2018 SEAO Awards Winners

The tower in Cape Canaveral, Florida provides a means for astronauts to access Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft which sits 200 feet above the launch pad atop the Atlas V launch vehicle. In an emergency, the astronauts can rapidly egress a safe distance away. The CCtCap is located next to the Atlantic Ocean and is in a launch environment where 1,200,000 pounds of rocket thrust is unleashed monthly. The position of the tower was constrained which required the foundation to be partly supported on the existing concrete launch duct and a portion on new concrete caissons. On top of that, the 200-foot-tall structure was built with a 10:1 height-to-width aspect ratio. The tower had to sustain hurricane loading for a Category III structure and is exposed to a severe coastal environment. An automated washdown system was incorporated into the system to protect the structure from the corrosion it would sustain. One of the largest challenges was that construction occurred on an active launch pad over a period where 17 launches look place. In the end, the project successfully provides astronauts with state-of-the-art means to reliably and safely begin their journey to the International Space Station.

This 1.4 million sf mall space received upgrades to the entrances, interior concourse, and ice rink. The ice rink was relocated to the central corridor and the second and third floors were reconfigured. The interior was also reshaped from square to oval. Design was made difficult due to the quality of existing drawings and various renovations. Construction was performed mostly at night to keep the mall open during regular hours.

This 6-story, 60,000-sf mixed-use office building contains an open floor plan, requiring the shear walls to be located away from the building face. The building sits on property lines which complicated the foundation design. The building also contains large 9-foot cantilevers in both directions, creating a striking pointed corner over the sidewalk. This building has provided a modern addition to downtown Portland.

This 34,000-sf building is located on a 100-year flood plain, so the foundation had to be built 30” off the ground to allow water to flow below the floor in the case of a flood. This also meant the footings had to be built 10’ below grade. The dealership presents a notable 292’ radiused curve along the front, created from a 10’ tall glass fin wall. There is also an 85’ long skylight running along the center of the building, creating abundant natural light.

The new 16-acre park was named after the views of Mt. Saint Helens. The park includes a playground, youth sports field, basketball court, climbing wall, soccer arena, picnic shelter, and outdoor amphitheater. The complex and unique shelter required intricate design and connections that didn’t detract from the architectural intent. Other structures include restrooms/storage and the “bird sculpture”.