I
t’s been a decade since a small group of New Zealanders landed in San Francisco with a vision to grow their structural engineering firm. Since that time,
Holmes Culley has expanded, completed some fantastic projects, and met some wonderful people. We can’t thank enough all those who have contributed to the development and evolution of Holmes Culley. The list includes past and present employees, our associates in New Zealand and Australia, and, most importantly, our colleagues and clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. So, where do we go from here? As for any good structural engineering design, we have a lot of ideas and a solid foundation. We are eager to tackle new projects and challenges that may come our way. We look forward to old relationships continuing to grow and new relationships being forged; and with that, to the ongoing dialogue of new ideas, different approaches, and lessons learned. It is this ongoing dialogue -with staff, partners, and colleagues that will allow the already rich fabric of Holmes Culley to continually evolve.
- Zander Sivyer
THE HOLMES CULLEY DIFFERENCE Holmes Culley brings a considered approach to each of our projects. All ideas are explored with keen curiosity and tempered pragmatism. We brainstorm and work together to find clever solutions, and we love the fact that our collaborative results are always greater than those any one person could have conceived. This approach produces innovative solutions and percolates into a broader collaboration with our colleagues and clients. We work hard for the developers, architects, institutions and owners who place their trust in us, always looking to see how we can best contribute to the vision and value of the building assets and the community spaces they are creating. We hope you enjoy the stories and projects contained in the following pages. Each one is unique, but collectively they represent the spirit of Holmes Culley.
Developer :: CREATE We create value through thoughtful structural engineering solutions.
With a visionary plan for what this site could become, Pacific Waterfront Partners, in partnership with the Port of San Francisco, undertook a complete redevelopment of the vacant and barricaded group of pier, wharf and building structures located in what is now a National Historic District.
From the onset, Holmes Culley’s team understood that the developer’s goals for the site were threefold: rehabilitate the dilapidated structures while preserving the historic fabric, create value through the addition of commercial space, and reconnect the public with the waterfront. The Holmes Culley team realized that a full seismic retrofit of the pier, wharf and building structures was needed, mixing new elements with the preserved structures. Using non-linear analysis and performance-based engineering to minimize the impact on the historic fabric, the team identified specific elements to strengthen. A non-historic building was demolished and the new structure braced adjoining existing structures, minimizing the intrusion on
the historic elements. An innovative design using yielding steel bracing units was developed to allow the existing structure to move within acceptable stress limits, and the capacity of the existing pier structure was enhanced by wrapping the tops of the existing piles with carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
Piers 1½ 3&5
Holmes Culley had an unwavering belief that the design recommendations were the right thing to do and, ultimately, the developer had faith in our vision. The finished development includes 60,000 square feet of Class A commercial office space; 17,000 square feet of retail space, restaurants, and cafes; water taxi services; recreational boating and fishing; and 40,000 square feet of public access to the waterfront. The site is 90 percent leased by tenants that include Bloomberg, Geolo Investments and Renaissance Technologies.
Client: Pacific Waterfront Partners and the Port of San Francisco
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Piers 1½, 3 & 5
Opposite page clockwise from left: Existing piles with carbon fiber applied for strengthening. Preservation of existing piles during construction. Piers under construction. Above: Pier 1½ during construction. www.holmesculley.com
Piers 1½, 3 & 5
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House of Air, opened in 2010 by two young entrepreneurs interested in action sports, is a trampoline facility that caters to the energetic and active population of San Francisco. The single-story, steel framed building is located at the western end of Crissy Field near the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge and within the Presidio of San Francisco, a national park. Inside the historic aircraft hanger, the facility includes more than 6,500 square feet of conjoined trampolines.
