UCSD SHILEY EYE CENTER, LA JOLLA, CA
Anshen + Allen and Ove Arup collaborated to develop a delicate balance of
form, scale and natural light for this 34,473 square foot building. The key design element
in accomplishing these goals is a 30-foot wide vaulted roof over the lobby, offices and
library. The vaulted roof is constructed with a thin concrete slab and a series of ribs
spanning into perimeter moment frames. This achieves a lightweight sculptured roof shape,
while utilizing beam members required as part of a ductile moment lateral frame system to
take out thrust forces.
UCLA MOLECULAR SCIENCES BUILDING, LOS ANGELES,
CA
From 'Day One' Anshen + Allen and Ove Arup collaborated to integrate
the structure with the extensive requirements of this complex laboratory. The initial
design concept evolved from the notion of a 'breathing building.'
A reinforced concrete frame was selected for its rigidity to minimize
floor vibration and reduce story height. The ribs of the flooring system were
simultaneously incorporated into the design as a part of an air plenum. The ribs provide
containment for HVAC systems, paths for utility distribution pipes and conduit and support
for special exhaust systems required in the laboratory. The one-way structural system
efficiently and gracefully accommodates the focus of the design-airflow. The 44-foot spans
in the laboratories offer great flexibility for future layout changes.
The central stairway is a cast-in-place tube structure containing a
continuous spiral of stairs cantilevering in from the tube wall around a central open
space. The sculptural tube shape will effectively resist the forces generated by Zone IV
earthquakes.
