Architectural model LINK
Structural model LINK
Architectural Model Update
I added the solar panels on top of the roof, extended the stairs to the roof, and added parapet walls.
3D Section Views with Structural Elements
From first floor to third floor:
Strategy
Since day one, I wanted the building to be a mass-timber structure, so I did not consider any other materials for my building. I think timber will fit the vibe of the building, and also it is a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing building material. Users will be able to see the beams and columns, and the structural framings are not exposed to the outside. This system aims to showcase the timber structure while maximizing the clear views of the surrounding environment.
Grids
I added grids on the Architectural Drawing, as shown below. The triangular portion of the building is the tricky part. The grids follow a regular layout. The maximum beam will span 30 ft, which is achievable for a glulam beam.
Structural Framing Elements
Structural Floors & Structural Walls
First floor: I separated the marble floor layer from the structural floor.
Second to third floors: I separated the marble floor layer from the structural floors.
Typical shear/core wall:
Typical load-bearing wall:
Structural Beams & Columns
Beams: Glulam-Western Species 18x24 (longest beam ~30 ft, workable from experience). No beam system is used because the floor already has wood joists. The beams or columns block no hallways, stairs, or shaft openings. Tops of the beams are in contact with the bottoms of the structural floors.
Columns: Glulam-Western Species 24x24 (typical column spacing ~17.5ft or 27.5ft).
These are preliminary sizes for the beams and columns from prior experiences.
Typical framing layout:
Foundations
Shallow foundations are used: isolated footings for columns & strip foundations under walls.
Isolated footings:
Strip footings:
Special Challenges
- I wasn’t sure how to design the framing layout around the spiral staircase, so I decided to use a curved wood beam supported by two columns around the staircase opening.
- When I copied the structural walls from the architectural file to the structural file, the wall’s properties could not be copied even when using the tool from the collaborate tab, so I had to transfer project standards to load in the wall properties.
- I rotated the true north of my architectural file but didn’t rotate that for the structural model. When I uploaded the files to the Autodesk construction cloud, my models did not align. I figured the issue out and fixed it, but it was a confusing and stressful moment because I did not know what was wrong.
Coordination Views combining the structural and architectural models from Autodesk Construction Cloud
First-floor lobby
Exhibition rooms
Third-floor open space
Hallways
Stairs