A large field trampoline for bouncing sits alongside a trampoline dodgeball court and three performance trampolines used for competitive jumping and ski, snowboard and wakeboard training. Flanking the trampoline area is 10,000 square feet of amenity space including two pavilions that house a cafÊ, meeting facilities, lockers and a lounge. The structure consists of a long span of steel-trussed roof supporting a concrete roof deck. Our client, the developer House of Air LLC, wanted to transform the old aircraft hangar into a seismically sound entertainment venue by rehabilitating the existing historic building. The building material and structure—lightweight steel with a heavy concrete roof—along with the code constraints
of the Presidio Trust made this extremely challenging. Working within these constraints, Holmes Culley collaborated with the client to design an economically viable retrofit solution that had minimal impact on the existing building.
House of Air
The developer had specific ceiling clearance requirements—an important design element for the purpose of competitive high jumping. The team was able to use the inherent strength of the building. This minimized costs by limiting both the removal of the historic fabric and the construction of new structural elements. A 3D analysis of the existing and retrofitted structure was developed to solve this project challenge, confirming that the new structural materials were compatible with the existing structure. In addition, Holmes Culley worked closely with the client to design all 42 trampolines, ensuring that they meet California building code and are structurally and seismically sound. One of the facility’s most intriguing design features is the cantilevered structural steel catwalk that ties in the architectural and structural design and provides elevated vantage points from which to observe the trampoline activity below. Since its grand opening in September 2010, the House of Air has had more than 90,000 customers, or “flyers.” The facility frequently sells out on weekends, averaging about 97 percent capacity.
Client: House of Air LLC www.holmesculley.com
House of Air
Above clockwise from left: View of moment frame bracing node. Truss strengthening elevation. Axonometric rendering. Opposite page: View of the catwalk.
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The Cathedral Building, with its churchlike spires and Gothic Revival style stands tall among the National Register Historic District in downtown Oakland. This landmark structure, designed by architect Benjamin Geer McDougall in 1914, is now owned by Brog Properties. Recently, with the help of Holmes Culley and architect Philip Banta & Associates, the building was converted into a mixed-use destination. In addition to office space, the renovated building features several full-floor Park Avenue-style luxury condos. Brog Properties struggled with the price tag of the initial proposed rehabilitation and was looking for a cost-effective solution to seismically retrofit this historic structure. That’s when Holmes Culley was brought on board. The challenge was to maintain the existing historic material with minimal additions, allowing for the fullest possible floor plate. Using the original drawings and material testing, the Holmes Culley team developed a 3D finite element computer model of the building. This performance-based engineering approach for modeling and evaluating
steel columns made it possible to accurately assess the building’s performance and the contribution of the existing structure as accurately as possible. To achieve this, the non-linear analysis included continuous updating of the columns’ yielding characteristics at any instant during the simulated earthquake. Detailed finite element modeling of the riveted “clip angle” beam-column connections allowed the response of these critical components to be represented in the full building model.
The Cathedral Building
The building had a “soft-story” condition between the first and second floors. This was mitigated by adding new perimeter reinforced concrete frames cast against the inside face of the existing frames and a pair of transverse steel eccentrically braced frames between the first and second floors. These additions to the structure allowed for seamless integration and little disruption to the historic fabric. Once the soft-story condition was addressed, updated modeling showed that the Cathedral Building would perform to the level required for an equivalent new building constructed on the site today. Holmes Culley was able to develop a design solution that gave consideration to the building’s historic value and allowed for the greatest possible square footage per floor. As a result, Brog Properties was able to bring new life to the historic high-rise. Client: Brog Properties www.holmesculley.com
The Cathedral Building
Above clockwise from left: Structural strengthening during construction. Finite element model of typical beam-column joint. Strengthening scheme model. Non-linear analysis model. Opposite page: 3D finite element computer model used to simulate building’s response to an earthquake.
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The HC Community LEAP SANDCASTLE CONTEST
We believe in the power of imagination and creativity. Through our involvement in community programs for youth, we are able to support and encourage the next generation of problem solvers.
