Correction: Vulnerable High-Rises June 14, 2018 New York Times article

Jul 06 2018 · 0 comments · NISHKIAN MENNINGER, Seismic ·0

The article titled “At Risk in a Big Quake: 39 of San Francisco’s Top High Rises” in The New York Times’ California Today section, June 14, 2018 edition by reporter Thomas Fuller, wrongly included the 100 Van Ness project as one of the high-rise buildings at risk in a big earthquake.

The subject building was formerly an office building before 100 Van Ness was converted into residential use in 2015. It is located in the Civic Center neighborhood near the San Francisco City Hall on Van Ness Avenue. The old building, completed in 1972, stands 415 feet (126.5 m) and has 29 floors of former office space that once housed the California State Automobile Association. The reconfiguration swapped an old precast-concrete wall system with a new unitized curtain wall and was structurally analyzed and tested to demonstrate conformance with the 2013 structural code. This adaptive-reuse project transformed the outdated office building into a 510,000-square-foot modern apartment high-rise offering 418 units and many indoor and outdoor amenities in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood.

This short video captures the transformation of this San Francisco icon: https://vimeo.com/111747765

Today, The New York Times set the record straight and published an update quoting Principal-in-Charge Kevin L. Menninger, S.E., and Marc Babsin, a principal at Emerald Fund, the building’s co-owner. In addition, Nishkian Menninger released the following official statement:

“The renovation project at 100 Van Ness, from 2013-2014, brought the 1974 structure into full compliance with the 2013 structural code. The renovation required non-linear dynamic analysis as well as physical testing to ensure the existing structure, which included pre-Northridge moment frames, would withstand the maximum credible earthquake without damage to the existing beam-to-column joints. The original precast-concrete cladding system and the 2 level mechanical penthouse including massive equipment were removed, which helped reduce the seismic weight by over 30%. The heavy precast concrete exterior walls were replaced with a significantly lighter, state-of-the-art glass curtain system. With the significant reduction in weight, the existing Welded Unreinforced Flange moment frame system was found, through extensive analysis and weld testing, to provide the structural performance to meet the 2013 code. The analysis and testing of the structure were reviewed by the City and County of San Francisco Department of Building Inspection and Professor Ted Zsutty PhD, an internationally recognized seismic engineering expert, who have both validated the integrity of this structure. This renovation received a Structural Engineers of California Excellence in Engineering award in 2016, as well as national recognition from Engineering News Record.”

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