UCSD Humanities & Social Sciences Building Repair
Constructed in 1970 in the Brutalist style by architect George Wheeler, the 8-story HSS building is part of UC San Diego’s Muir College, a collection of 1960s and 1970s concrete buildings on the campus’ west side. Soon after construction, the concrete curtain wall began to fail, with water intrusion issues and significant concrete spalling, prompting a series of emergency repair projects. In 2019, concrete testing determined inherent flaws in the original concrete mix, and it was determined that the entire façade would be replaced for life/safety reasons and to improve building performance.
ARG served as historic architect for the extensive building façade replacement project. As the building was identified in a 2015 campus-wide survey as a historic resource, the newly-design wall system must match the original in appearance and undergo CEQA, California Coastal Commission, and Design Review Board approvals.
ARG defined the aesthetic criteria for the new façade components to ensure the project met the criteria required for the historic approvals process and led the approvals on behalf of the Owner. Additionally, our team conducted a comprehensive site conditions assessment and identified life/safety issues to be repaired.
A series of mockups (both on-site and at the pre-cast concrete contractor’s plant) ensured an exact color and texture match, while also meeting the University’s performance criteria for the building. The mockups were also used for ASTM testing of air and water penetration to meet the project’s quality control standards. New aluminum window with insulated glass units (IGUs) ensured a weathertight envelope while retaining the distinctive shape and profile of the original rubber gasket windows.
The entire project was completed in about 16 months, and the new pre-cast concrete panel system is indistinguishable from the original system. While some owners may have demolished the building due to significant issues with the concrete façade, UC San Diego’s commitment to the preservation of the building has proven that material replacement can address deterioration and performance issues while retaining the distinctive design integrity of Brutalist buildings.
