The California Pacific Medical Center Van Ness Campus Hospital in downtown San Francisco was built with a glass, metal and stone tower meant to reflect the buildings of the city’s nearby financial district, according to an article on the Medical Construction & Design website.
Each floor is themed to a natural element — earth, flora, water, light and air — represented by finishes, colors and the use of super graphics to help to orient visitors.
The building uses two approaches to strengthen the structure against seismic vibration. One-hundred-twenty viscous wall dampers are placed around the perimeter of the building’s floorplates to absorb vibration.
Plus, four-sided structural silicone sealant on the glass curtainwall system provides a higher-performance façade in a seismic event.