Architecture 365 days a year

Buffer - Open Space Types

2010-09-28T01:06:00.001-05:00

Buffer

The buffer has the basic elements of a green, with the added purpose of buffering the impact of traffic from a highway or boulevard. Shown is a small lot development fronting a green. On the opposite side are larger lots on which houses are placed further back from the roadway edge as another buffer technique.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Soil Horizons

2010-09-09T06:56:00.000-05:00

Horizon, soil is a layer of soil, approximately parallel to the surface, having distinct characteristics produced by soil-forming processes. In the identification of soil horizons, an uppercase letter represents the major horizons. Numbers or lowercase letters that follow represent subdivisions of the major horizons. The major horizons are as follows:

O horizon. An organic layer of fresh and decaying plant residue.
A horizon. The mineral horizon at or near the surface in which an accumulation of humified organic matter is mixed with the mineral material. Also, any plowed or disturbed surface layer.

E horizon. The mineral horizon in which the main feature is loss of silicate clay, iron, aluminum, or some combination of these.

B horizon. The mineral horizon below an O, A, or E horizon. The B horizon is in part a layer of transition from the overlying horizon to the underlying C horizon. The B horizon also has distinctive characteristics, such as (1) accumulation of clay, sesquioxides, humus, or a combination of these; (2) granular, prismatic, or blocky structure; (3) redder or browner colors than those in the A horizon; or (4) a combination of these.

C horizon. The mineral horizon or layer, excluding indurated bedrock, that is little affected by soil-forming processes and does not have the properties typical of the overlying horizon. The material of a C horizon may be either like or unlike that in which the solum formed. If the material is known to differ from that in the solum, an Arabic numeral, commonly a 2, precedes the letter C.

R layer. Hard, consolidated bedrock beneath the soil. The bedrock commonly underlies a C horizon but can be directly below an A or a B horizon.

Landscape Goals

2010-08-25T01:03:00.000-05:00

The urban landscape is a set of interdependent elements that creates a
controlled sense of place. It includes thoroughfare type, building type,
frontage type, and the form and disposition of landscape.

Public landscaping plays many roles above and beyond that of ornamentation:

1. To correct inadequacies of spatial definition caused by building frontages.
Planting steady rows of trees at the edges usually reduces the
height-to-width ratio of the street space. Grids of trees are used to fill
gaps left by unbuilt lots and surface parking.

2. To adjust the microclimate by providing the appropriate level of shade or sun
for buildings and sidewalks. For thoroughfares running east-west, this may
involve the use of asymmetrical planting.

3. To support the intended urban or rural character of the public space.
Selecting appropriate species and varying the species planted, as well as the
regularity of their disposition, can alter the landscape significantly.

4. To create a pleasing visual composition, being careful to mask the aesthetic
failure of certain buildings as well as to reveal the successes. Consider
seasonal changes of each species.

5. To create a harmonious whole of specific character by coordinating public and
private plantings. Selection should vary, to ensure resistance to pests, but
not result in an incoherent collection of specimens. Native species should
predominate to reduce maintenance, with an emphasis on species that support
wildlife compatible with human settlement.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Basic Techniques for Radon-Resistant New Construction

2010-08-24T22:41:00.002-05:00

1. Gravel: Use a 4-inch layer of clean, coarse gravel below the “slab,” also called the foundation. This layer of gravel allows the soil gases -- including radon -- that occur naturally in the soil to move freely underneath the house. Builders call this the “air flow layer” or “gas permeable layer” because the loose gravel allows the gases to circulate.

NOTE: In some regions of the country, gravel may be too expensive or unnecessary. Alternatives are allowed, such as a perforated pipe or a collection mat.

2. Plastic Sheeting or Vapor Retarder: Place heavy duty plastic sheeting (6 mil. polyethylene) or a vapor retarder on top of the gravel to prevent the soil gases from entering the house. The sheeting also keeps the concrete from clogging the gravel layer when the slab is poured.

3. A Vent Pipe: Run a 3-inch or 4-inch solid PVC Schedule 40 pipe, like the ones commonly used for plumbing, vertically from the gravel layer (stubbed up when the slab is poured) through the house’s conditioned space and roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases outside above the house. (Although serving a different purpose, this vent pipe is similar to the drain waste vent -- DWV -- installed by the plumber.) This pipe should be labeled "Radon System." Your plumber or a certified radon professional can do this

4. Sealing and Caulking: Seal all openings, cracks, and crevices in the concrete foundation floor (including the slab perimeter crack) and walls with polyurethane caulk to prevent radon and other soil gases from entering the home.

