University Park North Seismic Upgrade

May 2007 to late summer 2008

This project includes the voluntary seismic strengthening of four (4) ten story occupied apartment buildings on the grounds of San Francisco State University. The work will be executed in two phases of two buildings each.

This project includes the voluntary seismic strengthening of four (4) ten story occupied apartment buildings on the grounds of San Francisco State University. The work will be executed in two phases of two buildings each. Generally, the work will include the following scope:

1. Installation of soil anchors
2. Structural infill at ground level building openings
3. Thickening of existing concrete wall elements to varying heights up to the top of the 5th floor
4. Installation of tie rods at floors 2 and 3
5. Repair and replacement of selected finishes at apartments affected by installation of tie rods
6. Renovation of 5 apartment(s) in each tower for ADA requirements

Work is now underway sandblasting the exteriors of 285/295 and 325/335 Buckingham Way to remove paint and prepare the surfaces for the thickening of concrete shear walls. This work is currently being performed on enclosed scaffolds in the central courtyards of the buildings, will eventually move to the ends of the buildings, and is extremely noisy. In addition, interior work is continuing in Buildings 8 and 9 to make 5 units in each building accessible, as well as preparation for the installation of steel tie rods on the second and third floors.

In March 2008, finishing and painting of the exterior shear walls for Phase I was completed.  The DYWIDAG rods were de-tensioned to allow repair of the cracks in the ‘dead-ends,’ a uniform bearing surface was constructed and the rods were re-tensioned.  Work on the interior units to be made accessible continued.   Scaffolding is being erected on the Phase II buildings and sandblasting has started on the ends of the buildings.

Construction will involve two phases:
Phase I: 285/295 and 325/335 Buckingham Way
Phase I: 225/235 and 255/265 Buckingham Way
Construction Impacts: Residents in units that are directly involved in the construction work will be moved to other units during each phase. Certain reserved parking spaces around each building will be relocated to other spaces/stalls during each phase of construction.