Seismic Improvement Projects

To ensure the safety of students, employees and the entire university community, Design and Construction Management (DCM) is hard at work identifying and implementing necessary seismic improvements on campus. Using the UC seismic policy guidelines, every major building at UC Davis, including on satellite sites, was evaluated and DCM is using that data to provide seismic improvements and other necessary work including code compliance and critical deferred maintenance.

Scope

Seismic ratings, as determined by UC Seismic Policy, are used to determine the priority of building improvements, along with code requirements, occupancy, programmatic function and funding considerations. Renovations to each building will be a balance between seismic improvements, code compliance renovations and critical deferred maintenance. DCM will also be working to integrate improvements with existing architecture and minimize disruption by working from the exterior of buildings when possible.

UC Seismic Policy

The purpose of the UC Seismic Policy is, to the extent feasible by present earthquake engineering practice, to provide an acceptable level of earthquake safety for students, employees, and the public who occupy university facilities and leased facilities. In order to comply with the policy, UC Davis must ensure that a university facility with a Seismic Performance Rating of V or VI (as defined in Appendix A of the policy) is not occupied beyond December 31, 2030. 

Funding

Under the 2013-14 Budget Act (AB 94), the university can use State operating funds to address critical capital needs, subject to approval and reporting requirements and in the absence of other State funding. The university has targeted seismic improvements with these funds, but is also addressing other needs that fall under the scope of AB 94. This includes addressing compliance with building, fire and accessibility codes and critical deferred maintenance.

High Priority Seismic Improvement Projects

After thorough evaluations of the over 1,000 buildings across the university completed in 2020, 6 buildings were rated with a Seismic Performance Rating of VI and identified as high priority targets for improvement. Since 2020, seismic improvements have been completed on two of the buildings — Jungerman Hall and Mann Laboratory. Click the blocks below to learn more about the ongoing retrofits in the Social Sciences & Humanities Building, Sprocket Building, Voorhies Hall and Young Hall.