Oregon State Capitol Rotunda Upgrade

Miller Consulting Engineers provided structural engineering services for the seismic upgrade of the historic Oregon State Capitol Rotunda in Salem, Oregon.

 

Following the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake, MCE partnered with Emerick Construction to design and implement a comprehensive seismic retrofit that preserved the Capitol's historic architecture while significantly improving its earthquake resilience. Innovative engineering solutions included reinforced concrete shearwalls concealed behind original finishes, a base isolation system that allows the Capitol's historic murals to "float" within the walls during seismic events, and advanced computer modeling to analyze stress concentrations within the rotunda and dome.

 

Completed on time and under budget, the award-winning retrofit successfully enhanced life safety while protecting one of Oregon's most significant historic landmarks for future generations.

 

AWARDS

1996 Oregon Chapter of ACEC - Engineering Excellence Grand Award

1996 ACEC - Engineering Excellence National Honors Award