UC San Diego puts 10-Story Building to the Earthquake Challenge
In a bold leap for structural engineering, the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) is set to challenge the limits of cold-formed steel construction. In June 2025, a full-scale, 10-storey building made entirely from cold-formed steel will be subjected to a series of powerful seismic simulations on the world’s only outdoor earthquake simulator of its kind.
This isn’t just another lab test. It could very well change how we build in seismically active zones.
Currently, U.S. building codes only permit cold-formed steel buildings up to six storeys. But UC San Diego, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, wants to prove that these lightweight, durable structures can safely soar higher. If successful, this experiment could mark a pivotal shift in sustainable urban development, particularly in earthquake-prone regions.
An Engineering Powerhouse
Nestled in the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center, UC San Diego’s shake table isn’t just impressive—it’s a giant among giants. Capable of handling test specimens weighing up to 2,000 metric tons (that’s the equivalent of 1,300 standard cars), it recreates the brutal motions of real earthquakes. We’re talking the magnitude 6.7 Northridge quake and the 6.9 Loma Prieta tremor—both of which left swathes of California reeling.
And it doesn’t stop at brute force. The upgraded system, funded by a $17 million investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF), can now replicate all six degrees of seismic ground motion—longitudinal, lateral, vertical, and even roll, pitch, and yaw. That means buildings on this platform get the full rollercoaster experience, hitting acceleration levels as high as 3g at the top floors.
A Towering Structure with a Mission
The structure under scrutiny isn’t your typical office block. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of modern construction methods. The first floor is “stick-framed,” built on-site with cold-formed studs and tracks. Several upper floors, however, showcase prefabricated wall and floor panels, while others use modular units assembled offsite and hoisted into place like massive Lego blocks.
Tara Hutchinson, professor of structural engineering at UC San Diego and a principal investigator, said: “We are able to test new ideas and push the boundaries of what we’re doing in structural design and construction. Cold-formed steel is a great example of a promising lightweight, sustainable, and highly durable material, ideal for use in regions of high seismic hazard and for construction of tall buildings.”
What Exactly Is Cold-Formed Steel?
Cold-formed steel refers to steel that’s shaped at room temperature into construction-grade components like studs and joists. Its appeal lies in its many strengths:
- It’s strong yet lightweight
- Doesn’t burn when exposed to fire
- Easy to mass-produce
- Often made from recycled material
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Shapes mimic familiar timber elements, like two-by-fours
Given those advantages, it’s no wonder it has increasingly replaced timber in commercial and residential projects over the past four decades.
But here’s the catch: U.S. codes currently cap these buildings at 65 feet (around six storeys). The new test aims to prove they can safely rise to 100 feet (10 storeys) or more.
Science with Real-World Impact
Dubbed CFS10—short for Cold-Formed Steel, 10-Storey—the project forms part of the NSF’s Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) network. This initiative supports cutting-edge research to minimise destruction from natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis.
“Through years of work, we’ve developed an understanding of how to model key components of new cold-formed steel framing systems,” said Ben Schafer, professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-lead investigator. “We’ve used models and smaller-scale testing to determine if these systems can perform well in earthquakes, giving us confidence in our new solutions.”
Schafer added: “Overall, if we can predict the precise performance of a new building system, we can share those predictions with engineers to improve building design and construction practices in the U.S.”
Non-Structural Systems and Fire Testing
The shake test isn’t just about structural integrity. Researchers are also examining non-structural systems—like gas lines, stairwells, fire sprinklers, and rooftop mechanicals. These elements are vital to a building’s post-quake functionality. If the pipes burst or the stairs collapse, the building may be standing but still useless.
Once the seismic testing concludes, the same building will undergo live fire tests. Thousands of sensors—digital and analogue—embedded throughout the structure will measure everything from movement and acceleration to temperature gradients. It’s all about seeing how well the building and its internal systems survive the one-two punch of quake and fire.
“When we perform these large-scale tests, it is important we capture response with high fidelity; in this case, we are using thousands of sensors,” Hutchinson said. “That’s real data that allows us to explore and help improve design and construction methods, all of which will improve building codes.”
A Strong Coalition
The CFS10 experiment has brought together a formidable coalition of public and private entities. Alongside the NSF, support comes from:
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- California Seismic Safety Commission
- California Office of Emergency Services
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Industry heavyweights have also thrown their weight behind the project. Contributions have flowed in from ClarkDietrich, Mid-Rise Modular, Grabber Fastening, Bapko Metal, Clark Construction, and more. Trade organisations like the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Steel Framing Industry Association have added their voice to the growing call for taller, steel-framed structures.
Raising the Bar for Seismic Resilience
The outcome of these tests could signal a new chapter in seismic construction. If the data supports the performance of cold-formed steel at greater heights, it could lead to revisions in national building codes. That would open doors for safer, more sustainable buildings in seismically active regions around the globe.
For now, all eyes are on the UC San Diego shake table. It’s not just the ground that will be shaking—it could be the very foundations of structural policy.
