Your Design Journal entries this week should highlight your design thinking that influenced your decisions about:
- your overall strategy and the features of the structural system
- the material and framing system selected
- the locations of structural columns and major framing elements
- any special structural challenges
Design strategy:
The overall structural design strategy involves placing columns along the edges of the building and setting two main grids in the middle area for column placement, aiming to avoid large-span beams. Columns are strategically located either in the middle of core walls or enclosed rooms to minimize their visual impact on visitors. The height of all columns is adjusted based on the roof height. Beams are primarily oriented east-west, except for the beams near the hallways of the two patios. The placement of second-floor beams is designed to avoid stairs, elevators, and atriums. The roof design, featuring a sawtooth shape, presents a unique challenge as it is difficult to place beams on the same floor level to support the roof, leading to the placement of beams at every change of the roof's angle. The structural walls, including restrooms, mechanical rooms, elevators, and walls shared between two floors, are designed as concrete load-bearing walls. The roof, despite having a low load, has minimal beam placement to allow for sunlight penetration through the roof glass, enhancing daylight and the visual experience inside.
Material and framing system selected:
The structure utilizes steel columns and beams due to their good load-bearing capacity, allowing for fewer columns and beams to impact the visual experience of visitors. For larger spans in the third building, beams of size W16x26 were used, while W12x26 beams were used in other areas. The structural floor comprises 3'' LW concrete on 2'' metal deck.
Locations of structural columns and major framing elements:
In the structural design of the building, columns are meticulously placed to optimize both functionality and aesthetic. Along the perimeter, columns align with the architectural design while providing necessary structural support. The central area features two main grids for column placement, facilitating efficient load distribution and ensuring structural integrity, crucial for supporting the spacious atrium in the third building. In this area, fewer but larger columns are used to create an open and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, the strategic placement of beams, particularly on the second floor, is designed to accommodate key functional elements like stairs, elevators, and the atrium, ensuring seamless integration with the building's internal flow and design.
Special structural challenges:
The most challenging aspects of the structural design include dealing with the gradually widening building from the entrance to the rear, which complicates the grid setting and column placement. Additionally, the irregular, varying heights of the sawtooth roof design create complexity in the design of roof structural beams.