San Francisco International Airport New Air Traffic Control Tower

San Francisco, CA

The new tower links Terminal 1 with Terminal 2 in a cutting-edge facility for air traffic controllers and FAA staff. The project involved the preparation of the conceptual design and design-build bridging documents for the replacement tower. R+C was responsible for the development of the project-specific seismic design criteria, which required close collaboration with SFO and FAA stakeholders since the design involved a non-prescriptive (performance-based) approach intended to provide Immediate Occupancy in the Design Basis EQ. R+C performed nonlinear response history analysis to develop the innovative structural concept, which includes unbonded vertical post-tensioning in a concrete core—this allows the tower to re-center itself, reducing residual post-earthquake displacement.

R+C provided structural and geotechnical engineering services related to the seismic design of the new tower and also provided peer review services to the design-build team.

  • Owner: San Francisco International Airport / Federal Aviation Administration
  • Architect: HNTB (Concept Design); Fentress Architects (Architect of Record)
  • General Contractor: Hensel Phelps
  • Structural Engineer: Walter P Moore
  • R+C Role: Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, and Peer Review Services
  • SIZE
    55,000 sf
    CERTIFICATIONS
    LEED Gold
    AWARDS
    • SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Landmark, 2016
    • SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Landmark, 2016
    • NCSEA Excellence in Structural Engineering, Outstanding Project (New Buildings Over $100 Million), 2016
    • Grand Conceptor Award Winner, American Council of Engineering Companies, 2016
    KEY INFO

    Vertical post-tensioning in concrete core to re-center tower

    Soil-structure interaction study to predict behavior on unique site

    Vertical post-tensioning in concrete core to re-center tower

    Ferry Building logo.

    Leavening peerless structural engineering skill with humor, philosophy, people skills and, above all, a consummate understanding of San Francisco's permitting process, [Alan] saw this project through.