College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

Architectural Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Architectural Engineering

Date

6-2025

Primary Advisor

Peter Laursen, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Architectural Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

This senior project documents the design, analysis, construction, and testing of Seattle Solstice, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s entry to the 2024 EERI Seismic Design Competition. Developed through ARCE 453, the interdisciplinary effort involved architectural, structural, and geotechnical coordination in response to a fictional client brief set in downtown Seattle. The team designed a five-foot-tall balsa wood tower with a shifting vertical massing, integrating sustainability features and public use spaces while addressing seismic challenges such as center of mass vs. rigidity alignment, overturning risk, and off-grid load paths. The structure was modeled using ETABS and evaluated using both numerical methods and physical shake table testing. Lessons from early testing informed structural revisions, ultimately leading to a high-performing final model. Financial evaluation and performance scoring were based on EERI guidelines. This project highlights the value of iterative design, team collaboration, and practical application of seismic engineering principles in a competitive academic environment.

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