Soft story buildings, characterized by open spaces such as ground-level parking, are particularly vulnerable to collapse during earthquakes due to their weaker 1st level lateral support structures. A soft story retrofit involves strengthening these susceptible areas to enhance the building's ability to withstand seismic forces.
The main goal is to make sure the building is still standing after an earthquake hits and ensure the safety of everyone in and around the building.
The retrofit typically aims to lessen the effect of side-to-side shaking which may causes the first floor of a soft-story buildings to collapse. Every soft-story building is different and requires a specific design to keep the functionality of the building. Our in-house architects take precise measurements of existing conditions & pay special attention to the functionality of the existing building while our in-house team of engineers utilizes state-of-the-art engineering programs to design the most efficient & cost-effective retrofit solutions.
A soft-story retrofit is a necessary investment in the safety of everyone in and around these buildings. A property owner who does not retrofit their building within the given timeframe is breaking the law. There may be legal consequences & fines for not complying with the retrofit ordinance depending on the local jurisdiction.