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Why This Building Was
Chosen
The University of Cincinnati Athletic Center is an eye-catching,
unique building. I chose the UC Athletic Center for my
thesis research project because of its interesting design and
because I knew access to building information would be aided by
my contact with Arup, the primary S/MEP engineer. The
combination of its creative architectural design, my
relationship with the structural engineer, and the unusual
structural and social aspects solidified my decision to use the
building as a thesis project.
Structural
Considerations
The UC Athletic Center is appropriate for research into
structural discipline issues for the following reasons: |
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The architecture and
structure are closely related. The "diagrid" exterior
structural support system is the most visible part of the
building. The aesthetic importance of the structure
itself, as opposed to being hidden behind a facade, presents
additional design considerations. |
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The building is
multi-use. A variety of spaces provides opportunities
to learn more about floor systems and loading patterns. |
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There are major site
constraints. The Center's close proximity to a
football stadium and limited crane and layout areas could
impact its structural constructability. |
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It will be connected
to an adjacent building. The building footprint's
existing structure played an important role in how the new
construction was designed. |
A Unique Feature
The most unique feature of the UC Athletic Center, as mentioned
above, is its exterior facade. The diagrid system set up
is both an architectural statement and a complex structural
challenge. It was designed using intuitive engineering
knowledge and a variety of structural analysis computer
programs. It is unique in that it not only is the
predominant architectural feature of the building, but that it
is the most predominant structural feature of the building as
well.
This page was last updated on
Sunday October 19, 2003.
This page was created by Brian
Genduso and is hosted by the AE
Department. |
