Working links to both Arch and Stru models in Forma Data Management.
Working link to your Individual Forma Board
Please paste your working links to both models here…
PDF sheet set of Structural Plans, 30 by 42 inches (E1 size)
Please paste your PDF sheet set here…
Classified clash report with counts.
Please paste your classified clash report here…
Design memo of 300 to 400 words: which system and why, where the grid fought your architecture, what you changed in the architectural model.
Please paste your design memo here
Structural Design Memo
For Module 6, I developed a preliminary reinforced concrete structural system consisting of columns, beams, floor slabs, shear walls, and foundations. I chose reinforced concrete because it provides a relatively straightforward system for supporting gravity loads while also allowing shear walls to resist lateral forces from wind and earthquakes. It also works well for a multistory building because the framing can remain relatively consistent between floors.
I started by using the architectural grid and levels to organize the structural model. I placed preliminary 18-inch by 24-inch concrete columns and connected them with 16-inch by 32-inch concrete beams. I also modeled 10-inch structural floor slabs. The intended gravity load path transfers loads from the slabs into the beams, through the columns and walls, and eventually into the foundations. At the lowest level, I added isolated footings beneath columns and wall footings beneath structural walls.
One of the main challenges was coordinating the structural grid with the existing architectural layout. Column locations that made sense structurally did not always align conveniently with the building's interior spaces. The stairwell, elevator, and mechanical shaft areas were particularly important because structural members could not simply pass through these openings without affecting the architectural design. I had to consider the placement of beams, columns, and shear walls around these spaces while maintaining a continuous structural system.
To address these conflicts, I adjusted the structural framing layout and concentrated shear walls around the building's core where possible. This helped reduce interference with the main occupied spaces while providing a preliminary lateral load-resisting system. I retained the linked architectural model as the coordination reference rather than claiming that every architectural conflict had been resolved. Any changes to the architectural model itself would need to be documented and verified separately.
I also ran a Revit interference check between the structural and architectural models. The check reported 778 intersections, although many may represent expected overlaps between structural and architectural elements. The results highlighted the importance of checking openings, ceiling clearances, and wall connections.
Overall, this module demonstrated how structural design must respond to architectural constraints. The model establishes a preliminary structural concept, but additional coordination, engineering calculations, and member sizing would be necessary before finalizing the design.