BlueCross BlueShield Office Building

APS Tony Hillerman Middle School | BlueCross BlueShield | BSA Hospital | Chief Manuelito Middle School | DETR | Jefferson Green

The primary structure of the 116,000sf, four-story BlueCross BlueShield headquarters building consists of steel framing with exposed and non-exposed lateral bracing in each principal direction to resist earthquake and wind loads. Even though the building had a complex geometrical shape, the consistent structural grid eliminated costly structural discontinuities. Since the structural steel system was exposed in various locations throughout the building, it required closer coordination with the architectural, mechanical, and electrical details to ensure the design intent was obtained. Key elements of the BlueCross BlueShield building are exposed framing at the fourth floor with simulated castellated beams, concealed braced frame connections at the exposed braces, cantilevered coped steel beams at the roof edge to extend sun protection and lighten the edge are among a few around the headquarters for BlueCross/BlueShield.

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Size: 116,000sf