Solution

The Epiphany

Palo Alto, CA

Service: Structural Rehabilitation
Market: Hospitality
Keywords: Concrete, Concrete-Post-tensioned, Seismic Engineering and Retrofit, Shear Wall, Structural Strengthening

Client

Joie de Vivre Hospitality

Completion

2013
The Epiphany Palo Alto, CA
The Epiphany Palo Alto, CA
The Epiphany Palo Alto, CA

The original Casa Olga building was an eight-story, reinforced concrete flat slab structure with reinforced masonry shear walls.  The building served as a convalescence home until new owners purchased the building in 2012 and decided to convert it into a boutique hotel.  SGH completed a seismic risk assessment of the existing structure and developed a retrofit program for The Epiphany.

 

Scope | Solutions

 

As a result of our seismic risk assessment, SGH identified conceptual upgrades that could reduce the seismic risk for the building. 

 

SGH performed a linear dynamic analysis to demonstrate a Life Safety performance level for the Design Earthquake per the requirements of ASCE 41.  We designed a seismic retrofit consisting of new concrete shear walls and shotcreting of select masonry walls.  As part of our retrofit plan, we also designed deep grade beams to strengthen the existing post-tensioned mat foundation.

 

SGH also designed structures for miscellaneous architectural elements, such as a reinforced concrete spiral staircase in the main lobby of the hotel and a cantilevered roof overhang.

Project Contact(s)

Anindya Dutta

John Sumnicht