Design revisions, unexpected structural issues and supply delays made for a challenging historic restoration for the team on the 750 Reno project. Flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking became necessary to keep the project moving forward. The scope of work consisted of a full renovation and seismic upgrades to a five-story building that would become the corporate headquarters for a health care company. Originally built in 1917, the building has served numerous purposes over the last 100 years and was once part of a meat-packing complex. Immediately prior to the renovation, the building had sat vacant for several years. The needs of the building’s users changed several times during construction, requiring designers to plan for flexible spaces to serve several possible uses.
The existing structure was a structural steel frame encased in concrete (for fireproofing purposes) with a three-wythe-thick brick curtain wall system, while cast-in-place concrete decks serve as the floor and roof structure. Renovations included a complete restoration of the brick exterior, installation of seismic upgrades and a new roof and replacement of all windows and doors.