San Jose Tech Museum

Structural Engineer Patrick Man, of Rinne & Peterson of Palo Alto , helped to make sure that the new Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose had a first-class building to enable visitors to discover technology through exploratory activities.

Working with the world-renowned museum architect,Ricardo Legorreta from Mexico , the structural engineers needed to figure out how to make the exterior skin of the building without joints while ensuring that the open floor plan and Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater (Northern California's only domed IMAX screen) could withstand a moderate to severe earthquake.

The Tech's 132,000 square feet comprise themed galleries focused on innovation, the Internet, the human body, and exploration. In addition, there's an educational center for workshops and labs, an upscale cafe, and a retail store featuring books, gifts, and only-in-Silicon Valley items.

Jet Pack

The Tech began as a dream. In 1978, members of the Junior League of Palo Alto, later joined by the San Jose League, envisioned an innovative learning center devoted to science and technology.

The vision for The Tech was realized in 1990, when a 20,000-square-foot temporary test facility was opened in the old convention center on San Carlos Street. Since then, The Tech has fine-tuned its mission of engaging people of all ages in the technologies that affect their daily lives and has built a reputation as a viable and necessary educational resource in the area of science and technology learning. It also has become a landmark for seismic safety in Silicon Valley.

Since the prototype Tech opened, some four million visitors from all over the world have enjoyed a one-of-a-kind, up close view of the spirit of innovation.