Providence, RI
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Building 35
Scope/Solutions
The Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology Research is housed in Building 35 at the Veterans Administration’s Medical Center (VAMC) in Providence, Rhode Island. The VAMC undertook a project to expand the facility with a two-story addition plus a basement on the east side of the building, extending over a steep hill. SGH served as the structural engineer of record for the new addition, which houses laboratories, offices for staff and graduate students, conference areas, and space for storage and utilities.
SGH designed the steel-framed structure and its foundations to be structurally independent from the existing building, with a seismic separation joint to permit differential movements between the two structures. Highlights of our design include the following:
- Stepped foundation to accommodate the very steep slope and a walkout basement level on the east side
- Braced frames that and are exposed in certain areas of the new space and support the large cantilevering floor on the upper levels
- Upper levels cantilevering over the basement level to maximize the square footage of the addition, while keeping the building primarily supported at the top of the steep slope to minimize costs
Project Summary
2018
6M
90K
Key team members
