Discovery Science Center Expansion

KPFF provided structural engineering services on the Discovery Science Center Expansion, located in Santa Ana, Ca. This project consists of approximately 43,500 square foot of new construction that is functionally connected to, but seismically separate from the existing Discover Science Center main building. The new building is steel framed, with special concentric braced frames serving as the primary lateral force resisting system. The foundation system for the building consists of a deep pile foundation utilizing proprietary “Torque Down” piles.

The first floor of the building consists of a large exhibit space. The second floor contains an exhibit area as well as a large “black box” theatre area that contains a retractable seating system. The retractable seating allows for the theatre to serve as exhibit space when the theatre is not in use. The third floor houses the theatre control room and catwalk/tension grid system, as well as large areas of cantilevered balcony seating looking into the black box.