Berkeley, CA

UC Berkeley | Units 1 and 2 Infill Housing

Scope

Sustainable

Structural (Design)

Geotechnical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Size

267,500 sf

Key Info

Rapid load test on prototype drilled piers

Awards

R+C was the structural and geotechnical engineer for the much-needed housing addition. The infill housing consists of three new mid-rise suite-style dormitory buildings that accommodate 884 beds. Each unit is 60,000 sf. A fourth, equal-sized building provides 40 apartments. Two dining facilities were demolished and landscaped central courtyards were built over 10,000 sf of renovated basement support areas. The project was designed to LEED Silver standards.Savings from the Ground UpGeotechnical services included directing the performance of a rapid load test (using PLT equipment) on prototype drilled piers to simulate their response under earthquake loading. R+C used the test results to develop criteria for drilled pier capacity and stiffnesses in collaboration with our structural engineers. The tests led to foundation cost savings in the hundred thousands

Category
Residential

Leavening peerless structural engineering skill with humor, philosophy, people skills and, above all, a consummate understanding of San Francisco's permitting process, [Alan] saw this project through.