BIMtopia

Design Journal Entry - Module 8

Journal Entry For
Module 8 - Structural Framing Systems

Overall Structural Design Strategy and Features

  • Since my project is split into three distinct building structures, I decided to make three distinct grids that would meet the needs for each of the areas. Looking back, I think that I would have liked to establish the grid during the massing stage of design (or right after) to set everything straight and make the structural design a bit more streamlined. Lesson learned!
  • I tried to take advantage as much of the core building walls as I could to make them structural, and then set up my columns/beams around them and tie back to them accordingly.
  • The main feature of this structural system is the timber columns and glulam beams for each of the three buildings. The intent for this is to have these beams be exposed to make this an architectural feature and showcase the use of more sustainable building materials (ideally wood sourced from sustainably harvested forests).
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Material and Framing System

The following were the key material and components of the structural system:

  • 72” x 48” x 18” footings
  • 18 x 18 Timber Columns
  • 5.125 x 15 glulam - western species beams
  • Structural walls and structural curtain wall for greenhouse

Location of Structural Columns and Major Framing Elements

Below are the isometric and plan views for each of the buildings showing the locations of the structural columns and major framing elements. Note that the beams are offset by the thickness of the floor system (LW concrete on metal deck - 5”) so that they lie beneath

Building 1 - Main entrance/Office

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Building 2 - Museum/Exhibition Space

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Building 3 - Auditorium

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Structural Challenges

Grids

I think that the major challenge for me was setting up the grid for each of the buildings and, in the future, I will likely set a grid much earlier in the architectural design to ensure that everything is aligned to insert a structure. I also think that the shapes of the buildings and location of the core walls are not necessarily the most conducive to straightforward, repeatable structural design. Working around this was a bit of a challenge and again would relocate these building elements in the future to be located in the interior of the building structure rather than (like in Building 2) towards the exterior.