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Summary of Completed Projects

Map of Downtown Palo Alto Projects

The original theatre side walls had to be opened up to achieve the 50% increase in floor area permitted by performing both a seismic upgrade and an historic preservation of the original theatre. The concrete pilasters and columns were under-reinforced, requiring their replacement or reconstruction. The first step was to install support beams for the parapet, and bridging at each of the embedded steel roof trusses. Holes were then made to expose the bottom corner of each roof truss.

The historic interior detailing was protected from damage with Styrofoam and plywood wraps. After the low height exit wings were demolished and new footings cast, steel columns were installed that reach in to support the original roof trusses.

Rigid side arms were then attached to support the upper wall and parapet. A horizontal saw cut was then made along the wall, transferring loads to the steel columns. Sparks fly while a torch is used to free up the saw blade from reinforcing steel in the last column cut, due to a slight downward deflection of the wall above.

The theatre side arches, with their decorative finishes, were retained. The new second floor extends over the top of this wall, and provides out-of-plane bracing. The upper wall and main theatre roof are now supported on the steel columns.

An unusual moment-connection was made at the second floor beam intersection points, in order to provide a simple bolted connection at the inside face of the original columns and arches. This will permit future conversion back to the original theatre by unbolting the beams and removing the floor within. The added side structures will remain to brace the arched wall below.

The new second floor is a steel pan system with regular weight concrete fill. Steel studs were later attached to the beams to develop composite action with the concrete, easily achieving a 100 pound per square foot live load capacity.

Concrete is being pumped onto the steel pan system to form the roof above each side wing, providing out-of-plane support for the original theatre wall that remains. A sloping tile- covered wood rafter roof was later added above this level.

The new back entry to the seismically upgraded and historically-preserved Varsity Theatre, currently serving as a book store.