Final Report

The final report includes a lateral system investigation and redesign of the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cancer Hospital in the new San Diego, Ca location.

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The final report has been included without appendices for ease in downloading.

Click here to view the final report without appendices

Executive Summary

As an integral part of the University Hospital Vision 2010 expansion plan, a new Cancer Hospital will be constructed on The University Hospitals Case Medical Center Campus in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cancer Hospital is a 9 story, 370,230 SF research and patient care facility. Its infrastructure consists of steel and steel composite members which have been carefully arranged in order to conform to the modular architectural design system known as the Universal Grid, allowing full optimization of available space for varying use. Sloped curtain walls envelope the Cancer Hospital, consisting of exterior glazing and curved steel. The new Cancer Hospital will serve as an addition to the adjacent Case Medical Center which will combine medical services once spread through 7 different buildings.

The design of the Cancer Hospital has been evaluated in 3 previous Technical Reports.  The lateral force resisting system analysis of Technical Report 3 revealed several key areas of concern which were determined to be caused by the irregular geometry of the building. In order to provide a unique opportunity to further study the efficiency of this irregular design under more complex and dynamic seismic loads, the Cancer Hospital has been theoretically reproduced and relocated from Cleveland, Ohio to San Diego, California. The relocation of the design will allow the cancer research services provided primarily to the east coast by the Cleveland, Ohio location, to also be provided to the west coast, through the new San Diego, California location.

To maintain the feasibility of the theoretical location, all current Vision 2010 project requirements have been followed. To accomplish this, a thorough investigation has been conducted of 3 different commonly used seismic loading solutions in mid-rise buildings including the strengthening of the existing structure, the creation of a seismic isolation joint, and the use of a reinforced concrete core. Upon comparison of the results, the concrete shear wall core was found to be the optimal system and has been designed for strength and serviceablility under the new San Diego, California parameters. Lateral elements which have been redesigned include the concrete shear wall core, the steel eccentric braced frames, and the building foundations. A critical connection design has also been performed in accordance with the Masters Requirement. Loads used in the investigation and redesign have been determined in accordance with ASCE 7-05 and IBC 2006. ETABS models have been created and verified for accuracy for each investigation and the final design.

In addition to the design of the new lateral system, a building envelope study will be preformed in order to allow the use of the Cancer Hospital’s most commanding architectural feature, the 92,000 SF curtain wall. Upon completion of the redesign of exisiting systems, a cost and schedule has also been performed finalizing the conclusion that the new Caner Hospital adheres to the Vision 2010 plan and is acceptible for service of the west coast.