ACC Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, California, USA

Savings in insurance premiums and Performance-Based
Design at no extra cost

This facility will provide extensive medical services to the community including surgery. The project includes two separate buildings of four and five floors, respectively, connected in two places by a pedestrian bridge and an elevator lobby.

ABKJ engineers and the design team selected a steel-framed design based on cost efficiency, design flexibility and speedy construction. Moment-resisting frames, in combination with Pall Friction Dampers in steel bracing, were selected to resist lateral seismic forces. The structure was designed to meet 1997UBC and 1998 California Code requirements for Seismic Zone 4.

In this performance-based design, the Pall Friction Dampers reduced building drift from 2% to 1%. In case of a major seismic event, the dampers reduce building content damage and increase safety of occupants. This resulted in long-term savings to the client through lower seismic insurance premiums.