Safety

Safety issues were of prime concern to the client. The following steps were taken:

•	The fire safety strategy for SWFC used performance-based design (above and beyond code requirement). Egress and fire/smoke spread through the building were simulated on the computer. The results informed us what modifications to make to the core planning (stair width, exit locations) to improve the egress time.
•	The primary load bearing elements (core and megacolumns) are steel reinforced concrete. This yields optimum fire protection and impact resistance than an all steel structure.
•	The core is a separate fire compartment with fire rated doors separating the core from the office space, to prevent smoke or fire from entering the core and travelling vertically up and down the elevator shafts.
•	All entry to the office elevators are through secure turnstyles. All security and fire systems are routed to a central fire command center on the ground level.