City of San Diego, Balboa Park Botanical Building Improvements

WHAT WE DID

Repair and Renovation of the Historic Botanical Building at Balboa Park

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Degenkolb provided structural engineering services to the repair and renovation of the historic Botanical Building at Balboa Park in San Diego. The structure was constructed in 1915 and has had several partial repair/renovation projects conducted throughout its lifespan which have altered the historic character of the building. The existing structure is 17,000 square-feet and the structural system was composed of a riveted steel truss arch with wood purlins supporting the exterior wood lath. The project aimed at restoring the historic elements of the original structure while addressing deferred maintenance and repairing structural and non-structural damage that has occurred due to corrosion of the steel and rotting/splitting of the wood members. Degenkolb was the Structural Engineer of Record for the steel repair and base replacement portion of the project and coordinated the extensive condition assessment of the steel superstructure. The project was completed in late 2024.