The Getty Center consists of over 1,500,000 square feet of construction spread among six separate, but interconnected, structures on a 110-acre site in the Santa Monica Mountains. A steeply sloping site with an inactive fault trace traversing the site complicated our structural design development. A wide variety of programs including a museum, Trust offices, conservation laboratories, library circulation and storage areas, food service areas, auditorium, parking structures, and elaborate mechanical and utility area are included in the project.

Its hilltop location commands views in all direction, but it is buffeted by strong ocean breezes. This led to concerns about patron comfort using the outdoor spaces and dining facilities. Our firm was retained to provide wind input that could be incorporated into the conceptual design.

A comprehensive wind tunnel study was subsequently performed where we worked closely with the architect and owner's representative to quantify wind flow in and around the entire development and to develop mitigating measures where required and test their effectiveness. The wind flow at various locations of the project was studied by hours of the day as well as by seasons of the year.

Where recommended mitigation measures were not incorporated, uncomfortable wind speeds resulted in reduced utility of these outdoor spaces.