Structura served as the structural engineer of record for the Library of Congress Annex in Landover, MD, a key facility housing critical historical items. The project focused on maximizing storage capacity by redesigning and rearranging the existing shelving units, as well as adding large pallet-style shelving to optimize space. Key aspects included:

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• Structural Survey & Analysis: Given the building’s diverse structural systems, which included structural steel mezzanines, open-web steel joists, and precast double tees, Structura conducted an extensive survey of the existing shelving units and materials stored in the Annex. This survey was essential due to the lack of complete precast shop drawings and the varying types and weights of materials stored.
• Design & Capacity Evaluation: Structura performed a detailed evaluation of the existing structure’s capacity to accommodate additional shelving units, ensuring the new layout would not compromise the building's integrity. The team used a combination of engineering judgment and good practices to overcome the challenges posed by incomplete structural documentation.
• Collaborative Solution Development: Working closely with the architect, Streetsense, and shelving provider, Borroughs Corporation, Structura helped design the most efficient shelving layout for the space, ensuring maximum storage capacity while maintaining the building’s structural safety.
• Tenant Improvement Support: With a tight timeline and budget, Structura provided crucial support to meet the Library of Congress’s storage needs, ensuring that the tenant’s functional requirements were met without exceeding constraints. The collaborative approach ensured the project proceeded smoothly from start to finish.

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Structura’s engineering expertise and coordination with all involved parties ensured that the Library of Congress Annex could accommodate the additional storage while maintaining the structural integrity of the building.