Leap is a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit organization that brings artists and architects into elementary and middle school classrooms. The organization’s annual Sandcastle Contest is a spirited competition between teams of architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations and elementary school students to craft the most impressive creations of the imagination. The event, a major fundraiser for the organization, is held at Ocean Beach each October. With the proceeds from team fundraising, Leap serves more than 6,500 students in more than 25 schools with hands-on, innovative programs in art and architecture. For the 27th annual competition, Holmes Culley teamed with The Design Partnership, TCB Builders, and Cammisa & Wipf. The team’s unique sandcastle design received the awards for Most Artistic and Best Water Delivery. But more importantly, the team had a great time raising money for a worthy cause.
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Architect :: DESIGN We collaborate with talented designers to turn architectural vision into reality.
Rendering courtesy of STUDIOS Architecture
The right design partnership can spark true creative chemistry. After the first design of the University of California– Merced’s new addition to the School of Social Sciences and Management proved too costly, the University decided to change teams. Holmes Culley and STUDIOS Architecture accepted the challenge to create a signature building that wouldn’t break the bank.
The STUDIOS’ design replaced the original concept of an “L”-shaped structure with a more economical square form. The new design adds a light-filled atrium to the features of the addition, which includes classroom, lecture and laboratory spaces. The new design corresponds to the Central Valley’s strong agrarian and industrial context while incorporating materials that will allow the building to achieve LEED Gold certification. To eliminate costly finishes, Holmes Culley and STUDIOS collaborated to create a design that would use the structural frame as an aesthetic architectural finish. Exposed concrete made from recycled material, including fly ash, was selected as the structural frame. This choice added to the sustainable elements and reduced construction costs.
An interesting design element within the building’s large atrium is the Scholarly Activity Structure, also known as “The Rock,” a two-story substructure intended for student lounge space. The challenge for the Holmes Culley design team was how to frame this irregular structure. After developing a 3D reference model, the team devised a solution that would account for tolerance in the fieldformed skeleton using appropriate materials. The funky shape was accommodated by a frame made of structural tube steel with connections that provided flexibility during construction. This project is on a fast-track schedule to meet semester start dates and funding deadlines. As part of this intense schedule, the Holmes Culley/STUDIOS team completed design of the core project and proceeded to construction while simultaneously finishing the design of the secondary structures. This seamless transition into the construction schedule took exceptional teamwork.
Client: STUDIOS Architecture
UC Merced Social Sciences & Management Building
UC Merced, Social Sciences & Management Building
Above clockwise from top: On site testing with the team. Construction of the connecting stair. Concrete structure, Interior space under construction. Opposite Page: Construction of the Scholarly Activity Space.
UC Merced, Social Sciences & Management Building
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Bulgari is known the world over for its fine jewelry, watches, handbags and accessories. Before the Italian luxury brand could open the doors to its new San Francisco boutique, the space it selected needed to be transformed into something more reflective of the Bulgari brand.
