THP provided structural engineering and building envelope services for the 15,800 SF University of Akron Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing renovation project.  The project was initiated to create a state-of-the-art facility that would serve as a collaborative hub for university students, professors, and industry partners.

The building featured perimeter brick masonry bearing walls, interior steel columns, and a roof structure composed of steel beams and open web steel joists. Due to the absence of existing drawings, THP conducted an on-site structural review and engineering analysis to evaluate the performance characteristics of the existing building. Based on this assessment, THP designed supplemental steel framing to support new rooftop mechanical units and created framed openings for new ductwork in the roof. 

The addition of rooftop equipment introduced changes to wind and seismic loads, thereby triggering a full lateral upgrade of the building to comply with current code requirements. THP’s comprehensive investigation determined that the existing gravity and lateral systems could be brought up to code with minimal reinforcement. Specifically, the roof deck connections to the brick masonry walls were reinforced, and bar joists were welded to the supporting steel. These targeted upgrades resulted in significant cost savings and helped avoid construction delays. 

Building envelope repairs were designed and implemented to halt water penetration and restore the masonry façade, extending the building’s service life without altering its appearance.