Problem

In late June 2010, the Dolphin Tower was evacuated after the 4th floor transfer slab, which supports 117 residential units in the tower above, suffered major shear cracking.  Immediately, emergency shoring was installed to carry the loads of the tower columns directly down to the building foundation in order to supplement and relieve the damaged transfer slab. In April 2014, after three years of investigation, design, and contract negotiation, a building permit was issued and CP&R crews were able to start the required structural repairs.  The structural repair portion of the project was completed on schedule and under budget.  

Solution

• Structural reinforcement of the Dolphin Tower’s foundation
• Column enlargements and shear wall installations 
• Shoring and repair of the fourth-floor transfer slab
• Removal and replacement of exterior CMU walls with poured in place reinforced  concrete shear walls 
• Reinforcement of carbon fiber & addition of post-tension beams
• Repairs on the upper levels  of the tower to relieve some overstressed slab locations and increase the wind load capacity based on the new building codes. 

Awards/Acknowledgements:

• ICRI National Project of the Year – Finalist 
• 2017 PTI Award of Excellence 
• Featured of ACI Guide to the Code for Assessment, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Concrete Buildings, a Companion to ACI 562-16