BVLGARI The existing retail space, located in a 1986 concrete building in Union Square, was a confusing maze of stairs and ramps in three split levels. Working closely with architects from Italy and the United States, Holmes Culley conducted an extensive structural analysis. Ideas began to flow and an architectural vision came together. Now, the three-story atrium is accentuated by a glass elevator, three separate glass staircases, and an architecturally exposed horizontal truss. Holmes Culley and the architectural team developed a construction sequence that carefully planned and timed the removal of large portions of the existing base building fabric without compromising the integrity of the lateral load resisting system. This successful construction phasing also allowed the upper floors and adjacent tenants to remain during construction—a rare feat for a project of this size and magnitude. Every element of the boutique—from the building’s skeleton to the glass cladding around the elevator— was engineered to reflect the eye-catching elegance of the Bulgari brand. The horizontal truss was essential to maintaining the connectivity between the existing third floor diaphragm and the perimeter frame to create the atrium/mezzanine. The resulting space leaves visitors feeling as if they have stepped into an artfully crafted jewelry box. Client: Studio Sclavi and Brand Allen Architects
Bvlgari
Opposite page clockwise from left: Demolition of existing floors. Horizontal truss during construction. 3D model of horizontal truss. Above: Computer model of building structure. www.holmesculley.com
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Bridging the gap between inspiration and reality, the design of the new Modesto Commerce Bank enables the architect’s vision of a modern facility for an institution rooted in the history and landscape of the Central Valley. From the project’s inception, Holmes Culley worked closely with Mark Horton Architecture to integrate structure and architecture into one cohesive entity
and produce a structure that is not only efficient and functional but also symbolically reflects its use and location. Sited at the edge of an expanding new community, this 6,650 square foot, one-story structure features a large folded roof, including exterior canopies, supported on an irregular column grid. Throughout the enclosed and open spaces, the roof remains its own sculptural feature. The roof consists of large area plates connected through various sloped ridges and valleys, giving the look of a crumpled dollar bill. The supports of the roof are irregular, further emphasizing the layout of the distinctive roof structure.
The architect had imagined not only a unique folded roof structure, but uncommon roof supports as well. Holmes Culley developed a 3D structural analysis model to evaluate and optimize the roof framing, consisting of large spans and a series of cantilevered steel beams. Steel beams were used in place of other materials because they could best match the various roof slopes desired by the architect, while still sufficiently supporting the high design demands from the large spans and cantilevers.
Modesto Commerce Bank
To represent the almond orchards that are common to the area, the building’s columns consist of a large “trunk” base and smaller “branches” above to support the roof. The 3D analysis helped achieve the architect’s goal of minimizing the column locations and maintaining the irregular placement without impacting the building’s functionality. Additionally, architecturally exposed steel moment frames are integrated into the bank’s open store front and the “tree” columns are used as the lateral-force resisting system at the canopies. The tree columns not only transfer seismic load, but also support the vertical gravity load of the roof through 3D column space-joint trusses into the larger trunk base.
Client: Mark Horton Architecture www.holmesculley.com
Modesto Commerce Bank
Above clockwise from top: 3D model of roof. Steel beams supporting various roof slopes. Detail of completed roof. Detail of cantilevered steel beams. Opposite Page: Roof structure during construction.
Modesto Commerce Bank
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The HC Community
EARTHQUAKE RECONNAISSANCE CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Family members often rally in times of crisis. As a subsidiary of New Zealand-based Holmes Group Limited, the Holmes Culley community extends far beyond the boundaries of the California Bay Area. On September 4, 2010, and February 22, 2011, powerful earthquakes rocked Christchurch, New Zealand. Buildings collapsed and more than 100,000 homes were badly damaged. Holmes’ engineers in New Zealand provided urban search and rescue assistance immediately after the event. Half a world away, Holmes Culley quickly lent a hand sending engineers Janey Chan and Paul Roberts in 2010 and Mollye Mikula in 2011. Each assisted with structural assessments and retrofit designs. Two of the numerous buildings assessed were St. Peter’s Church and St. Andrew’s College. The brick and stone “heritage” structure of St. Peter’s Church was badly damaged. The repairs were complicated due to the building’s historic fabric and restrictions against building alterations. In addition, the team had to act quickly
because the church’s head priest wanted the building ready for holiday services. The solution connected damaged walls back to the steel framing by inserting steel rods, which had minimal affect on the building’s historic fabric. At St. Andrew’s College, near the heart of Christchurch, the focus was on the Stroan House, a faculty building where the chimney collapsed and the roof was badly damaged. The wood structure was quickly repaired to a functioning level so building operations could resume. The assessments and retrofit designs provided by Holmes Culley’s engineers helped to get many of the community’s buildings back to a usable state so that residents could return to their normal activities. Paul, Janey and Mollye were grateful for the opportunity to help Christchurch and its residents during their time of need.
