Atrium, Lobby, Exhibit Space:
I decided to go with a wood framing system because it reflects the natural landscape of the redwoods and is an abundant and familiar material. The beams that are hidden within walls are 6x6 timber, and the beams that will be seen by guests are Gulam-Western Species 51/8x6. I decided to lean in to the visible columns, as they tie the building in with their surroundings, so beams are visible in the lobby, exhibit spaces, and most prominently in the atrium where they line the facade and the inner ring. The biggest structural challenge comes from the central atrium, as it is a very large space to be completely open and it spans 4 floors. When analyzing, it may be revealed that more supports are needed, in which case I plan to continue making the supports a prominent feature. A lesser design challenge came from the sloped roof, which required me to slope the columns and beams.