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)
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.
My building is 7 stories tall, which means that it requires a specific kind of structural system. Because of its height, it could not rely on just one layer of concrete for its foundation, but rather two. Then, on top of the concrete, I decided to go with steel framing instead of wood III. This was mostly a stylistic choice and for the small, discreet beams and columns that steel allows. Steel also provides the strength and structural capacity necessary to support a taller building while allowing for more open interior spaces and flexibility in the floor plans.
The grid fought my previous architecture greatly. The most notable and common disagreements between my new grid and the pre-existing architecture were where there were slight misalignments between walls across the hall from each other. In these cases, it made much more sense to move the walls to align with each other, so that the beams could carry across. These walls were misaligned originally because I was primarily focused on unit square footage, but the structural cohesion of the system overrides that. Establishing a consistent grid also made it easier to organize the columns and beams and create a more predictable load path throughout the building.
Because of this, most of the architectural changes that I made were simply moving walls slightly over to align them with the grid. Also, I had to move the front entrance over laterally as it was in the way of a load path that had extended from the floor above. I also needed to move over windows and other openings when they conflicted with new columns that I had to put in. This required balancing the original architectural design with the practical needs of the structural system. Other than that, my previous design was fairly rational. Overall, this process showed me how structural decisions can influence architectural layouts, even when the original design is already relatively well organized.