Key Features:

• Steel Frame
• Blast-Resistant Reinforced Masonry Test Cells
• Seismic Design

This $7M facility consists of 23,000sf of testing laboratories and office space.  The project was heavily influenced by a very tight design and construction schedule.  Having a quality builder on board early in the design phase enabled us to streamline the design of this structure and work with the strengths of the builder to get the job completed on time.  The use of 3D construction documents greatly enhanced the communication between our office and the builder and directly contributed to the success of the project.

The primary structure is a conventional steel frame. Reinforced masonry walls support a heavily loaded cast-in-place concrete mezzanine.  The masonry walls are designed to contain blast pressures that can occur during testing operations; blast pressures are relieved via four unique shaft structures that direct blast discharge through the roof.  The entire structure was designed for the local snow and earthquake loads.

The owner was so pleased with our original services that he asked PESC to design two subsequent additions.