tvsdesign's Augusta Convention Center Combines New Facility With Rehab of 100-Year-Old Warehouse

Jan. 20, 2012 - PRLog -- tvsdesign, an Atlanta-based convention center architecture and interior design firm, has designed the new Augusta Convention Center, creating a sustainable exhibit and conference facility that retains the history of the existing building.  Located in Augusta, Georgia, home of the Master’s Gold Tournament, the project was designed in conjunction with structural engineering firm, Uzun & Case Engineers.

When completed in 2012, the new facility will contain 37,500 s.f. of exhibit space and an 110,000 s.f. expansion of the existing Augusta Marriott and Hotel Conference Center.  In addition, the adjacent 100-year-old Harrison Building in downtown Augusta will be rehabilitated and serve as the center’s lobby and point of entry.

“We are extremely proud to include the historic Harrison Building as part of the Augusta Convention Center. When complete, the center will boost our economy by bringing exhibit space and more visitors to enjoy our city.” said Deke Copenhaven, mayor of Augusta.  “We are fortunate to have chosen tvsdesign, world renowned convention and hospitality architects and designers, who are carefully blending our new convention center into the fabric of historic Augusta.”

The existing Harrison Building structure has 16” thick perimeter unreinforced brick masonry walls supporting two wood framed floors and a wood framed roof.  Interior steel columns support the first floor and wooden columns continue up to support the second floor and roof.

According to George Briglevich, PE, principal with Uzun & Case, “The ACC project required the removal of the existing floor and roof structures and installation of a new structure which could support a new long span roof and also long span openings in the existing brick walls to accommodate vehicular arrivals to the center.”

A rigid structural steel framing system was selected and designed to be compatible with the existing brick walls to minimize cracking.  In addition, a deep foundation system consisting of micropiles with reinforced concrete caps was selected to support the new steel columns and thus minimize possible differential settlement between the new steel frame and the existing brick walls.  The completed structure, with its extensive alterations, will meet the requirements for new buildings including modern wind and seismic load resistance.

Including the Harrison Building as part of the larger convention center project expresses two main project goals. First, the design of the convention center was meant to augment the existing urban fabric of downtown Augusta. With complementary materials and similar scale, the Harrison Building will connect the new convention center both contextually and historically to its surroundings. Second, with a projected LEED® NC certification version 2.2, the existing building articulates a commitment to sustainable design. Bricks removed to create openings for vehicle traffic are being repurposed to fill in existing window openings. Existing timber is being removed for reuse in other construction projects.

“The design team is thrilled the City of Augusta and project stakeholders decided to include the Harrison Building as part of the project.” said Emery Leonard, AIA, LEED® AP, senior associate at tvsdesign. “The building presented us with some rewarding design challenges that would have been absent had the building not been repurposed.”

Adjacent to ACC is the recently completed Reynolds Street parking deck, also by tvsdesign. Located 150 miles east of Atlanta, on the border between Georgia and South Carolina, the city of Augusta is home to the Medical College of Georgia and The Masters annual golf tournament.

About tvsdesign
tvsdesign is a global design firm whose award-winning solutions reflect more than 40 years of experience in planning, architecture and interior design. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dubai and Shanghai, the firm’s passions for design excellence, sustainability and collaboration produce client-driven results. With projects around the globe, tvsdesign is recognized for its work including convention and public assembly, cultural arts, retail, office, education, government, hospitality, workplace, showroom and mixed-use projects. The sustainable design experience of the tvsdesign studios encompasses 23 LEED Certified and 16 LEED registered projects. In 2002, tvsdesign was awarded the prestigious American Institute of Architects Firm Award. www.tvsdesign.com

About Uzun & Case
Uzun & Case is one of the largest structural engineering offices in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on the design of significant building projects in the southeast and throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Their staff includes over forty structural engineers who provide high quality service to architects, building owners, construction firms and others. With extensive building design experience each, principals Tamer Uzun, Jim Case, Martin Cuadra, Larry McDowell and George Briglevich are committed to producing imaginative, technically accurate, buildable and economical designs. Their extensive portfolio of higher education, science, institutional, health care, high-rise, office, parking, hotel, public use, retail, and governmental buildings, including GSA Certificates of Seismic Compliance. Having completed projects in excess of $300 million and 2.2 million square feet, our organization is capable of handling the full range of our clients' structural engineering needs. We have earned a reputation for effectively balancing the structural and architectural requirements of our projects. The combination of this approach with a focus on construction costs results in integrated designs that are efficient, cost effective and sensitive to the design intent. Our numerous awards and excellent references testify to our expertise and to our track record of helping clients achieve their goals. www.uzuncase.com


CONTACTS:
Mitch Leff        (404) 861-4769 mitch@leffassociates.com
Sarah Busch     (312) 777-7425 sbusch@tvsdesign.com
For High Res Images: Marc Hirsch (404) 946-6738  mhirsch@tvsdesign.com