Rehabilitation and Retrofit of Existing Structures

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Useful information for when your work involves old buildings. In general, current documents, such as the AISC LRFD Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, can (and should) be used to evaluate and modify existing structures. In many cases, the use of current specifications and codes will be required in the applicable building code. Other information, such as shape properties and dimensions, older specifications and codes and original design criteria, may not be as accessible. Here are some links that may help you obtain the information you need:

Bethlehem Steel archives -- Wow! Download old Bethlehem Steel technical publications as *.pdf files from their web site archive. We wish more people would do this with their information.
Iron and Steel Beams: 1873 - 1952 (1953) -- AISC's compilation of dimensions and properties of wrought iron and steel beams and columns produced in the United States through 1952. Also, a summary of historic unit-stress recommendations made by early manufacturers, ASTM tensile- and yield-strength requirements and basic AISC working-stress recommendations.
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities -- information on the nation's educational facilities (including a lot of old drawings!).
The Sixty Year Manual (historic joist reference) is available from the Steel Joist Institute (SJI).

The best sources of information on older design information, specifications and codes generally include your own library (never sell those old AISC Manuals on eBay!), a local university or other technical library or the library archives of the organization that originally published the document.

Many case studies of rehabilitation and retrofit projects are also listed in AISC's Modern Steel Construction magazine.

Carmel High School, Carmel, IN -- A creative solution to the need to replace an aging roof while at the same time allowing basketball to be played unhindered. From the March 2000 issue.
Converting a Warehouse in Boston -- Constructed in 1914, the warehouse was originally used as a leather producing shop in Boston’s leather district. From the January 2000 issue.
Golden State Warriors Training Facility -- A rehabilitation of a 1980s four-story steel-framed convention center, with a clear span of 156’ over convention space and three levels of parking above. From the June 1999 issue.
Mingling New With Old In Historic Virginia -- Impressive design incorporates modern amenities. From the November 1999 issue.
Oregon State Library Seismic Upgrade -- Today, renovation of existing historic buildings often requires construction methods to be less intrusive and construction materials to be smaller, thinner, and more manageable in order to minimize any damage to the structure’s appearance. From the January 2000 issue.
Pacific Place -- A straight-forward solution to the complex problem of eliminating several floors of columns in an historic 10-story concrete-framed building. The massive loads from above plus the requirements to upgrade to current standards resulted in a solution using three-dimensional trusses. From the March 2000 issue.
Portland Airport Expansion -- During the past decade, Portland, OR, has seen it’s population skyrocket more than 50%. From the January 2000 issue.
Propped Shear Walls -- The I. Magnin Building in Oakland, CA combines steel braces and concrete shear walls for seismic strengthening. From the January 2001 issue.
Public Market to Ballroom -- A Cinderella transformation of the Public Market Building in Sacramento. From the January 2001 issue.
Renovating Concrete -- Structural steel moment resisting frames are proving to be an attractive alternative for retrofitting concrete structures in seismic areas. From the March 1999 issue.
Site, Time Restraints Complicate Bridge Rehabilitation -- A 180’ double-track truss had to be replaced with only a 54-hour track closure. From the January 1999 issue.
Steel Pays Off For Payroll Producer -- Structural reinforcement allowed ADP to convert an old office building. From the January 1999 issue.
Steel Revives Historic Structure -- The renovation of Montezuma Castle in Las Vegas involved some creative work with pairs of concealed steel trusses. From the January 2001 issue.
Swiss Bank Corporate Headquarters -- A 15-story tower adjoining an 8-story parking, technology and trading facility. A unique feature of the project is the trading arena sitting atop a seven-story base, which, at 144’ long and 240’ wide, is the world’s largest clear-span trading area. From the June 1999 issue.
University of Northern Iowa Air Dome Retrofit -- The replacement of an existing air-supported dome roof with an aesthetically appealing, cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative: a hybrid cable-arch scheme, the first of its kind, which offers both functionality and aesthetic value. From the June 1999 issue.
Yale Music Library Addition -- When Yale University first decided it needed to expand their Music Library, several different areas were considered. From the January 2000 issue.

See also our feature Great References > Rehabilitation and Retrofit.

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