Saiful Bouquet provided complete structural engineering services for the renovation and alterations of the existing 140,000 sq. ft historic Petersen Automotive Museum on Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile, including strengthening the existing structure to support architectural ribbon features supported on structural steel outriggers. The long ribbons of stainless steel wrap around the north, east, and west facades of the redesigned building, imposing large localized forces on the existing concrete structure.
The structural work included seismic strengthening of the existing museum building and parking structure, justification of partial demolition, and strengthening of columns, shear walls, and pile foundations as required to safely support the new structures. A new, larger car elevator and central spiral stairs were also added.
The building had been seismically strengthened in 1994. However, additional seismic strengthening was required based on the museum occupancy and the investment in renovations. Localized strengthening was required to compensate for new wall openings. In its existing condition, the seismic system consisted of concrete shear walls at the north side, unreinforced masonry infills on the east and west walls, and discontinuous reinforced masonry shear walls along the south side. When the project was completed, concrete shear walls were provided on all four sides, with a continuous concrete shear wall to a new pile foundation along the south wall. The building has become a major Los Angeles landmark.
Awards
- 2017 American Architecture Award Winner – Chicago Athenaeum
- 2016 ENR California’s Best Projects Award of Merit, Sports/ Entertainment
- 2016 Structural Engineers Association of California Excellence in Engineering Award
