PROJECT
interiors
Salesforce Tower needed a customized approach to perimeter fire containment. Thermafiber drew from a repository of test data dating back to the 1960s, as well as third-party and internal test data.
codes. The next challenge was testing the assembly in time to
ances such as the wider spandrel opening, curved curtainwall,
avoid any construction delays. The collaboration resulted in a
and the radius details at the corners of the building that present-
new system (CW-D-1037) that was tested and approved in less
ed special concerns when specifying the assembly. To address
than a year. Again, recycled content in the insulation contribut-
these conditions, Thermafiber drew from a repository of test data
ed points to help Park Tower at Transbay achieve pre-certified
dating back to the 1960s, as well as third party and internal test
LEED Gold.
data specific to the conditions. The evaluation was further supported by running a parallel engineering analysis with a third-
SALESFORCE TOWER
party engineering firm.
San Francisco’s tallest structure, Salesforce Tower, is also the
From a review perspective, Salesforce Tower’s perimeter
tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The building soars
fire-containment assembly system was supported by reviewed
to 1,070 ft., accommodating 61 floors and enclosing 1.4 million
drawings and engineering judgments provided by Thermafiber
sq. ft. The square geometry is offset by rounded corners com-
Insolutions. The recycled nature of these insulation products
posed of insulated glass panels, and the top third of the building
helped the building achieve outstanding floor-to-floor fire sepa-
tapers to a perforated-metal screen at the building’s pinnacle.
ration in compliance with building-code requirements while also
In addition to helping conceal mechanical equipment during
contributing to valuable LEED credits toward its Platinum
the day, at night the scrim provides a backdrop for illuminated
certification.
public art. As with 181 Fremont, design details required new ways of
22
COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE
ENGINEERING JUDGMENTS
thinking about the perimeter fire-containment system. While the
While every building has a number of unique nuances, some take-
rounded corners of Salesforce Tower contribute to the building’s
aways are clear when it comes to perimeter fire-containment barriers.
visual interest, team members found that no listed assembly met
Engineering judgments must be specific and represent conditions
the needs of the arced façade. Additional evaluation found vari-
unique to the building. The engineering judgment must address ev-
NOVEMBER 2018
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com
