San Francisco Convention Center Goes Underground

by T. Y. Lin, (M.ASCE), Board Chmn.; T. Y. LIN International, 315 Bay St., San Francisco, Calif. 94133,
Jeppe Larsen, Vice Pres.; Moscone Convention Ctr., San Francisco, Calif.,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1982, Vol. 52, Issue 8, Pg. 41-43


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The Moscone Convention Center, built at a construction cost of �126 million, opened its doors to an admiring public on December 2, 1981. The Center's grand exhibit hall, 90 meters wide and 255 meters long, is roofed with eight pairs of post-tensioned concrete archess, creating an area of 23,000 sq. m, believed to be the world's largest column-free underground hall in the world. The arches are tied with post-tensioned cables encased in the 2.2-m thick concrete mat floor. These cables were utilized to move the ends of the arches inward by 9 cm, forcing a camber of 10 cm at the crown of the arches. The ties are curved vertically in the foundation mat thus exerting a downward force which helps to counteract the upward ground water pressure.

Subject Headings: Cables | Arches | Underground construction | Tension | Public buildings | Materials engineering | Water pressure

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