Contact Info & Address

Summary of Completed Projects

Map of Downtown Palo Alto Projects

After all the seats were removed, the sloping main level of the theatre was excavated down to a level surface, matching the floor elevation of the original lobby. The balcony sloping concrete slab and beam structure above the lobby was retained, for possible future conversion back to a theatre.

The new second floor elevation was set to just clear the highest point of the original balcony. The projection room beyond was retained, but closed off.

Significantly larger footings were needed to resist current code earthquake forces. At the proscenium wings, new reinforcing steel was cored through the original footings and return walls. The vertical steel is part of the future shear wall boundary elements.

Some of the original columns were removed and the rebuilt to current standards. Steel shoring had to first be installed and preloaded with an hydraulic jack, in order to transfer the load to the temporary support. The slip fitting was welded in place after the preload stabilized.

Removal of an original under-reinforced column prior to installing the needed shoring resulted in the old rebar bowing outwards as the building moved slightly downward. The stiffness of the high walls above prevented any damage from occurring.

A new column is being constructed that will tie an old wall to a new shear wall. The horizontal bars passing through are part of a drag tie assembly to tie the old balcony back wall to the new shear wall.

After the new concrete column noted above was built, shotcrete was applied to create a new shear wall. The steel shoring column was left within the new shear wall.

Another rebuilt concrete column became the boundary element for a new shear wall, extending from the ground, past the old balcony floor up to the new second floor. The damaged architectural trim elements were later replicated to match the original elements.

The theatre main roof was wood framing over riveted steel trusses. A plywood diaphragm and additional bolting was installed on the original rafters. As can be seen in the photo, the original proscenium arch had been coarsely removed in prior remodeling many years ago - apparently to allow a larger movie screen. The concrete roof, remaining proscenium arch and tributary wood framing are now supported by hanger rods from a large concrete beam above.