Sacramento Municipal Utility District Headquarters Seismic Retrofit and Expansion

Sacramento, CA

The SMUD Headquarters building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, underwent a complete refurbishment including an expansion and seismic retrofit. Built in 1961, the building was stripped to its bare steel structure, removing hazardous materials and upgrading all interior elements and distribution systems. A new central core was added to enhance the connection between the building’s south and north wings and includes an open stairway to allow for openness and ease of connection between floors. The seismic retrofit included viscous damping systems which reduce the structural demands on the existing structure, limiting the extent of other expensive structural deficiency mitigation and preserving the historic fabric of the building.