UPMC Hamot Thesis Proposal!
During the spring semester, students will implement their ideas from their Proposal into their buildings. The purpose of the Proposal is to set forth the students objectives for the spring semester. With these objectives must also come intended deadlines for completion of various components of the project.
Structural Depth
Through the discoveries of the various Technical Reports and background knowledge of the building history various aspects of this project shall be analyzed. First a comparison of building codes (ASCE 7-05 vs. ASCE 7-10) will be done with special care being taken to analyze how the changes to the wind loading sections of the code affect this and other structures. Secondly the existing moment frames will be redesigned as braced frames, with special care being taken to incorporate them with the current architectural layout, or hide them within the structure as needed. This will be done using the loads determined through the use of ASCE 7-05 to allow for an equivalent comparison to the lateral system that is being utilized in the existing building. Then an analysis will be done to examine how starting from 'scratch' could have affected the structure. This will be accomplished through finding new locations for columns (not using the existing grid), hopefully being able to find a more efficient layout. Constraints will be imposed to maintain the same building footprint and room areas, etc. This will allow for fewer construction cost variable and a more accurate final assessment. Obviously these alterations will affect other aspects of the building. For example placing braced frames inside of a wall will require a wider wall system and possible relocation of doors. These issues will be dealt with through various breadth topics discussed below.
Construction Management Breadth
When redesigning the building as a 'new' structure and thus ignoring the existing column grid and starting from scratch poses a very interesting question. Will it cost more? This is unknown but was speculated by the construction team to be the case. A more in-depth study of this should be done before any conclusion can be drawn. Thus a construction management breadth will be done to analyze the cost and schedule differences associated with this alternative. This breadth will include a detailed schedule comparison, of both the existing schedule and the proposed new building schedule. Then a detailed cost analysis will be done to determine feasibility based on cost and schedule, with schedule implications being considered in the overall cost analysis.
Architectural Breadth
The redesign of the buildings lateral system will undoubtedly have an impact on the buildings architecture. The architect was adamant about not having braces disrupt the floor plan of the hospital. Currently the lateral frames in the East-West direction are located at the far extremes of the building. So adding braced frames here may prove to be difficult, although to move the frames in one column line will allow for the structure to be hidden as the architect requested. Hiding the frames inside of the wall will also maintain the open rooms and sight lines, but may require the relocation of some of the doors within the building. Adjusting the building floor plan appropriately may be required. A study of the exterior façade and how braced frames along the exterior will affect the views that the hospital is famous for will also be done. Thus an architectural breadth will be required to analyze how these changes influence the architectural appearance of both the interior and exterior design of the UPMC Hamot Women's Hospital.
MAE Related Course Work
Utilizing the knowledge gained through taking AE 534, Steel Connections, several typical connections will be analyzed for both the existing moment connections and the alternative braced connections. Information gained through taking AE 597A, Computer Modeling of Building Structures, will also be utilized but adapted to this project. RAM Structural Systems will be the primary method of computer analysis. This platform was not explicitly taught as part of this course, but through teaching myself this platform and not blindly trusting the computer solution, the coursework becomes applicable.
Senior Capstone Project (CPEP):
The Capstone Project Electronic Portfolio (CPEP) is a web-based project and information center. It contains materials produced for a year-long Senior Thesis class. Its purpose, in addition to providing central storage of individual assignments, is to foster communication and collaboration between student, faculty consultant, course instructors, and industry consultants. This website is dedicated to the research and analysis conducted via guidelines provided by the Department of Architectural Engineering. For an explanation of this capstone course and its requirements click here.