Action philanthropy photo HERE
We want to learn from our international community so we can continue to build the knowledge base in the Bay Area, a hotbed of engineering.
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Institution :: STEWARD We help create new facilities to provide public services and protect our existing assets.
Pier 35 is the port of call for many visitors to San Francisco. Its waterlogged legs have been standing firm in San Francisco Bay for almost 100 years, while its deck has shouldered countless tourists eager for adventure. But time does take its toll.
Wanting to continue its use as a cruise ship terminal, the Port of San Francisco (POSF) hired Holmes Culley to evaluate and rehabilitate Pier 35’s substructure and superstructure. To address the POSF’s goals of immediate repair and long-term use, Holmes Culley needed to develop an understanding of the pier’s existing condition. The next step was to work with the POSF to find a confluence of budget and rehabilitation objectives. Holmes Culley engineers performed a detailed evaluation of the pier, which included strategic and detailed visual inspection and materials testing of the substructure and the superstructure.
The Holmes Culley team developed a sophisticated survey methodology that allowed for the effective inspection and cataloguing of all 4,000 elements of the pier’s wooden roof trusses and numerous elements that constitute the concrete substructure. The findings were summarized in a report compiled for the POSF. This report extensively detailed existing conditions along with various rehabilitation options that aligned with budgetary goals and code requirements. More extensive, and expensive, measures were also submitted for consideration. In addition, the report included a comprehensive performance-based evaluation of the existing shed structure’s gravity and the lateral load resisting capacity. Design concepts illustrating repair options, loads and seismic strengthening, as well as cost estimates, completed the report. The conditions survey was imperative to the success of the project and formed the basis for decision making for the remaining phases of the project. The final Pier 35 report is being used by the POSF for future maintenance and repair budgets.
Client: Port of San Francisco
Pier 35
Pier 35
Diagram / Rendering / Sketch goes HERE
Opposite page clockwise from left: Pier 35 piles. superstructure. View of pier’s wooden roof trusses. Above: Pier 35 retrofit concept.
Existing
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For more than 200 years, the Presidio has stood guard at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, ever diligent, ever watchful. In 1994, the U.S. military relieved the historic landmark of its duty and handed it over to the National Park Service. Since that time, Holmes Culley has answered the call of the Presidio Trust and developers by providing seismic evaluations and rehabilitation plans for its buildings.
Recently, Holmes Culley conducted an in-depth life safety analysis of the core and shell for buildings 101 and 103. Paramount to the Presidio Trust’s goals was to preserve the historic fabric of both structures. Keeping within a strict budget and ensuring minimal impact to the historic fabric of the building, Holmes Culley developed a restoration solution that successfully met the Presidio Trust’s goals. Using performance-based engineering, it was determined that an application of glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) would provide the necessary stabilization of the existing unreinforced brick masonry walls. The solution captured the inherent strength of the
existing building fabric as well as the energy dissipation associated with the flexible wood diaphragms. FRP is lightweight and has far less visual impact than conventional materials. The solution also reduced removal and reinstatement of both original structural elements and historic plaster finishes. The design methods met the intent of the USGBC’s LEED innovation credit through what was not built. We reduced the embodied energy of construction materials by 25 percent through the retention of original materials. By using alternate materials and innovative engineering techniques, the design team demonstrated that the existing historic structure was able to meet the required performance criteria with minimal strengthening. Performance-based engineering demonstrated that Holmes Culley’s design solution achieved a performance commonly deemed equivalent to that required for new buildings.
Client: The Presidio Trust
Presidio Buildings 101 & 103
Presidio Buildings 101 & 103
Above clockwise from top: Diagram of FRP solution. Interior space during construction. Project Manager Geoff Sharp on site. The team discussing building rehabilitation details. Opposite Page: View of FRP after application.
