Gallagher Square

Type: Structural – New Build

Architect: Larimer Design

Contractor: Clark Construction Group

Software: RISA-3D

Vision Meets Structure

Gallagher Square, in the heart of downtown San Diego, underwent a significant transformation, aiming to create a globally appealing, unique space in Petco Park’s baseball stadium from the East Village Entrance. A pivotal aspect of this project was the design and engineering of a large-scale, interactive play structure catering to both children and adults.

Our Role

MDEP served as the Engineer of Record, responsible for the structural analysis and dynamic design. The project’s centerpiece is a 35-foot baseball bat climbing sculpture. This structure, designed to offer panoramic views of the ball field and feature nighttime illumination, is structurally interconnected with four bat-themed towers, representing the four bases of a baseball diamond.

The structural system also supports a central, giant pitcher mound net floor. Additional structural elements included a bat rope forest, a crawl tunnel mound, large slides, and a solid oak bat and rubber glove features, all integrated to create a cohesive and engaging play environment. MDEP’s structural engineering expertise was critical in ensuring the safety and stability of these complex and innovative designs.

How Was RISA Used?

RISA-3D was utilized to create an accurate model of the complex play structure using its intuitive interface and library of elements. Because the four main towers are interconnected by bridges and behave as a single structural system, an accurate model was essential for correctly capturing load transfer between all components. RISA’s finite element analysis capabilities, which analyze the entire interconnected system as a single unit, were crucial for understanding how loads on one tower or bridge affect the stresses and deflections in other parts of the structure.

Multiple lateral force resisting systems and connections were tested in the analysis, with design constraints including a budget, elevation and slope differentials, permanent and short-term loading, and live load volume.  The deflection and torsion of the towers governed the design with consideration for fixed and pinned connections for the bridge elements.  Vibration and tension review was included, as well as foundation design.