Services: Structural Engineering

Cost: $3.6M

Date Complete: December 2019

Team: Gensler

Owner: City of Austin Public Works Department 

Description: This project is the transformation of a former National Guard Armory into a Creative Media Hub, including new office, public, and creative spaces.  The original 1970 armory building and High Hanger Building will remain.  The 1986 addition to the original armory building will be demolished. 

​

The armory’s existing framing is steel columns, beams, open web joists, and rod bracing with two-wythe cavity masonry walls around the perimeter (non load-bearing).  Architectural modifications were designed such that existing steel framing and rod bracing would remain in place.  

 

The structural scope included adding new openings in existing exterior masonry; changing the perimeter roof condition from a heavy overhang to a slim parapet; adding a continuous steel “eyebrow” box around all the new windows on the east and west elevations; adding a new canopy at the entry, using existing piers and salvaged steel material; stiffening of existing roof joists to support new rooftop mechanical units; partial removal and replacement of slab on grade for new plumbing.