5. Junction Box: Install an electrical junction box (outlet) in the attic for use with a vent fan, should, after testing for radon, a more robust system be needed.

from: http://www.epa.gov/radon/rrnc/basic_techniques_builder.html

Frontage Types - Shopfront

2010-08-21T01:21:00.000-05:00

Shopfront

The facade is aligned directly on the frontage line, with the entrance at grade.
This type is conventional for sidewalk retail. It is often equipped with an awning or a porch. A transition line should separate the signage from the facade
above. The absence of a setback and elevation from the sidewalk prevents residential use on the ground floor, although it is appropriate above.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Front Lawn

2010-08-20T01:29:00.000-05:00

Front Lawn

The facade is set back substantially from the frontage line. The front lawn this creates should be unfenced and visually continuous with adjacent yards. The ideal is to simulate buildings sitting in a rural landscape. A front porch is usually not appropriate, since no social interaction with the street is possible at such a distance. The large setback can provide a buffer from heavy traffic, so this type is sometimes found on boulevards.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Porch & Fence

2010-08-19T01:27:00.001-05:00

Porch and Fence

With an encroaching habitable porch, the facade is set back substantially from the frontage line. The porch should be within a conversational distance of the sidewalk. A fence at the frontage line marks the boundary of the yard.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Dooryard

2010-08-18T01:25:00.000-05:00

Dooryard

The facade is set back from the frontage line, with an elevated garden or
terrace between. This type can effectively buffer residential quarters from the
sidewalk, while removing the yard from public use. The terrace, when roofed, is
suitable for restaurants and cafes, as the eye level of the sitter is level with
that of passersby.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Forecourt

2010-08-17T01:25:00.000-05:00

Forecourt

The facade is set back and replaced by a low wall at the frontage line. The
forecourt thus created is suitable for gardens, vehicular drop-offs, and
workshop loading and storage. It should be used sparingly and in conjunction
with the shopfront and stoop types, as a continuous blind wall is boring and
unsafe for pedestrians. Tree canopies within the forecourt should overhang the
sidewalk.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Stoop

2010-08-16T01:23:00.000-05:00

Stoop

The facade is aligned directly on the frontage line, with the first floor elevated to achieve some privacy for the windows. This type is suitable for residential uses such as rowhouses and apartment buildings. An easement may be necessary to accommodate the encroaching stoop. This type may be interspersed
with the shopfront.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Frontage Types - Arcade

2010-08-15T01:19:00.000-05:00

Arcade

The facade overlaps the sidewalk, while the storefront remains set back. This
type is excellent for retail use, but only when the sidewalk is fully absorbed
so the pedestrian cannot bypass the arcade. An easement for public use of
private property is required.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Berm Diagram

2010-08-14T10:29:00.000-05:00

Open Space Types - Civic Plaza

2010-08-13T01:16:00.000-05:00

Civic Plaza

Civic buildings are often no larger than the private ones that surround them,
and their legibility as more important buildings cannot depend solely on architectural expression. Their setting within the block system must communicate their elevated status. Sites on squares or at the terminations of avenues are ideal but not always available. Thus the most dependable technique is to organize and detail the parking areas of civic buildings as plazas.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Open Space Types - Market Plaza

2010-08-12T01:14:00.001-05:00

Market Plaza

Plazas are public spaces that are primarily paved rather than green. They can
sustain very intense use by crowds and even by vehicles. Parking lots should be
designed as plazas that happen to have cars on them, rather than as
single-purpose areas. A smaller shopping center can be transformed into a town
center if it has been designed so it can be seamlessly attached to the block
system and detailed as a plaza.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Open Space Types - Green

2010-08-11T01:11:00.001-05:00

Green

The green is an urban, naturalistic open space. Like the square, it is small, civic, and surrounded by buildings. Unlike the square, it is informally planted and may have an irregular topography. Greens are usually landscaped with trees at the edges and sunny lawns at the center. Greens should contain no structures other than benches, pavilions, and memorials; paths are optional.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Park - Open Space Types

2010-08-10T01:10:00.002-05:00

Park

Parks are naturalistic open spaces, like greens, but larger and less tended.
They are most successful when created from virgin woodland. Parks have grassy
areas only periodically. A knoll or a pond can be used as an important
organizing feature. Parks exist within the urban fabric of large cities, but
their inherent size usually puts them at the edges of towns and villages. Parks
may be edged by public drives or by houses on very large lots, as long as
connections to public paths occur at every block.

