University

The complete renovation of this historic US Post Office building allowed the engineers at Burr & Cole Consulting Engineers, Inc. a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to access and evaluate major structural components and to apply state-of-the-art seismic analysis and strengthening measures. Though originally built in the early 1880s, over the years it featured a marble exterior, two clock towers on its north and south sides, four lofted-ceiling courtrooms, brass window cages in the Post Office, hardwood paneling, stone fireplaces, hand-painted wood trim, and other magnificent architectural touches inside and out. Drawings for significant portions of the existing structure were not available. This made for a challenging project. Seismically weak conditions of the building, such as stone parapets and floor diaphragms, were strengthened....