Client: Lobb and Company
Services:  Existing Structures, Forensics Engineering, Condition Assessment, Concrete Repair, Condition Survey

Summary:

The Rio Grande Building is located in the heart of Downtown Denver.  This 6-story reinforced concrete and unreinforced masonry building was built in 1923, and for almost 20 years it served as a department store before being converted into offices for the Rio Grande Railroad.  In subsequent decades the building was used for other purposes including a radio broadcast facility.  In 1995, the building was converted into loft style apartments on the upper floors with commercial and office space located on the ground and basement levels.   J.R. Harris & Company performed a structural condition assessment as part of the structure’s conversion to apartments and found a significant weakness in the lateral load resisting system.  In addition to the typical structural modifications that accompany a renovation, we were able to design a lateral load resisting system that did not significantly impose upon the desired floor plan while providing an economical method to bring the structure up to current building code requirements. These designs included an upgrade of the lateral load resisting system to conform with Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Handbook for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings (FEMA -172)