DVASE Events

April 10, 2019 for Award Winning Projects by Keast & Hood and The Harman Group

Date: Apr 10, 2019

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 Two Presentations from DVASE 2018 Project Award Winners         


The Bridget Residential Tower - Secrets of Minimizing the Sag

Presented By:  Janis B. Vacca, PE, Leed, ap VP, The Harman Group
Bridge on Race, a mixed-use apartment complex at 205 Race Street in Philadelphia's Old City, is an 18-story, 180,000 square foot, 146-unit residential building containing 10% affordable housing units and 14,000 square feet of street-level retail space. 

Challenges for the structure included a wildly erratic column grid, significant slab cantilevers (up to 15'-0") and a large 5'-0" deep transfer beam at the 8th floor that cantilevered out 18'-0" to support the building above.  Short and long erm structural deflections were key for placing the façade.

A filigree concrete system was selected due to its cost effectiveness and reduction in the weight of the structure thus minimizing deflection.

Keast & Hood Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Restoration

Presented by: Brian D. Wentz, PE, CDT, Director of Historic Preservation Associate 
The Main Fountain Garden at Longwood Gardens provides visitors with a display experience unlike anywhere else in the world thanks to the enduring vision of the du Pont family and the undertaking of a major restoration project to revitalize the feature five acre site.  Originally designed by Pierre S. du Pont to contain the most technologically advanced engineering of the time, the Main Fountain Garden once again employs cutting edge technology comprised of new fountain lighting, jets, and fire elements.

Keast & Hood was retained for structural design as part of the massive renovation and restoration of the central, open-air fountain. Structural scope includes support for updated pumping and lighting infrastructure, a reinforced concrete service structure that extends two stories below grade, a new grotto, and a grand stair and terrace at the west end of the garden. Incorporated into the new design are historic retaining walls which engineers assisted in preserving and restoring. The extensive project scope also includes underpinning and renovation of the historic pump house for display use. The complex project required frequent coordination between the designer, engineers, and stone restoration contractor - resulting in one of the most widely anticipated Grand Re-openings.
 
About Our Speakers: 
Janis B. Vacca, PE, LEED AP is a Vice President and Principal at The Harman Group. She has been a member of The Harman Group team for over 32 years of her 41-year career as a structural engineer. She serves as Principal-in-Charge of one of the firm's two structural engineering teams, with responsibility for overall management of all projects in which her team is engaged. 

She has overseen many of the urban projects completed by the Harman Group including many of the residential towers recently built or in construction.

Ms. Vacca graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states. 
 
Brian D. Wentz, PE, CDT, Director of Historic Preservation.  Brian has over 25 years of structural engineering experience. A member of Keast & Hood since 1993 and a project manager since 2006. In 2018, he was promoted to the Associate level and named Director of Historic Preservation. Brian is a master at revitalizing old buildings and has worked on the firm's most sensitive historic projects including the highly acclaimed Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden Restoration, Christ Church Philadelphia, Richard's Medical Labs, and Hill College House Renovation for the University of Pennsylvania. Wentz holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and is a CSI Construction Documents Technologist. He is a member of the Association for Preservation Technology International and its Delaware Valley Chapter. He is also a former board member of both the Association for Preservation Technology International Board and Delaware Valley Chapter Board.
 
When:
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

 Where:
Federal Reserve Bank
Ten Independence Mall
100 North 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA  19106
ENTER ON THE 6TH STREET SIDE and Bring Identification for Security
Click here for directions
           

Featuring a breakfast buffet         

Time:
Registration begins at 7:15 am, Breakfast 7:30 am, Remarks and Presentation at 7:45 am            

Cost:
DVASE members: FREE, Non-members: $55.00*

*Invite engineers at your firm to attend!  Non-members can pay with credit card via PayPal.          

 If you have any questions, please email bsagusti@barrhorstman.com or telephone @ 215-628-9844 X104.     
   

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS

HILLIS-CARNES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES
INTERNATIONAL MASONRY INSTITUTE
LIEB INSPECTION & TESTING, INC.
MAINSTAY ENGINEERING GROUP, INC.
MAPEI CONCRETE RESTORATION, STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENING, 
  AND BELOW GRADE WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS
PIERESEARCH
PULLMAN SYSTEMS, SST
SIDEPLATE SYSTEMS, INC.
SIKA US CORPORATION

       

       

           

       

       

           

       

       

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