Thesis Research

Buildings with Diagrids
The following resources all contain examples of buildings with diagrids similar to the exterior system found on the UC Athletic Center.  Within these examples is a mixture of diagrid materials (wood, steel tubes, steel wide flanges) and diagrid functions (main gravity and lateral system, gravity only, seismic resistance, roof system).   They have provided technical details as well as inspiring ideas for completing solution areas I and II of the thesis proposal.
Case Studies: Swiss Re Tower, London, UK. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  22 Jan. 2004
     <http://www.cse.polyu.edu.hk/~cecspoon/lwbt/Case_Studies/swiss/swiss.html>.
 
"Grape Expectations."  Australian Timber Design
     Spring 2002.  22 Jan. 2004 <http://www.tradac.org.au/atd/editions/11/atd_11_wine.pdf>.
 
Post, Nadine M.  "Seattle's Eccentric 'Book Behemoth' Shatters Stereotypes."  Engineering News-Record
     3 Nov. 2003: 20+.
 
Post, Nadine M.  "Tower's Top Adapted From Bridge Design." Engineering News-Record  29 Dec. 2003: 8-9.
 
Reina, Peter.  "Beijing Towers 'Want' to Fall but Rely on Tubular Design." Engineering News-Record
     19 May 2003.  22 Jan. 2004 <http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20030520d.asp>.
 
"Showing Steel."  New York Construction
 
    September 2003.  22 Jan. 2004 <http://newyork.construction.com/features/archive/0309_feature4.asp>.
 
Turpin, Malcolm. "Great Hall."  Civil Engineering Magazine
     August 2003.  22 Jan. 2004 <http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/ceonline03/0803feat.html>.
Steel Economy Issues
American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc.  "Special Report:  Economy in Steel Design." Modern Steel Construction
     Apr. 2000.
  This report is composed of four individual articles on reducing cost while maintaining quality in a steel building.  The reports will be used for the construction management breadth work to help determine the most efficient and cost-effective solution.
 
Shneur, Victor.  "57 Tips for Reducing Connection Costs." Modern Steel Construction July 2003.
  This article provides more specific information relating to efficient connection design and management.  Again, this resource will be used primarily for the construction management breadth option.  The tips are very useful since the diagrid structure has many complicated connections.

Structural Efficiency or Theory

Ambrose, James E.  Building Structures Primer.  New York:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1967.
  Although written for architecture students, this short book gives an overview of structural theory and design concepts in buildings.  Its primary assets are a few chapters dedicated to general structural efficiency.  It has provided a base for which the various alternatives in solution area I can be judged.
 
Iyengar, Hal.  "Reflections on the Hancock Concept." Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Review
     May 2000: 44-52.
  While researching structural efficiency, the John Hancock Center in Chicago came up several times as a model building in this area.  This article, written by a retired partner from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, gives a first-hand account of the theory behind the design.  It contains useful diagrams and advice on designing efficient structures, and will help fine tune alternatives in solution area II.
 
Macdonald, Angus J.  Structure and Architecture.  Oxford:  Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., 1994.
  Like the book by James Ambrose, this is an introduction to building structures.  However, a useful chapter on the relationship between structural form and structural efficiency is a key to understanding the complex geometrical nature of the UC Athletic Center.  It has aided in determining stress flow characteristics in solution area II.
 
Thornton, Charles H., et al.  Exposed Structure in Building Design.  New York:  McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1993.
  This unique book contains three distinct sections relating to exposed or expressed structure, such as the exterior diagrid.  One section includes conversations between the authors and prominent architects, one of which is Bernard Tschumi, whose architecture firm designed the UC Athletic Center.  Another section contains specific information on making exposed structure work, including cost and serviceability concerns.

This page was last updated on Sunday April 04, 2004.
This page was created by Brian Genduso and is hosted by the AE Department.