The Performing Arts Center, California Polytechnic State University, is a state-of-the-art performance facility located on the campus in San Luis Obispo. Open since September of 1996, the Performing Arts Center incorporates two main venues: the Christopher Cohan Center, including the 1,289-seat Sidney Harman Hall, the 180-seat classroom Philips Hall, and the multi-purpose Pavilion that holds various capacities up to 400 people; and the 498-seat Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre.
The construction of the Performing Arts Center involved excavations up to 34 feet, and the construction of masonry walls having a maximum height of 75 feet. During the design phase of the project, Earth Systems conducted a geotechnical feasibility study and engineering investigation. Geotechnical concerns included hard rock within the proposed excavation depths, expansive soils, and subsurface water. In addition to developing geotechnical criteria for grading, foundations, slabs and retaining walls, the Earth Systems’ reports addressed excavation into hard rock, dewatering, and a subslab drain system. During construction, testing and inspection of soils, concrete, masonry, and other construction materials was performed.