The New Australian Embassy: From Concept to Construction
The new chancery building for the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC, is located on Scott Circle and replaces the existing building built in the 1970s. SGH was the structural engineer of record and provided facade consulting on this six-story, concrete-framed building featuring a custom glass and copper-clad facade that mimics the copper hues of the Australian landscape. In this webinar, we will discuss this project’s structural, security, and facade design from conceptual design through the end of construction.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the structural challenges involved in the project’s design, considering the constraints of using the existing building’s footprint and meeting security design requirements.
- Understand the design challenges of incorporating a custom facade system, including those associated with using copper on the building facade and considering its thermal performance.
- Understand the construction challenges of building the concrete superstructure, including foundation construction and trade coordination.
- Understand the procurement process for a custom facade system, including laboratory performance mockups, fabrication, installation, and field quality control.
Participants will earn 1 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the live 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
John Jackson applies his creative and technical skills to design and engineer innovative enclosure systems. With experience in diverse projects both domestically and abroad, he specializes in curtain walls, custom glazing systems, structural glass, and glass investigations. He has managed complex building enclosure design projects for governmental buildings, including the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC, and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Beyond his work in building enclosure design, John leads SGH’s Glass and Glazing Systems practice area. He is also an active member of ASTM International Subcommittee E06.52 – Glass Use in Buildings and frequently delivers lectures on building enclosure design.
Jeffrey Viano has broad consulting experience providing structural engineering services for a range of investigation, rehabilitation, and design projects. He possesses a keen understanding of the behavior of various construction materials, including concrete, steel, post-tensioned and prestressed concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed steel. He has managed structural engineering projects for highly sensitive government buildings, including the Embassies of Australia and the Republic of Belarus in Washington, DC. He is a member of the District of Columbia Construction Codes Coordinating Board and chairs its Structural Technical Advisory Group, and also contributes to the International Concrete Repair Institute’s Committee 330 – Strengthening and Stabilization.
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