McKinley Tower

The 1950s structure was severely damaged in the largest earthquake recorded in North American history. Standard retrofitting techniques proved exceptionally costly and included thick steel columns the full height of the structure which would substantially alter the appearance of this historic tower. The landmark McKinley Tower sat empty for 20 years. A traditional retrofitting project was started, then abandoned because of its high cost. Schneider Structural Engineers performed a new seismic evaluation and value-engineered the project using a developing technology — fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) fabrics that can attain the strength of steel within 24 hours. This was an innovative alternative to the original retrofit and helped to preserve the historic profile of the city’s first high-rise.

Photography by Ken Graham