®

R E
U
t
righ

T
y
Cop
By Mark Sarkisian, S.E., Eric Long, S.E., David Shook, P.E., and Eric Peterson

B U C
y re-examining standards long taken for granted by develop-
ers, 350 Mission received LEED® Platinum certification and
e
floor and all basement diaphragms were modeled with shell elements,

i n
as the ramp and basement levels are sloped in a ‘corkscrew’ basement.

R z
is reinventing a ubiquitous building type. The form, struc-

T a
ture, and systems of this Class-A office tower are generated
Long-Span Flat Plate Slab Design
g
S
by rigorous goals of environmental performance, social engagement,
and material efficiency.
a A flat plate solution using conventional practices would need to be

m
The 30-story volume embodies the higher workforce densities and
flexible space planning of 21st-century offices, thanks to floor plates
that span nearly 45 feet between core and perimeter. 350 Mission
at least 14 inches thick, with very high quantities of post-tension-
ing and reinforcement. To reduce the slab thickness to 11 inches
and post-tensioning quantities to levels commonly associated with
achieves a new paradigm for office tower structures by utilizing 30-foot residential spans, a cambered solution was proposed in
post-tensioned long-span flat concrete slabs, a method traditionally tandem with the post-tensioning system. The primary purpose of
reserved for residential construction. The innovative structure lifts the post-tensioning system is to counteract a large portion of the
the first office floor to create a transparent 50-foot-tall by 43-foot slab self-weight while mitigating flexural cracking. Due to the mag-
-deep lobby, dubbed the “urban living room.” Energized by a 70- by nitude of the span and modest post-tensioning, elastic and inelastic
40-foot LED screen, the generous public space has 90 linear feet of creep deflection of the slab, up to 2.5 inches, was anticipated. This
glass panels that slide open to the sidewalk and blur the threshold would not be acceptable for non-structural components such as
between public and private realms. partitions and could be visually perceivable in an exposed ceiling
condition. Thus, a digitally mapped camber plan and camber values
for individual shoring posts were developed with the collaboration of
Performance-Based Seismic Design the concrete contractor. Changes in camber slope were also coordi-
Dual seismic force resisting systems are required by ASCE 7 for nated with the concrete contractor, Webcor Concrete, to ensure the
buildings over 240 feet unless appropriate justification is provided. specified geometry could be achieved without significant changes
Administration Bulletin 82 and 83 of the San Francisco Building Code in labor. The direct collaboration of the structural design team with
prescribe the design and peer review process needed to demonstrate all concrete field superintendents, including those responsible for
code-equivalence of the core-only seismic force resisting system. This shoring, forming, placement, and finishing, were vital.
performance-based seismic design approach permits the core-only Conventional 5,000 psi concrete was utilized along with A615
seismic force resisting system and avoids traditional dual systems Gr. 60 reinforcement for both the post-tensioned floor slabs and in
which often include costly moment frames. non-cambered, mild-reinforced below-grade slabs. Average compres-
The latest advances in nonlinear time history analysis, seismic design sive strength determined in cylinder testing from the below-grade
methods, and reinforcement detailing were incorporated into this slabs was to be 7,200 psi. The high strength was due to contractor
project, drawing upon the knowledge and experience of the city- requirements for early strength to tension tendons to keep the project
appointed seismic design review panel. All gravity framing members on schedule. Thus, the camber of above-grade decks was adjusted
and their associated effects on building performance, including P-delta using this more accurate concrete strength.
effects and nonlinear behavior, were modeled. Due to the potential Two comprehensive analytical investigations were conducted in
interaction of the slabs on the gravity columns and their cumulative parallel using separate software packages to ensure both strength
effect on the tall lobby condition, this was vital. Additionally, ground and serviceability were satisfied. The primary software used for

STRUCTURE magazine 54 June 2017

 A B C D E

7
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.0 0.75 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.75 0.0

0.0 0.75 1.5 1.75 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.25 0.0

0.0 0.75 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.75 1.5 1.5 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.0 0.0

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.0 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.0

6
0.0 0.5 0.75 1.25 1.25 0.75 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
5

