UBC Henry Angus Tower Seismic Upgrade

Bush Bohlman was tasked with the seismic upgrade when the Henry Angus Tower, occupied by the Sauder School of Business was deemed a high seismic risk. The retrofit design of the multi-storey office tower was based on the BC Seismic Retrofit Guidelines 2nd Edition, and it is the first mid-rise building to receive this treatment. The seismic upgrade work included a new reinforced concrete buttress at the southeast entry, two new concrete shear walls on the west elevation, the restraint of the interior concrete block partitions, and an expansion joint between the tower and adjacent classroom block.

A steel-supported coloured glass canopy was added between the buttress and the adjacent classroom block to provide additional functionality to the stunning new buttress wall. This provides shelter for the students and staff when they access the tower while creating a distinct feel to the entranceway.