Copyright (C) 2000
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY

Retention Pond vs. Detention Pond

2010-08-09T20:48:00.002-05:00

A retention pond is designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely. Usually the pond is designed to have drainage leading to another location when the water level gets above the pond capacity, but still maintains a certain capacity.

A detention pond is a low lying area that is designed to temporarily hold a set amount of water while slowly draining to another location. They are more or less around for flood control when large amounts of rain could cause flash flooding if not dealt with properly. For example, in my housing plat, we have a detention pond that all of the drainage from our streets run into. Normally it is a grassy field with a couple of concrete culverts running towards a drainage pipe. During the last couple of weeks with all the rain here in Ohio, all of our street drainage has run off into this area and filled it to near capacity
last week. As of today, you can see the water level nearly gone due to the planned drainage and evaporation.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/eng99/eng99219.htm

Types of Portland Cement

2010-08-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Type I - Normal everyday use

Type IA - Normal, Air entrained

Type II - Moderately sulfate resitant; ideal for use in bridges and pilings; also used when heat build up is an issue

Type IIA - Moderately sulfate resitant, air entraiend

Type III - Quick hardening with high early strength; used mostly in winter and for rush jobs

Type IIIA - High early strength, air-entrained.

Type IV - Slow hardening and low heat producing; used when the amount and rate of heat generation must be minimized.

Type V - High sulfate resistant; used in high water and soils with high alkali content.

Sourced from "Materials Structures Standards"

Project Financing

2010-08-07T05:32:00.003-05:00

Ways projects are funded:

Tax increment financing - cities issue bonds to pay for improvements (such as a new sewers or streets) within a specified district that are intended to stimulate private development within the district. During the time of redevelopment, taxes are based on the assessed valuation prior to the redevelopment. After the development period, the increase in taxes due to the development (the tax increment) is used to repay the bonds

General Obligation Bonds - are typically used to fund a specific project such as a library or fire station. They are not used to encourage private development, although later private development could be a concequence of the new public facility being constructed (such as apartments or resturants built in the vicinity of a publicly funded baseball stadium.) Becuase all taxpayers in the jurisdiction issuing the general obligation bonds must pay off the bonds through a property tax, a voter majority is required.

Developer Impact Fees - are generally used to fund infastructure improvements made necessary by new development. Although these fees are a common method of raising money, they can have a negative effect becuase developers look for areas to build where imact fees are not charged.

Business Improvement Districts - are used to fund public space improvements, such as streetscapes, to enhance an area's appeal and, indirectly, its property values. Taxes are assessed on those property owners in the district who would benefit from the improvements, so this type of financing is not intended to encourage private development.

ADA - Areas not required to be accessible

2010-08-06T21:26:00.003-05:00

- Temporary facilities associated with the process of construction (job site trailer, scaffolding)

- Raised areas used primarily for security or life safety (lifeguard tower, security guard tower)

- Non-occupiable service areas accessed infrequently for maintenance or monitoring (catwalks, penthouses, pump rooms)

- Single occupant structures accessed from above or below grade (such as a tollbooth accessed through an underground tunnel)

- Raised structures for officiating sporting events

- Water slides

- Nonpublic animal containment areas

- Raised boxing and wrestling rings

Standards for Preservation - Historic Preservation

2010-07-27T21:44:00.000-05:00

Standards for Preservation

1. A property will be used as it was historically, or be given a new use that maximizes the retention of distinctive
materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships. Where a treatment and use have not been identified, a property will be protected and, if necessary, stabilized until additional work may be undertaken.

2. The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The replacement of intact or repairable historic materials or alteration of features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided.

3. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Work needed to stabilize, consolidate, and conserve existing historic materials and features will be physically and visually compatible, identifiable upon close inspection, and properly documented for future research.

4. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved.

5. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved.

6. The existing condition of historic features will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level of intervention needed. Where the severity of deterioration requires repair or limited replacement of a distinctive feature, the new material will match the old in composition, design, color, and texture.

7. Chemical or physical treatments, if appropriate, will be undertaken using the gentlest means possible. Treatments that cause damage to historic materials will not be used.

