San Francisco, CA
Sutro Tower
Scope/Solutions
Built in 1972, the 977 ft Sutro Tower is the tallest tower in California and serves as a base for radio, television, and microwave transmission throughout the Bay Area. Since 2002, SGH has performed a wide range of engineering services, including seismic evaluation and upgrade, structural design of tower reconfiguration, annual inspection and repairs, and design of site work and addition of appurtenant structures.
In support of our design services for the tower, SGH completed the following:
- Developed and maintained a nonlinear dynamic analysis model to evaluate the tower’s adequacy for various modifications
- Conducted wind tunnel and wind vortex shedding studies
- Analyzed the effects of corrosion on the structure’s stability and safety
- Evaluated the tower’s exposure to wildlands fire and developed maintenance plans to control the fire risk
- Design structural strengthening for the tower and appurtenant structures to remain operational following maximum considered earthquake shaking
Photo by iStock / timothytjoshua
1 of 6
Project Summary
2008
Completion Date
Solutions
Repair & Rehabilitation
Services
Structures | Performance & Code Consulting
Markets
Science & Defense
Client(s)
Sutro Tower, Inc.
Specialized Capabilities
Seismic Engineering | Repair & Strengthening | Risk & Resilience Assessment
Key team members
Additional Projects
West
Idaho National Laboratory, Advanced Test Reactor, Primary Heat Exchangers Upgrade
Previous analysis by BEA raised potential concerns with the primary heat exchanger supports under a design earthquake. SGH evaluated the seismic performance of the primary heat exchanger supports and designed necessary upgrades.
West
Smithsonian Institution, Multiple Mirror Telescope
With the advent of economical large spun cast mirrors, the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona wished to convert the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) to a telescope with a single 6.5 m dia. mirror. SGH developed the drawings and specifications for this modification.