The term “sliver building,” according to the New York City (NYC) zoning code, is specifically reserved for a tall building or enlargement that is 45 feet wide or less. In many cases, such buildings are restricted to a height equal to the width of the abutting street or 100 feet, whichever is less. However, when considering the structural stability of a building, a “sliver building” is commonly a narrow building having a large aspect ratio (height to width). Even though a building may not specifically be designated as a sliver building according to the local zoning code and building department, engineers often encounter similar conditions which often present stability issues due to the narrow width when resisting lateral loads. …

A new repair method was implemented to restore the structural integrity of precast double-tee stems that have lost their prestressing strands due to physical damage or corrosion. The repair method is intended for strands that are closely spaced, where currently available strand splices cannot be used without modification. Pressure jackets are used to splay the wire strands apart and align them with splices in order to re-stress the strand to the original pre-load. …