0.0 0.5 0.75 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.0 0.75 0.75 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.0 0.5 0.75 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.0 1.25 1.25 0.0 0.0 0.0

4
0.0 0.5 0.75 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.0 1.25 1.25 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.0 0.5 0.75 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.0 0.25 0.25 0.0 0.0 0.0

3 0.0 0.5 0.75 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
®

E
0.5 0.75 1.25 1.5 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.5 0.0
0.0

R
0.25 0.75 1.25 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.0 1.0 0.0
0.0

0.25 0.75 1.0 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.0 1.0 0.0

U
0.0

0.25 0.25 0.25 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.5 0.0
t
righ

T
0.0
y
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Cop
0.0

Chamber overlay diagram.

analysis was SAFE® by Computers and Structures, Inc., while a

U C Exterior at night.

i n e
60, and 90 days afterward. The tracking of deflections was determined

R z
checking analysis model was built in ADAPT Floor® by ADAPT to be very close to analysis model predictions, which incorporated a

T a
Inc. Both analysis tools calculated cracked section properties novel iterative cracked section analysis procedure recommended by

g
S
based on actual rebar placement for increased accuracy. With the ACI 435 committee and creep and shrinkage methods recom-
the incorporation of camber, post-tensioning material quantities
a mended by the ACI 209 committee. This design, with contractor
were competitive with shorted 30-foot spans often encountered
in high-rise residential towers.
For calculation of long-term deflection, methods recommended
m collaboration, has set a new standard in office buildings and created
a new efficient architecture which gives further enhancement to
core-only tall buildings.
by ACI Committee 435 in ACI 435R-95, Control of Deflection in An important feature of the concrete framing design is a dramatic
Concrete Structures, were utilized. As noted in the ACI 435 docu- 30-foot corner cantilever achieved with a 25-inch deep post-tensioned
ment, methods recommended by Graham and Scanion (1986) are upturned beam. The upturn is concealed in a raised floor system which
appropriate where stiff lateral systems such as shear walls are utilized. permitted underfloor mechanical air circulation, electrical conduits,
The concrete modulus of rupture is lowered from 7.5√f´c to 4√f´c and plumbing lines. Thus, the underside of the slab is kept free of
for calculation of cracked section properties. Also, the computed these visual hindrances. The corner post-tensioned beam has a unique
deflections using cracked section properties are amplified by a factor tendon profile that differs from conventional post-tensioned layouts.
of 3.5 to determine the total long-term deflection. Instead of starting high at the support and draping linearly to mid-
While both analysis models could amplify ACI 435 recommend depth at the cantilever tip, it has a slight parabolic drape between the
values of cracked section deflections, SAFE was found to be more two ends. This was incorporated to avoid sagging at the cantilever
accurate with its age-adjusted modulus of elasticity method which mid-span which can occur in very long cantilever conditions.
accounts for long-term creep and shrinkage based on methods sug- In elevation, the tower superstructure appears as 11-inch plates. The
gested by ACI 209. depth of similarly performing steel or waffle-slab construction would
Although recommendations of ACI 318 for the modulus of rupture measure nearly 3 feet. If the concrete slabs remain exposed overhead,
(7.5√f´c) and long-term deflection multipliers (3.0) are appropriate then the typical office floor will reach over 11 feet high, a dramatic
when compared to laboratory testing, they do not account for critical increase from the 9-foot heights traditionally associated with Class-A
construction effects such as early shrinkage cracking due to restraint office buildings. Using ultra-thin concrete instead of steel maximizes
and early loading of the concrete when shoring is removed. It is highly perimeter glass, achieves more daylight, and supports energy efficient
recommended that appropriate provisions be made in ACI 318 to give HVAC systems.
guidance to structural engineers designing concrete gravity framing
which more appropriately addresses these important issues, and that
practicing engineers consider this during design.
Innovative Multi-Story Construction Methods
Slabs are engineered to be flat and to deflect no more than ¾ inch Construction methodologies were coordinated among the concrete,
between the core and perimeter 90 days after casting when raised rebar, post-tensioning crews, and the place and finish crews. Handset
flooring is to be installed. The ¾-inch deflection limit is important Pro-Shore formwork was used to achieve non-traditional camber
as that is the maximum deflection a standard partition slip track can profiles and reduce the floor-to-floor cycle from 7 to 5 days. The
accommodate. Slab elevations were surveyed at casting, as well as 30, design team met with the crew superintendents to ensure a full

