Coordination issues for concrete floating floors; san francisco conservatory of music bowes center, case study

Abstract

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Bowes Center is a complex, vertical building housing SFCM's performance, rehearsal, instruction, and dormitory spaces. Coordination issues during design and construction that are not strictly acoustical but that are critical to achieving the floating floor's optimum sound and impact isolation performance are discussed. This paper examines issues from early design to construction phases applicable to many types of floating floor systems, such as: setting structural point loading criteria, developing a sound isolation envelope, coordination with audiovisual (AV) and theater consultants with respect to routing of conduits and locating recessed AV boxes in floating floor, coordination with the architect and structural engineer to identify high point loads on floating floor, consideration of seismic restraint elements, structural coordination to evaluate anchorage needs for elements supported on floating floor, construction sequencing coordination with pre-construction contractor with respect to anticipated needs for lifts on raised floating floors, and coordination of floating floor shop drawings with framing shop drawings for elements supported from the floating floor. This project case study outlines a useful list to help architects, consultants, and engineers navigate the complex and varied coordination issues that may arise on projects with concrete floating floors.