Chace Hall
The Pennsylvania State University
Zach Pitner
Architectural Engineering
Structural Option
Included is an updated Tech Report 1 as well as the proposal for next semesters work.
Included is a revised version of the original proposal.
Proposed Solution
The proposed new flat slab concrete building would include a similar layout to the existing building with slight adjustments in a few columns placements. After an initial comparison of sizes of various elements and the cost of construction, a flat concrete slab was chosen. The maximum bay size in the existing is 23’x23’, which after an initial look into the concrete framing would roughly yield an 8” slab. The bays will stay the same relative sizes with one larger than the other that includes the hallway in it. Adjustments will be needed on case-by-case basis because the concrete columns seem to be larger than the existing columns. The lateral system in the building will be changed to shear walls to eliminate the steel framing in the building. Also, the shear walls will be made more symmetrical since the building mirrors itself over a central axis. The roof will be redesigned as well, though may be altered to better make use of concrete in this application. The structural elements will be created based on the new loads associated with a concrete structure, and compared against a created Etabs model to verify results of hand calculations. An addition of a roof green space will also create additional loads, potentially upsizing many of the structural elements.
Construction management
The construction management breadth would consist of a cost and schedule analysis for the new flat slab concrete framing system to investigate the appropriateness of concrete. The system will then be compared to the existing system to see which option is more reasonable. The schedule will also be compared to give a relative idea of when each building would have been completed. Initially the cost and schedule analysis will briefly consider various column layouts and thickness of slabs to come up with the best option to proceed with for the entire semester. The more detailed breakdowns of each will come at the end.
Green Roof and Storm Water Management
Adding a green space on the roof will affect structural, drainage, and cost elements within the project. Initially added the space will increase the structural load making it a bit more complicated to compete with some of the other projects. Green roofs will be researched throughout the semester and proper weights will be designed for so that the concrete system will hold. Other problems like the storm water drainage arise. These would allow me to resize the piping and find a way to reuse the water for a more sustainable feature. Managing the storm water also allows me to bring in the various bioswales around South, which help manage the issue around campus. Green spaces seem like a bad idea in a climate that Penn State is located; however, this can allow me to look into architectural considerations to simply put large planting areas to account for the rainwater collection and leave the rest of the space either a more cost efficient turf or an area students can interact with. Lastly, if cost proves to be too outrageous, the idea can be compared with the original building. In summary; the green roof will affect structural loads and design, requiring a more challenging building; it will change the site drainage allowing the resizing of piping, reusable water, and incorporation of the bioswales; and it affects the architectural of the building. All of these influence cost and schedule, making a point of comparison between the old and the proposed.