Calibre provided design phase services and construction phase services for this $8M project to expand the VA Medical Center Fresno’s psychological rehabilitation recovery center and Homeless Program at Building 27. The Independence Building is an outpatient Mental Health treatment facility supporting a full range of treatment and support programs. Calibre provided design for the foundation of a 10,000-SF building addition to the Independence Building, as well as design and coordination of the interface between this 2-story addition (with a penthouse on the roof) and the existing 2-story building. Gravity load, lateral analysis, and structural drawings were provided.
 
Structural steel framing comprised the structural system for the building addition. The second floor and roof levels consisted of composite metal deck/concrete and composite beams and girders. The penthouse roof level consisted of structural steel framing and metal deck. Spread footings comprised the foundation system for the addition. The first floor consisted of a concrete slab-on-grade.The building addition was isolated from the existing structure via an expansion joint and was designed as a “stand alone” structure. The lateral force resisting system consisted of special steel moment frames for the first two (2) levels and braced frames at the penthouse level.Since the penthouse level was less than 33% of the floor plate below, the building was considered a two-story structure. Therefore, anti-terrorism force protection requirements did not apply.
 
Image Credit: https://www.va.gov/central-california-health-care/locations/fresno-va-medical-center/