The U.S. General Services Administration plans to begin a seismic face lift on the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State, starting this spring and continuing for about 14 months.
The $20.5 million project includes upgrading the building's structure to comply with modern standards of seismic resistance. The pre-cast concrete panels of the building will be removed, seismic bracing will be erected and a new, energy-efficient curtain wall system will be installed to act as the building's skin.
Also, the building entrance and lobby will be redesigned. This work will done while the building is still occupied.
The seismic cross-bracing will use the latest design technology called "unbonded braced frame." Japan has used this technology for abound 15 years, but only some 15 structures in the United States have it. The Rocky Mountain GSA is the first region to use the technology in a public building.
The revamping of the Federal Building was originally a simple repair and alteration project. However, now it is a cutting-edge seismic upgrade.