ZFA designed and implemented a voluntary retrofit and tenant improvement plan for a new headquarters for Amy’s Kitchen. The project transformed an existing downtown Petaluma structure into a functional, 20,249-square-foot facility for employees. The project goals included addressing critical structural deficiencies and preserving historical architecture.
The site was originally occupied by a two-story, unreinforced brick (URM) building constructed in 1868, which underwent a major renovation in the early 1940s to become a two-story plus mezzanine department store. It is a contributing building to the downtown Petaluma Historical District, therefore certain architectural elements could not be modified.
ZFA completed an ASCE 41 Evaluation and a Probable Maximum Loss Assessment utilizing ST-RISK as part of a due diligence phase. Beyond the typical deficiencies of a historic building, it was determined that the building did not comply with Petaluma’s Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing URM Building Ordinance.
In collaboration with the building owner and future tenant, ZFA strategically developed a renovation and retrofit plan to improve the building’s structural performance during a seismic event beyond the minimum requirements triggered by the tenant improvement. This included addressing the soft story deficiency, retrofit of multiple diaphragms, and the expansion and strengthening of the mezzanine to provide out-of-plane wall bracing, particularly at the front entry to protect emergency egress pathways.
Photos credit: Jason O’Rear