Background
The Nimitz-MacArthur Pacific Command Center (NMPCC), located at Camp H. M. Smith in Oahu, Hawaii, is a remarkable six-story, 274,500 sq. ft. facility that is reminiscent of 1920s Hawaiian architecture, and now accommodates more than 1,350 personnel for the U.S. Pacific Command and the Special Operations Command, Pacific. The $80 million “mission critical” facility was originally issued by the Navy as a modified Design/Build request for proposal (RFP). In only two months, the design/build team developed an alternate structural system that more efficiently handled classified security threats including progressive collapse mitigation.

The NMPCC is comprised of an innovative structural steel framing system that uses ductile moment frame connections to resist wind, seismic, and blast loading. In the case of unforeseen local collapse, the SidePlate™ moment connection also provides alternate load paths to mitigate progressive collapse. The resultant design rendered an efficient structural steel frame weight of less than 10 psf.

As compared to the original completely cast-in-place RFP design, use of structural steel framing with cast-in-place suspended slabs and precast concrete cladding provided tremendous cost savings to the Navy. In addition, the selection and economy of the structural steel system exceeded the RFP requirements in terms of gravity, seismic, wind and blast load capacities. With the state-of-the-art SidePlate™ steel frame connection technology, the steel scheme enhanced the structure’s redundancy, ductility and energy dissipation characteristics.

Advanced Technology
Our office performed a pricing redesign of the structure with an innovative structural steel system that could address both stringent lateral load requirements and Progressive Collapse requirements.

To address the blast criteria, the design/build team developed an economical façade system consisting of precast concrete panels tied to a framework of steel tubes. The design/build team ultimately selected a structural steel system that incorporated the latest technology in an innovative manner. The SidePlate Moment Connection Technology developed by Myers, Houghton & Partners, Inc. and SidePlate Systems Inc. was incorporated into the structure to satisfy the RFP progressive collapse requirements.

Client Benefits
Looking at alternate structural systems helped save over $2,000,000 and allowed our team to design the project for higher blast, seismic and wind loads than required by the RFP.

“We at SidePlate wish to thank you and your staff for your leadership and vision in solving with creativity and tenacity the formidable design challenges presented by the U.S. Navy Pacific Command Headquarters project.”
- David L. Houghton, S.E., President, SidePlate Steel Frame Solutions