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BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION
REPORT
EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT
BUILDING

DEEPALI PATHAK
ROLL NO. : 25
SEC: A SEM: VII
BUILDING : LOS ANGELES CITY HALL

LOCATION : UNITED STATES


BUILDING TYPE : SKYSCRAPER
STRUCTURAL MATERIAL : STEEL
FOUNDATION SYSTEM : MAT FOUNDATION
ARCHITECTURAL STYE : ART DECO

The iconic building features a 452 feet (137.7 M)


high central tower rising from a two-story base,
flanked by wings to the north and south. The base
of the structure measures 250 feet (76.2 M) on the
east-west transverse axis, by 476 feet (145 M) on
the north-south longitudinal axis.
The original building was designed prior to the
enactment of explicit seismic design requirements
and therefore, was not specifically designed to
resist earthquake generated forces.
By the 21st century, hundreds of earthquakes had
shaken the building. While the buildings
foundation, footings, granite base, and structural
steel remained strong and intact, the unreinforced

masonry walls had suffered over time,


necessitating a seismic retrofit.
Large cracks in the masonry walls appeared at the
24th floor after the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake, the
1987 Whittier Earthquake and the 1994 Northridge
Earthquake.

A major renovation and seismic retrofit project was


undertaken from 1998-2001.
It included base isolation with supplemental
damping of the structure. In principle, seismic
isolation decouples the building from the
damaging effects of the ground motion, reducing
the energy transmitted to the super structure.
Viscous damping devices provide a mechanism
especially designed to dissipate energy. They are
installed in the base and top of the building that is
between 24th and 25th floor.

52 DAMPERS INSTALLED IN BASEMENT

416 high damping rubber bearings, 90 flat sliding


bearings and 52 viscous dampers 526 base
isolators were inserted into columns and under
walls of the building just below the existing
basement level and just above the existing
foundation system. which will allow the building to
move independently of the ground and to sustain
an 8.1 magnitude of earthquake.

SLIDER INSTALLED
BENEATH THE NORTH
STAIRWELL

DAMPER ON 26TH
FLOOR

Installation of the isolators required the


construction of a new basement-level structural
slab.
Additionally, reinforced concrete shear walls were
added to strengthen existing masonry walls and to
provide additional lateral strength necessary to
resist seismic forces in the super structure .

A four-foot-wide underground moat, hidden from


view, surrounds the perimeter of the building to
allow for movement during seismic events.

SLIDING BEARING

This approach was determined to be the most


effective strengthening scheme based on
performance and cost.
The hybrid damping system consisting of base
isolation and supplemental damping at the base
and top of the building has provided a level of life
safety and damage control that exceeds the level
provided by the conventional schemes.
Once completed, the renovation was nearly
invisible, allowing the historic building to retain its
identity and splendor.

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