STRUCTURE magazine 55 June 2017

Lobby. Lobby at night. ®

understanding of the design intent was conveyed and to receive

feedback on improving the specified camber profiles and post-tension
layout. The steps required to achieve the soffit profile, before concrete

R E
Field Verified Embodied Carbon
The Environmental Analysis Tool™ is an embodied carbon account-

U
placement, included: ht ing methodology and software published as a free download by
yrig

T
1) Measure deflection of lowest reshored level during placement;Cop SOM at www.som.com. The EA Tool considers embodied carbon
2) Measure shortening of formwork system during placement; from materials, construction activities, and probable seismic

C
3) Interpolate values based upon shore location relative to damage. Embodied carbon accounting metrics were used in all

e
U
supports; design decisions and led to an efficient design employing the
4) Agree upon method of strike-off (screeding) during concrete
n
use of recycled materials. During construction, engineers made
i
R
placement; weekly site visits, creating detailed reports of all construction
z
T
5) Add deflection plus formwork shortening to specified camber activity and equipment used. This information, as well as actual
values; and
g a material information, was used to adjust and validate embod-

S
6) Survey and record deck soffit formwork elevations before ied carbon accounting associated with structural materials and
placement. a construction activity from the beginning of excavation through
m
There were preliminary and follow-up discussions regarding what
placement methods would be best for providing the indicated camber
topping out. Results reveal the EA Tool methodologies are quite
accurate, especially for above-grade work. Results also indicate
at the tops of the slabs. Since concrete placement strike-off is done with that below-grade work is very carbon intensive, more than twice
straight edges, the resulting camber is initially corded. Ordinarily, on that of above-grade work.
flat building slabs, strike-off is done with screeds measuring up to 20
feet long. After consideration of both production requirements and the
required surface geometry, it was decided by the contractor and engineer
Performance
that the maximum screed length would be 10 feet. The direction of Performance is often quantified, but not often proven. For 350 Mission,
screeding was also discussed and agreement made on a standard direc- seismic performance has been validated through nonlinear time history
tion. During the first placement, an additional observation was that analysis, cambered slab deflection analyses have been proven through
ride-on trowel machines, using float pans, had the effect of planing or numerous surveys, and embodied carbon associated with materials
leveling the surface, which reduces camber. From this point forward, and construction activity has been verified through field
neither ride-on machines nor float pans were used. The camber profile observations. This assurance in performance is important
was finished by using walk-behind trowel machines with combination to advance design techniques towards a new standard in
blades. In addition to setting top profiles with a laser level, both 10-foot building construction and design methodologies.▪
screeds and the use of walk-behind machines contributed in producing
the required camber tolerances at the tops of the slabs.
Mark P. Sarkisian, S.E., is the Structural and Seismic Engineering
The ongoing process of taking measurements before and after each
Partner of the San Francisco office of SOM. He can be reached at
placement provided necessary feedback to the formwork and placing
[email protected].
crews of where the processes needed fine-tuning and helped to keep
the quality consistent. Top-of-slab elevation surveys were made at spe- Eric Long, S.E., is a Director and Senior Structural Engineer of the
cific locations, relative to Project control, so that they could be exactly San Francisco Office of SOM. He can be reached at
repeated for future monitoring. [email protected].
The result was a design and construction methodology that could be
David Shook, P.E., is an Associate Director and Structural
applied to other multi-story buildings. Understanding long-term slab
Engineer at the San Francisco office of SOM. He can be reached
deflection characteristics, monitoring as-built tolerances, and incor-
at [email protected].
porating predicted slab performance characteristics into the design of
architectural finishes and work scopes after concrete placement and Eric Peterson is the Construction Manager at Webcor Concrete
finishing, aligns expectations through both the design and construc- and can be reached at [email protected].
tion processes.

STRUCTURE magazine 56 June 2017