Gessner Engineering provided the structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing for the Emergency Operations Training Center (EOTC) Addition in College Station, Texas. The project scope consisted of the design of a 16,500 square foot, two-story building addition to the existing EOTC. The addition consisted of office space, a new training facility, a network center, classrooms and a second story observation area. The structure for the building comprised both a pre-engineered metal building mainframe with a conventional steel-framed interior second floor space.
Structural engineering services consisted of the design of a structural slab on carton forms for the building addition, a chiller foundation, pump hose foundation and a propane tank foundation. In addition to the foundation designs, Gessner Engineering designed the conventional steel-framed second floor, a human patient simulator mezzanine framing plan and foundation within the existing building, steel mezzanine design and modifications to the existing EOTC metal building frame to tie the buildings together. The observation mezzanine was designed to be constructed partially within the existing building and partially within the new addition. Entry framing and a new generator foundation were also provided.
For geotechnical engineering, subsurface conditions were evaluated by drilling five test borings to a depth of 20 feet within the proposed perimeter of the building addition and one test boring to a depth of 20 feet within the perimeter of the proposed chiller. Samples were collected on site and materials testing services were performed to derive engineering recommendations for site and subgrade preparation and foundation design. The foundation system designed was a structural slab-on-void.
Construction materials testing services included density tests for the pad preparation, a foundation pre-pour inspection, concrete testing for all structural concrete, bolt and weld inspections for the building and asphalt testing for the drives and parking areas. On-site inspections were provided throughout the construction process to verify existing conditions, building conditions and compliance with contract documents.
All reports were peer reviewed then reviewed by the project manager. Gessner Engineering kept in compliance with all applicable codes and standards, and performed additional inspections as required. Gessner Engineering invoiced under budget for this project.
