Desjardins Life
Insurance Building
Levis, Canada

Saving: 1.5% compared to concrete shear-wall construction.

The six-storey concrete frame building, clad with architectural precast concrete panels, was built in 1996. Pall Friction Dampers in steel bracing, in lieu of concrete shearwalls, were used to resist lateral earthquake forces.

The use of friction-damped bracing provided greater flexibility in space planing. The chosen structural system offered both savings in construction cost and superior damage control potential.

The architects have exposed several Friction Dampers to boldly express the unique structural system.