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Rendering courtesy of GSBS Architects
In 2009, the voters of Salt Lake City, Utah, overwhelmingly approved a general obligation bond to design a new Public Safety Building and Emergency Operation Center. The new emergency operations hub will house essential emergency services for Salt Lake City, including police, fire and emergency response call centers. The City of Salt Lake, a risk-averse and well-informed client, envisions an enduring facility that is both open and welcoming for the everyday work processes of the vibrant downtown businesses yet sturdy enough to remain fully operational after a catastrophic event.
Holmes Culley, in association with Dunn Associates, was selected as the structural engineers. Responsible for the seismic structural design, the Holmes Culley team is tasked with making sure the building can be fully operational as the emergency center should an earthquake hit. From the project’s outset, the client realized a conventional design that conformed to the minimum prescriptive building code requirements would not provide the performance needed to withstand the Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE), an earthquake with a return period of 2,500 years. The City expected a facility that would remain operational for this level of shaking; one that is better than the life safety objective mandated by the Code. Performance-based engineering provided the approach and tools necessary to develop and test structural solutions that would help meet these expectations. This was achieved by exploring a number of different
protective seismic systems that gave consideration to other project criteria, including progressive collapse/blast resistance and “net-zero” energy targets. The specific systems tested include base isolation, damped steel and concrete moment frames, and dual-systems incorporating rocking shear walls with perimeter moment frames. Base isolation was found to provide superior performance, ensuring the best probability that the building would remain fully operational following the MCE. The damped steel moment frame was the second best performer, but was also far more adaptable to the architectural program, which sought to balance the needs of an emergency services center with an open and inviting environment. Given these constraints and the project budget, the damped steel moment frame system was selected. Using performance-based engineering, the Holmes Culley team quantified the relative performance of the systems studied and outlined a comparison with a “conventional code conforming design” in terms of anticipated structural damage, non-structural damage, and likely repair costs and downtime following the MCE. The new building, due to be completed in Spring 2013, will encompass 313,662 total square feet of emergency response facilities and is sure to endure the test of time.
Client: City of Salt Lake
Public Safety Building
Public Safety Building
Figure 8-1 First Mode (T = 0.67s)
Figure 8-1 First Mode (T = 0.67s)
Rendering courtesy of GSBS Architects
Opposite page: Photos of viscous dampers used as one of the PBE solutions. 3D Model used to test building performance. Above: Interior rendering of lobby space. www.holmesculley.com
The HC Community HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
We support our employees in their individual contributions to making our community a better and safer place to live.
Recently, Holmes Culley Project Engineers Paul Littler and Paul Roberts lent their expertise to Habitat for Humanity to help build two new homes on a corner block in San Francisco. Habitat for Humanity is world renowned for engaging people from diverse backgrounds to help build affordable housing for families in need. The nonprofit organization has built more than 400,000 homes and served the needs of more than two million people worldwide. Litller and Roberts tasks included digging a foundation for a CMU retaining wall and placing “L� shaped reinforcement bars in the footing prior to the placement of concrete. They interpreted how the drawings would be constructed and could see how a minor footing dimension change on paper could mean hours of extra work on the site. Littler and Roberts believe their Habitat for Humanity experience has helped them be better engineers.
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Building Owner :: INVEST Each project is unique and we understand the risk and reward desired by individuals with the purchase or creation of a new asset.
Located atop Pacific Heights, this residence provides stunning views of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge from each of its five floors. The client and building owner, approached Holmes Culley and architecture firm Doane+Doane to renovate their home and create a space that echoed their vision of luxury.
