Your overall strategy and the features of the structural system
I used to steel structure in my model since steel can bear more loads and take less areas. I used column W shape 10x49 and pad footing 96” x 72” x 18”. Since my building has “three levels” including a truss roof structure. The beam was used W shape 16x26 with beam system 6’ fixed spacing. In addition to that, I used scissors truss-8 panel for my roof (total 8 trusses), and I also reinforced the w16x26 brace to stabilize the roof trusses.
At the connection (hallways) between lobby and education room, I used different direction of beams since the span is longer. For my lobby, I used several columns to surround it making it empty. However, I utilized 2 columns to support the southern curtainwall and roof, and this may cause some aesthetic problems. We may need to paint it or hide it in some way in future. Furthermore, I also shortened the beam offset -7.9’’ to support my floorings.
All spans are not greater than 50’ at level 1, and we have an empty space at level 2. I used exterior columns to support the roof systems. This also becomes an interesting question: the frames may obstruct the daylighting.
Column covering
The material and framing system selected
Footings:
Footing-Rectangular
96’’ x 72’’ x 18’’
Concrete Cast in place gray
Column:
W shape-column
W10x49
Steel ASTM A992
Beam
W shape
W 16 x 26
Steel ASTM A992
Truss
W 12 x 26 Steel
Steel ASTM A992
Notes: I also add general connections between reinforced beams, trusses, and brace.
Connections
Connecting truss, brace, beam, and column for roof.
Brace
W 12 x 26 Steel
Steel ASTM A992
The locations of structural columns and major framing elements
I tried my best to arrange the columns with a certain patterns, but I want to arrange less columns at exhibit room and atrium. Considering all of those, I also try to distribute the loads for entire buildings. In addition, I also need to consider the columns location for level 1 and level 2. Becasue I have a quite empty space for roof and I need to support it, I added many braces and supporting beam.
- Level 1 structure array
- Level 2 structural array
- Level 3 Structural Array
Lobby View Towards South
Some columns are located between the curtain wall causing, and I may need to consider to adjust it. The roof structure looks good for me since I created a wide space for visitors.
Lobby View Towards North
Any special structural challenges
I think the first challenge is that my space is not uniform and causing that I cannot allocate my columns uniformly. This results in a lot of tradeoff. The second is that te atrium area needs to a lot of attentions since this space is empty and we need to think about the structural capacity.