Structural Focus provided structural engineering services for Phases I & II of the seismic upgrade, adaptive reuse, and conversion, of the existing 1960s Riverside Main Library into the new Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art. The renovation resulted in a modern, innovative, active, and fully accessible arts center that offers a variety of public services including galleries, a cafe, administrative offices, classrooms, and a store. The two-story concrete structure involved a full basement, a rooftop mechanical penthouse, the addition of a large opening in the second floor, and exterior improvements such as investigating the condition and connection of the existing precast concrete screens, specifying the new concrete stair and slab on grade at the south entry, and loading dock enhancements.