8. Archeological resources will be protected and preserved in place. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures will be undertaken.

ADA - Toilet Stalls Grab Bars

2010-07-26T19:26:00.001-05:00

The location of the door is illustrated to be in front of the clear space (next to the water closet), with a maximum stile width of 4 inches (100 mm). An alternate door location is illustrated to be on the side of the toilet stall with a maximum stile width of 4 inches (100 mm). The minimum width of the standard stall shall be 60 inches (1525 mm). The centerline of the water closet shall be 18 inches (455 mm) from the side wall.

ADA - Storage Shelves and Closets Shelves

2010-07-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

If the clear floor space allows a parallel approach by a person in a wheelchair and the distance between the wheelchair and the shelf exceeds 10 inches, the maximum high side reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) above the floor and the low side reach shall be a minimum of 9 inches (230 mm) above the floor. The shelves can be adjustable. The maximum distance from the user to the shelf shall be 21 inches (535 mm).

ADA - Dimensions of Parking Spaces

2010-07-24T19:31:00.001-05:00

The access aisle shall be a minimum of 60 inches (1525 mm) wide for cars or a minimum of 96 inches (2440 mm) wide for vans. The accessible route connected to the access aisle at the front of the parking spaces shall be a minimum of 36 inches (915 mm).

ADA - Stair Handrails - Plan

2010-07-23T19:35:00.002-05:00

NOTE:
X is the 12 in minimum handrail extension required at each top riser.
Y is the minimum handrail extension of 12 in plus the width of one tread that is required at each bottom riser.

ADA - Clear Doorway Width and Depth Detail

2010-07-22T19:47:00.000-05:00

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

ADA - Protruding Objects, Overhead Hazards

2010-07-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

Overhead Hazards. As an example, the diagram illustrates a stair whose underside descends across a pathway. Where the headroom is less than 80 inches, protection is offered by a railing (2030 mm) which can be no higher than 27 inches (685 mm) to ensure detectability.

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/index.html

ADA - Minimum Passage Width for One Wheelchair and One Ambulatory Person

2010-07-20T19:45:00.001-05:00

Minimum Passage Width for One Wheelchair and One Ambulatory Person

ADA - Clear Floor Space in Alcoves

2010-07-19T19:50:00.000-05:00

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/fig4d.html

ADA - Size and Spacing of Handrails and Grab Bars Handrail

2010-07-18T19:53:00.000-05:00

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/fig39c.html

ADA - Size and Spacing of Handrails and Grab Bars Handrail

2010-07-17T19:55:00.002-05:00

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/fig39d.html

ADA - Size and Spacing of Handrails and Grab Bars

2010-07-16T21:45:00.000-05:00

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/fig39e.html

ADA - Stair Handrails - Extension at Top of Run

2010-07-15T21:53:00.002-05:00

NOTE:
X is the 12 in minimum handrail extension required at each top riser.
Y is the minimum handrail extension of 12 in plus the width of one tread that is required at each bottom riser

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/figures/fig19d.html

ADA - Drinking Fountains and Water Coolers - Spout Height and Knee Clearance

2010-05-27T19:24:00.002-05:00

In addition to clearances discussed in the text, the following knee clearance is required underneath the fountain: 27 inches (685 mm) minimum from the floor to the underside of the fountain which extends 8 inches (205 mm) minimum measured from the front edge underneath the fountain back towards the wall; if a minimum 9 inches (230 mm) of toe clearance is provided, a maximum of 6 inches (150 mm) of the 48 inches (1220 mm) of clear floor space required at the fixture may extend into the toe space. (4.15.2, 4.15.5)

ADA - Railing Extensions

2010-05-26T17:17:00.002-05:00

ADA - Grab Bars at Bathtubs

2010-05-25T19:22:00.004-05:00

ADA - Letter Heights

2010-05-24T22:30:00.001-05:00

ADA - Truncated Domes

2010-05-23T22:17:00.003-05:00

ADA - Railing Extensions

2010-05-22T17:17:00.000-05:00

ADA - Protruding Objects

2010-05-21T16:18:00.001-05:00

ADA - Door Clearances

2010-05-20T16:04:00.000-05:00

ADA - Two doors in series

2010-05-19T15:17:00.002-05:00

New Urbanism Videos - Andres Duany

2010-05-18T18:18:00.004-05:00

Broadacre City

2010-05-17T11:05:00.002-05:00

Broadacre City was an urban or suburban development concept proposed by Frank Lloyd Wright late in his life. He presented the idea in his book The Disappearing City in 1932. A few years later he unveiled a very detailed twelve by twelve foot (3.7 by 3.7 m) scale model representing an hypothetical four square mile (10 km²) community. The model was crafted by the student interns who worked for him at Taliesin. Wright would go on refining the concept in later books and in articles until his death in 1959.

