Berkeley, CA

UC Berkeley | Li Ka-Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences

Scope

Structural Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering

Size

208,000 sf

Key Info

Green elements include: green roofs, operable windows, sunshades, enhanced natural lighting, and high volume fly ash/slag in the concrete

Special foundation designs to preserve historic trees

Awards

The 208,000 sf facility houses interdisciplinary programs in new fields of research on the molecular mechanisms of disease, with a focus on cancer, the brain, infectious agents and stem cell biology. The building also provides a brain imaging center with space for MRI and other imaging equipment, a teaching laboratory, a 300-seat auditorium, an 80-seat classroom, small conference rooms, interaction spaces, and a limited number of faculty and staff offices. The project is LEED Gold certified.R+C provided structural and geotechnical engineering services. The project utilized BIM and Buckling Restrained Braced Frames. Green elements include green roofs, operable windows, sunshades, enhanced natural lighting, high volume fly ash/slag in the concrete, special foundation designs to preserve historic trees Geotechnical solutions included development of criteria for differential soil retention behind basement walls, permanent drainage of groundwater, provisions for potential surcharge from a nearby structure and seismic tiedowns.

Category
Science | Technology

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.