design and construction administration.
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