Design and environmental integrity were of the utmost importance to the client and their goal was to create a spa / retreat-like space that exceeded the standards for LEED Platinum certification. Holmes Culley worked closely with the design team, maintaining constant communication, to ensure these goals are fulfilled. Residential projects are unique and we understand our structural solutions must achieve and sustain individual design objectives. This client had a vision of gorgeous views and open floor plans. Typically moment steel frames provide these open spaces, but carry an expensive price tag in the construction process. As part of the collaborative design process and the level of quality service that distinguishes Holmes Culley, alternate structural options were developed early in the
process that would achieve the same aesthetic. Holmes Culley worked to engineer the value into the structure, developing smarter solutions that saved time and money during the construction process. As part of the environmental integrity initiative sought after by the client, Holmes Culley was able to reuse and incorporate the existing framing and subfloors without compromising the architectural layout, fabric and seismic safety of the structure. The developed structural design minimized the amount of new structural elements needed to allow for the open floor plans and facades and incorporated materials like “green concrete� to further contribute to the LEED platinum initiative. In addition, this residence boasts rainwater harvesting, solar power and Energy Star appliances. The final design allowed for the intended sustainability and sophisticated luxury the client envisioned. With four fireplaces, an outdoor movie theater, a garden fire pit, an elevator, a wine cellar, a steam room, two bars, three terraces, and a landscaped garden and deck, this building was renovated into the client’s dream home, an oasis in the center of the big city.
Client: Home owner
2342 Broadway Street
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Standing 15 stories tall through two major earthquakes, San Francisco’s historic Merchants Exchange Building seems impervious to the test of time. But can it withstand another major earthquake? That was the question posed to Holmes Culley. The structure, built in 1903, comprises brick walls, a steel frame and concrete floors. In the mid-90s, Clint Reilly bought this vintage building with a gut feeling that the building was seismically safe and durable. He contacted Holmes Culley to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if his instinct was correct. Mr. Reilly was an engaged client, wanting to learn the process and each step Holmes Culley took in assessing the building. The Holmes Culley team first needed to discover how the building was built. They needed the original drawings. After searching through dozens of old boxes in the building’s basement, they found what they were looking for stashed away in a corner.
The next step was to investigate the structure and complete materials testing. After discussing building analysis options, Mr. Reilly agreed with the recommendation to move forward using performance-based engineering. This process involved modeling the building’s response to past earthquakes and using that model to predict its future performance. Finally, Holmes Culley performed a loss modeling exercise. The analysis provided options for future damage and specifics on replacement materials and cost. The analysis concluded that the building has a very high level of earthquake resistance for a structure of this vintage. A large factor in this resistance is the presence of concrete floors and a steel frame to support vertical gravity loads. All of the information pointed in one direction for the client: The Merchants Exchange Building was indeed a very wise investment.
Client: Clinton Reilly Holdings
Merchants Exchange Building
Merchants Exchange Building
Above: Photos of the original building drawings from the early 1900s. Opposite page: 3D model used for the PBE process.
Merchants Exchange Building
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The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club is a designated historic landmark, registered as the County of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark No. 43. The Scandinavian Modern style building was designed by architect Gardner A. Dailey as a two-story, wood-framed structure with a lighthouse tower set atop Butterfly Beach. Known as the “Gem of the Pacific,” its international style influences are seen in the crisp minimal detailing and sweeping horizontal lines, much like a luxury steam liner.
After the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club was built in 1937, it was known to be a playground for Hollywood stars and the Montecito elite. Over the years, various modifications and additions altered or hid the original historic elements of the design. The historic rehabilitation utilized the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation as the guiding reference. The facilities were required to remain operational during the design process, allowing the Holmes Culley team only minimal investigations of the existing buildings. The initial phase of construction involved peeling back the structure, much like layers of an onion, to reveal what lay beneath.
After a determination of the historic merit of the underlying fabric and structure was made, the design was modified to reflect the findings. Collaborating with historic preservation architect Architectural Resources Group throughout this project, the Holmes Culley team continually developed methods to preserve and salvage existing structural framing and interior and exterior finishes. The design was fluid throughout the entire construction process, and the design team remained flexible and responded to the existing conditions. The rehabilitated Coral Casino is a 62,500 square foot facility that offers an Olympic size pool, large poolside decks, private cabanas, rooftop sunbathing decks, fitness facilities, a lounge, and restaurant amenities. The restoration realizes the owner’s desire to bring glamour back to the ocean side club and uncovers the vision and principles set by Dailey while still meeting the California Building Code’s seismic safety standards.
