Glenn KatzWhen thinking about a building that I would want to create, I wanted to look at other structures I have seen (in person or just in pictures) that have been memorable. I really like the style and layouts of old European cathedrals and castles, so I first wanted to look at that.
My favorite building of all time is the Salisbury cathedral (which I have been lucky enough to visit), but I felt that it was a little unrealistic to try to make my building similar since it’s so large and serves such a different purpose.
A place I want to visit is St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. I really like the layout of the square, with the round courtyard that leads into the main structure. I figured I wanted to do some sort of courtyard, but emulating this one with its rounded shape might be a little too difficult.
Finally, I found Nordkirchen Castle in Germany. This castle has a U-shape layout with a green courtyard in the center. I want my building to follow this layout with its shape and green space, but adjusting dimensions to fit the building requirements. There is also water surrounding the building, but that probably can’t reasonably be incorporated.
The U-shaped building allows for a central lobby that leads into different wings of the building. Have a courtyard allows for a practical green space for both aesthetics and a place for people to enjoy and walk around. To get 30,000-35,000 square feet, the building will probably be around 2-3 stories. Doing the calculations, to get a 2-story, 30,000 sq ft building, it would need to be 122 ft long on either side. The U with the courtyard will cause the exterior dimensions to increase, and 35,000 sq ft is possible with 2 stories, 150 ft side dimensions, and a courtyard cutout of 50 ft by 100 ft. These dimensions may be modified slightly once the final building layout is determined.
Since structural engineering is what I have background in, thinking about the structure of the system I was thinking of making it a steel moment frame lateral system. This allows for large exterior openings and windows, allowing for natural light to enter the building during the day. The gravity system will also be made out of steel, keeping the building lightweight. Another option to explore is mass timber, which is even more lightweight and sustainable. For a 2-story building it may be a good option, although I have much less experience with it, and mass timber lateral systems typically require shear walls or braces, which will greatly reduce outside visibility.
Nordkirchen Castle
St Peter’s Square
Salisbury Cathedral
Potential Layouts
