Seismic retrofit and structural strengthening across Southern California

Why retrofit work is different

New construction is a known quantity. Retrofit is not. The as built drawings, if they exist, are often incomplete or inaccurate. Existing member sizes, connection details, reinforcing locations and material grades have to be verified in the field. Access is limited, the building is frequently occupied, and every attachment has to work with whatever is actually there.

That reality is why retrofit work rewards experience. We have been doing this in San Diego County for close to three decades, and most of what we do on these projects is anticipate the conditions that are not on the drawings.

Soft story and open front buildings

Buildings with tuck under parking, large storefront openings or otherwise weak first stories are a well documented vulnerability. Strengthening typically involves adding moment frames or braced frames at the deficient level, upgrading the connections that transfer force into them, and improving the foundation to accept the new loads.

This work almost always happens beneath occupied units or an operating business. We plan the sequence, temporary support, parking access and noise windows with the owner before mobilizing.

Strengthening existing structures

Beyond soft story work, we perform column and beam reinforcement, connection upgrades, new braced and moment frame installation, collector and drag strut additions, diaphragm connection improvements, wall anchorage upgrades for concrete and masonry buildings, and foundation anchorage strengthening.

We work from the retrofit engineer's design, verify the existing conditions the design assumed, and raise discrepancies immediately rather than building over them.