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POWER LIST: ENGINEERING

Bend now has a 35,600-square-foot recreation center thanks in part to one structural engineering firm up to the task.

The Bend Park & Recreation District hired Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture of Denver to design a remodel and expansion of the Larkspur Senior Center. Miller Consulting Engineers then was tasked with the structural engineering, managing principal Kevin McCormick said.

The two-story addition includes a 135,000-gallon pool with a current channel, a fitness area, several fitness classrooms and an indoor track. The project is the biggest capital investment in Bend Park & Recreation District鈥檚 history, according to Cascade Business News.

One challenge involved extension of a wall beyond the framed structure so there would be an overhanging roof. If not secured properly, the extended portion could wave around like a flagpole when wind and seismic forces hit, McCormick said.

The cantilevering wall extends 20 feet out from the new structure and 13 feet above the existing building. The team was challenged to stiffen the corner, McCormick said, so that the extended section wouldn鈥檛 move around. Plus, there was a tight deadline.

Steel columns were added on the cantilevered corner and a custom steel cap was created for the top of the wall, which was then anchored about 20 feet back to stabilize the section.

鈥淭hat double cantilever is atypical,鈥� McCormick said. 鈥淲alls don鈥檛 want to work that way.鈥�

In addition, framing had to account for walls not square with each other. The team encountered difficulty making sure the two floors were the right stiffness all the way through 鈥� especially since an indoor running track is on the second floor.

鈥淎s an engineer, that鈥檚 the fun stuff of trying to (make) an architect鈥檚 dream come alive,鈥� McCormick said.