Saiful Bouquet was the structural engineer of record for the seismic retrofit and renovation of the Wheelock Gymnasium at Riverside City College. Built in 1928, the 41,000 sq. ft. gymnasium was assessed to show that the building had seismic deficiencies, which could result in significant structural damage in the event of an earthquake. After considering a number of alternatives, Saiful Bouquet performed retrofits that included seismic improvements, MEP upgrades, ADA compliance, and the addition of three new elevator and stair towers.
During construction, the gymnasium was found to be more deteriorated than expected, with extensive termite and water intrusion, and required large areas of demolition and replacement. In response to this, Saiful Bouquet collaborated closely with the architects, DSA, the college, and the users in order to keep the project moving forward in a timely manner.
The newly renovated gym consists of six basketball courts, a volleyball court, locker rooms, and a capacity of 960 seats, making it a state-of-the-art facility. In addition, PE classrooms, a fitness center, and administrative/coaching offices have been included to support the gymnasium; the featured design creates a new entry plaza to accommodate these changes.
“[SB] was very receptive and open minded with working with the team to resolve the field issues and partnered with us to resolve all of the uncommon and unknown issues with Wheelock. I think Saiful Bouquet would be a tremendous asset to have engaged in [future projects] and would recommend them for consideration on the next steps.”
– Steve Fuentes, Project Manager, Tilden-Coil Constructors
