Jordan Brinn

Floor and wall panels are 5 ply CLT, so all floors, interior walls, and exterior walls that are not curtain walls are structural combined loads (can resist both shear and bearing forces). Floor panels can also span long distances (in this case, up to about 20') without support. Because of this feature, I didn't include any joists/beam systems in my design, only beams in between the columns and cantilevered to support floors adjacent to slanted walls. Also, I didn't have to include columns adjacent to walls since, nearly all the walls in the model are structural. I used glulam beams and columns in my design and tried to adhere to the post-beam-panel structural and grid features as outlined in this Structurelam guide. Structurelam is a mass timber fabricator who also provides design and installation services.

I wanted to make my structural framing visible for many reasons. First, CLT construction for tall-buildings is relatively new in the US. California building code will officially allow structures from 6 to 18 stories starting in July of 2021, so the structural framing system is an exhibit on its own. Second, CLT reduces the need for plenum space and beam systems which is more evident with an exposed design. Third, the lighter colors of CLT interiors helps reflect light which maximizes daylighting potential thus decreasing energy used by electrical lighting, and it can help give occupants a warmer feeling (cozy log cabin vibes)

I think I could reduce the number of columns that I currently have by replacing them with larger beams and optimizing floor panel lengths, because the floor spaces do seem to be a little crowded with columns currently