Salesforce Transit Center Featured in Smithsonian Channel’s How Did They Build That Docuseries

The Smithsonian Channel’s How Did They Build That? docuseries (Season 5, Episode 3) features the engineering behind Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, California. The episode highlights Thornton Tomasetti’s structural engineering and advanced performance-based seismic design. 

Advanced Seismic Design for Salesforce Transit Center 

Spanning nearly four city blocks, the 1,430-foot-long structure houses 11 transit systems, including the future California High-Speed Rail, all topped by a 5.4-acre public park. It was designed not only to withstand extreme earthquakes, but also to remain operational after a major seismic event. 

In the episode, Managing Principal Bruce Gibbons discusses how Thornton Tomasetti, along with Pelli Clarke & Partners and Transbay Joint Powers Authority, overcame these complex design challenges. 

Thornton Tomasetti used advanced performance-based seismic design to help the structure withstand maximum earthquake shaking without major structural damage or significant loss of function. 

Visit the Smithsonian Channel to find current viewing options for How Did They Build That?