rightt structures
We Turn Real Estate On Its Foundation
nike retail store
building conversion
Whittier Boulevard, East Los Angeles, CA
How do you integrate two divergent structures to create a seamless retail space for a discerning tenant? That was the challenge this owner faced when insufficient due diligence left him with a dysfunctional asset.
How do you integrate two divergent structures to create a seamless retail space for a discerning tenant? That was the challenge this owner faced when insufficient due diligence left him with a dysfunctional asset.
Primary issue
INTEGRATING TWO STRUCTURES INTO ONE STRUCTURALLY-SOUND SPACE
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services provided
STRUCTURAL DESIGN TO ENSURE SEISMIC SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE OF TWO BUILDINGS AS ONE THROUGH DESIGN-BUILD DELIVERY METHOD
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project size
26,000 SF
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This progressive developer invested in two adjacent structures on a high-traffic boulevard the heart of East Los Angeles, having negotiated a deal with retail giant, Nike, to ultimately occupy the space. The plan was to conjoin the two structures to create a single, expansive, open concept floor plan to satisfy Nike’s requirements and aesthetic. Despite early input from a project engineer, this outcome proved not so easy to achieve.
For one, each building was very different from the other. One was a single-story unreinforced masonry structure, and the other a two-story wood-framed structure. Connecting the buildings as a single structure meant that seismic challenges would have to be alleviated.
Secondly, there was what was thought to be a mezzanine inside the taller of the two buildings which needed to be removed. However, physical investigations revealed that the mezzanine was actually a second floor, so the structural implications were significantly confounded.
Given the unexpected challenges, the developer began looking for somebody to help him get out of this bind and the fear of having to break the lease with Nike, which would indeed be costly.
Considering both the seismic challenges and the mezzanine issue, Rightt Structures determined it would be most feasible, safe and economical to completely tear down and rebuild the two-story structure. An inventive slack solution, a braided structural component, was placed in the gap between the two buildings to provide a seismic break and prevent damage during an earthquake.
Employing a Design-Build approach, Rightt Structures provided the full suite of services from architecture to engineering and construction that was needed to successfully deliver a completed space fit for Nike’s specifications. This approach allowed Rightt to solve and cost at the same time, which created efficiency in the field, kept costs within check, and ensured continuity from start to finish.
The firm’s pragmatic and thoughtful methodology provided a successful outcome for all parties. The developer avoided a costly fallout, while Nike successfully launched their iconic store with a warm welcome from the community.
For one, each building was very different from the other. One was a single-story unreinforced masonry structure, and the other a two-story wood-framed structure. Connecting the buildings as a single structure meant that seismic challenges would have to be alleviated.
Secondly, there was what was thought to be a mezzanine inside the taller of the two buildings which needed to be removed. However, physical investigations revealed that the mezzanine was actually a second floor, so the structural implications were significantly confounded.
Given the unexpected challenges, the developer began looking for somebody to help him get out of this bind and the fear of having to break the lease with Nike, which would indeed be costly.
Considering both the seismic challenges and the mezzanine issue, Rightt Structures determined it would be most feasible, safe and economical to completely tear down and rebuild the two-story structure. An inventive slack solution, a braided structural component, was placed in the gap between the two buildings to provide a seismic break and prevent damage during an earthquake.
Employing a Design-Build approach, Rightt Structures provided the full suite of services from architecture to engineering and construction that was needed to successfully deliver a completed space fit for Nike’s specifications. This approach allowed Rightt to solve and cost at the same time, which created efficiency in the field, kept costs within check, and ensured continuity from start to finish.
The firm’s pragmatic and thoughtful methodology provided a successful outcome for all parties. The developer avoided a costly fallout, while Nike successfully launched their iconic store with a warm welcome from the community.