Many of the building models in the concept were completely new designs by Wright, while others were refinements of old ones, some of which had been rarely seen.

Broadacre City was the antithesis of a city and the apotheosis of the newly born suburbia, shaped through Wright's particular vision. It was both a planning statement and a socio-political scheme by which each U.S. family would be given a one acre (4,000 m²) plot of land from the federal lands reserves, and a Wright-conceived community would be built anew from this. In a sense it was the exact opposite of transit-oriented development. There is a train station and a few office and apartment buildings in Broadacre City, but the apartment dwellers are expected to be a small minority. All important transport is done by automobile and the pedestrian can exist safely only within the confines of the one acre (4,000 m²) plots where most of the population dwells.

Some of the earlier garden city ideas of the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and the urban planner Ebenezer Howard had much in common with Broadacre city, save for the absence of the automobile, born much later. More recently, the development of the Edge city is like an unplanned, incomplete version of Broadacre city.

The R. W. Lindholm Service Station in Cloquet, Minnesota shows some of Wright's ideas for Broadacre City.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadacre_City

Historic Preservation - Perservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reconstruction

2010-05-16T02:30:00.006-05:00

Preservation, places a high premium on the retention of all historic fabric through conservation, maintenance and repair. It reflects a building's continuum over time, through successive occupancies, and the respectful changes and alterations that are made.

Rehabilitation, the second treatment, emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials, but more latitude is provided for replacement because it is assumed the property is more deteriorated prior to work. (Both Preservation and Rehabilitation standards focus attention on the preservation of those materials, features, finishes, spaces, and spatial relationships that, together, give a property its historic character.)

Restoration, the third treatment, focuses on the retention of materials from the most significant time in a property's history, while permitting the removal of materials from other periods.

Reconstruction, the fourth treatment, establishes limited opportunities to re-create a non-surviving site, landscape, building, structure, or object in all new materials.

Click here for a copy of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards For the Treatment of Historic Properties

Utility Markings

2010-05-15T09:49:00.002-05:00

Utility markings on the ground are color coded to the following marks:

Frank L. Smith Bank - Frank Lloyd Wright

2010-05-14T11:54:00.002-05:00

Wright's earliest 1904 plans for the Dwight bank showed a vertical brick block with a column flanking each side of the recessed central doorway. The early drawings also show a large ornamental frieze on the upper portion of the building's facade. It is unknown why Wright abandoned these plans and opted for the design that was used.

The building, as designed and constructed by Wright, has a 60 foot, storefront facade. The design specifically rejects typical bank building designs and their classical influences. The cut stone facade gives an air of simple dignity and solidity. The bank's design and location parallels Wright's belief that a bank should convey its own, unique character rather than "put on the airs of a temple of worship." Margaret Randall, in her 1996 work The Price You Pay: The Hidden Cost of Women's Relationship to Money, stated Wright's Smith Bank, along with his City National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, was "designed to evoke our culture's worship of money."

The building's most distinctive architectural feature is the fireplace, uncommon in office buildings, and the structure's only feature to incorporate Roman brick. The present-day structure consists of one open, interior space, while Wright's original design divided the building into two sections. One section was used as Smith's real estate office, the other as the bank. Wright also designed a full set of furniture for both offices, although much of it has been sold over the years.[One of the pieces of Wright-designed furniture in the building was a round-backed chair. The chair was at least the second attempt at a round-backed chair by Wright; an earlier, more successful attempt was completed in the Darwin D. Martin House. The chair has a bent-wood back, and rounded seat and stretchers. The total integration of the design is less successful than that used in the Martin House.[6] Other interior features include a now electrically lit skylight, oak trim, and exposed stonework.

