The school’s iconic clock tower gets a helping hand.
Emergency Dollars at Work
Funded by a FEMA Grant, this seismic upgrade is an important safety measure.
Time and tide wait for no man. Located immediately adjacent to the library, a major gathering place for students, the seismic stability of the 120-foot-tall clock tower was a key safety concern for The Evergreen State College (TESC). Reid Middleton provided structural engineering for the clock tower seismic retrofit. Based on the project’s high profile and visibility, the upgrade required a sensitive approach to maintaining the building’s distinctive appearance while staying within the $740,000 FEMA mitigation grant budget. All materials used also had to meet the college’s stringent environmental criteria. Using Revit for the entire project allowed the design team to provide renderings early in the project, which helped The Evergreen State College evaluate the visual impacts of the proposed upgrades. The clock tower is a key landmark on the campus, and visual clarity was pivotal in making the project a success.
