During a barrier cable replacement project at a Florida office building’s concrete parking structure, STRUCTURAL identified potential punching shear issues at the filigree beams. Further investigation confirmed the issue and also revealed un-tensioned post-tensioning cables that required remediation.

To restore structural integrity, STRUCTURAL installed drop panels at critical column locations.  These thickened slab areas help better distribute loads, enhance punching shear resistance, and reduce the risk of future failures.

During pre-construction, the team discovered that sections of the fire alarm system would need to be relocated to accommodate drop panels – posing a significant cost increase. STRUCTURAL developed an alternative solution that addressed the issue while minimizing cost impact.

Additional work included post-tensioning repairs, sandblasting and painting the top-level steel canopy, and installing a 36,000-square-foot, 10-year waterproofing system to protect and future-proof the structure.