Glass guardrails at roof terraces and balconies have a safety function while not obscuring views that are desirable for high rise towers. Frequently loading on the guardrails is governed by wind loads rather than the code requirements for a building occupant leaning on the guardrail. In order to resist these loads without posts, a base connection that transmits loads to the structure and minimizes rotation is required. Frequently these critical connections are subject to installation and durability issues. This presentation…

This program will showcase the Rainier Square development in Seattle, which includes a 1.4 million square-foot, 58-story, 850-foot tall mixed-use tower. Bracing this tower against wind and seismic demands is a new structural system; a non-proprietary Concrete-Filled, Composite Plate Shear Wall (CF-CPSW) system, or as dubbed by AISC – Speed Core. The innovative structure that features a lateral bracing system utilizing a sandwich of steel-plate panels tied together with steel rods and field-filled with concrete will be explained. Unlike a…

Owners and designers often want to upgrade an historic building’s energy performance, but can struggle with what are the best choices with regards to invasiveness, long term performance, payback, etc. Using common examples, this presentation examines the impact and effectiveness of a variety of upgrades. Relatively simple interventions, such as installing window weatherstripping and sealing other air leakage paths, or expanding mechanical systems’ setpoints, can reduce energy consumption with little building fabric impact. Other more extensive interventions, such as retrofitting…