Client: Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts
Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club
Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club
Opposite page clockwise from left: Restoration of the historic lighthouse tower. Original mural fully preserved. Facility site plan. Above: Construction photo of building addition. www.holmesculley.com
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The HC Community BUILD SF
We are passionate about what we do. Mentoring provides an opportunity to encourage young adults interested in pursuing a career in the A/E/C industry.
Holmes Culley is an active participant in Build San Francisco, a half-day high school program for students interested in design, construction, engineering and architecture. Created by the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (AFSF), Build SF is a unique educational partnership, involving AFSF, the San Francisco Unified School District and more than two dozen San Francisco A/E firms. The program combines a rigorous academic curriculum with mentorships in the partner firms, so that students not only gain knowledge, but also have the immediate experience of applying that knowledge in a real-world setting. Each semester Holmes Culley welcomes a new student who is eager to learn the everyday skills our engineers practice. For two afternoons a week, interns work oneon-one with our project managers, project engineers and Revit specialists. During this time, students learn the processes and technology involved in structural engineering. Participants earn up to 15 units of high school credit for the semester, and all credits earned are approved by the University of California for college admission.
Dear Mentors from Holmes Culley, I’m writing this letter to say thank you for the amazing opportunity that you gave me by allowing me to intern at Holmes Culley. It was the first time I had experience being inside a structural engineering firm in San Francisco. I had always wanted to meet an engineer who was working in the construction field, but I never expected to meet a group of talented engineers/graphic designers/structural engineers working together with me. During the time I was at Holmes Culley, meeting new people or working on projects with the mentors I was assigned, I always learned something new about the field of engineering. For instance, I learned how to use Excel to input data and how to analyze it, use Google Sketch up, and be able to read blue prints. Even though, they are simple skills, I can use it in the major of architecture, while I’m in college. The time I spent at Holmes Culley was exciting. I was greeted by someone each day and I felt welcome. I am honest to say, I want more time to be able to work on more small projects that deal with structural engineering and go on site to see some projects that my mentors were working with. Unfortunately, I was not accepted to Columbia University for architecture for my early acceptance, but when I read the thank you letter that everyone wrote inside saying something supportive and kind, I felt appreciated. From this experience, I learned that I did not have to go to a famous school to become a good architect. I have decided to go a college where I’ll be accepted for who I am. I will use the skills I learned at Holmes Culley and apply it to my future projects in school and in college. Lastly, when I graduate from my high school, I want to go back and visit everyone in Holmes Culley before I head to college. Once again, I would like to thank you for this wonderful opportunity that you have given me as a high school student, and I will not forget it for my rest of my life. Sincerely, Danny Carreto
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THE HOLMES GROUP OF COMPANIES
San Francisco
Auckland Hamilton
Wellington
Sydney
Christchurch Queenstown
Holmes Group international office locations
CONTRIBUTORS Thank you to our contributors. Design :: Emily Chapman Maestas Copy Consultant :: Michell Bolack Photography :: Blake Marvin Architectural Renderings :: STUDIOS Architecture (UC Merced, Social Sciences & Management Building)
GSBS Architects (Public Safety Building)
Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l Mollye Mikula l Nenette Stegmann l Nina Mahjoub l Paul Littler l Paul Roberts l Philbert Reyes l Rose Phung l Staci Chase l Vlad Altman l Zander Sivyer l Ben Au l Bill Gordon l Bill Tremayne l Bryan Frank l Dan Bech l Danny Polivka l Denny Kwan l Dick Dreyer l Emily Maestas l Geoff Sharp l Janey Chan l John Bansuelo l John Hare l Michael Fahie l
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