ADA - Grate Openings

2010-05-13T14:25:00.002-05:00

Referenced from the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998

William W. Boyington

2010-05-12T15:28:00.001-05:00

William W. Boyington (1818–1898) was an architect who designed several notable structures in and around Chicago, Illinois. Originally from Massachusetts, W.W. Boyington studied engineering and architecture in the State of New York. After this, he practiced there and served in the New York State Legislature before he decided to settle and work in the emerging metropolis of Chicago, Illinois in 1853. Many of his buildings were constructed before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; however, the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, designed by Boyington, survived.

Other buildings accredited to W.W. Boyington include: The New State Capitol Building in Springfield, IL; the first University of Chicago located at 34th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue (1859, 1863, 1865; all demolished); the first Sherman House located at Clark and Randolf Streets (1859, demolished in 1910); the entrance gate of Rosehill Cemetery; the old Second Baptist Church of Chicago (now the Aiken Institute); the 1864 Democratic Convention Hall; the old Chicago Board of Trade Building at the Head of LaSalle Street (1885, demolished in 1928 for construction of the present Holabird and Root Building); and the Windsor Hotels of Montreal, Canada and Denver, Colorado; the Terrace Hill Homestead (Iowa's Governor's Mansion); the Hegeler Carus Mansion; the Milikin Bank Building (demolished) in Decatur, IL; the Transfer House (1896) in Decatur, IL; and the Joliet Prison.

Illinois Accessiblity code versus ICC/ANSI 117.1 2003

2010-05-10T08:30:00.006-05:00

I live in Illinois and have worked on projects in the past. I've been confused, up until now which ADA code governs: The Illinois Accessibility code OR the International Code Council's (ICC) ANSI 117.1 2003 Code so here is the basic run down:

If the local muncipality has adopted the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003, then that is the code that you use.

If the local muncipality has not adopted the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 code, then you have to research between the two codes, which one is more stringent. The more stringent section of the code governs.

The City of Chicago has its own Building, Zoning and Accessiblity code. It's online version can be found here

It is always best to double check with your local muncipality.

The Illinois Accessiblity code can be found here.

TABLE 1604.5 OCCUPANCY CATEGORY OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES

2010-05-09T23:14:00.000-05:00

OCCUPANCY CATEGORY NATURE OF OCCUPANCY

I Buildings and other structures that represent a low hazard to human life in the event of failure, including but not limited to:
• Agricultural facilities.
• Certain temporary facilities.
• Minor storage facilities.

II Buildings and other structures except those listed in Occupancy Categories I, III and IV

III Buildings and other structures that represent a substantial hazard to human life in the event of failure, including but not limited to:
• Buildings and other structures whose primary occupancy is public assembly with an occupant load greater than 300.
• Buildings and other structures containing elementary school, secondary school or day care facilities with an occupant load greater than 250.
• Buildings and other structures containing adult education facilities, such as colleges and universities, with an occupant load greater than 500.
• Group I-2 occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more resident patients but not having surgery or emergency treatment facilities.
• Group I-3 occupancies.
• Any other occupancy with an occupant load greater than 5,000a.
• Power-generating stations, water treatment facilities for potable water, waste water treatment facilities and other public utility facilities not included in Occupancy Category IV.
• Buildings and other structures not included in Occupancy Category IV containing sufficient quantities of toxic or explosive substances to be dangerous to the public if released.

IV Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities, including but not limited to:
• Group I-2 occupancies having surgery or emergency treatment facilities.
• Fire, rescue, ambulance and police stations and emergency vehicle garages.
• Designated earthquake, hurricane or other emergency shelters.
• Designated emergency preparedness, communications and operations centers and other facilities required for emergency response.
• Power-generating stations and other public utility facilities required as emergency backup facilities for Occupancy Category IV structures.
• Structures containing highly toxic materials as defined by Section 307 where the quantity of the material exceeds the maximum allowable quantities of Table 307.1(2).
• Aviation control towers, air traffic control centers and emergency aircraft hangars.
• Buildings and other structures having critical national defense functions.
• Water storage facilities and pump structures required to maintain water pressure for fire suppression.

ADA - Plumbing Fixtures

2010-05-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Referenced from the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998

ADA - Elevator Inside Dimensions

2010-05-07T12:17:00.001-05:00

Referenced from the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998

Haj Terminal, King Abdul Aziz International Airport

2010-05-06T22:35:00.000-05:00

The Haj Terminal at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jaddah is located approximately 43.5 miles west of the Holy City of Makkah. Since Jeddah is the only large commercial city in close proximity to Makkah, all air traffic bound for Makkah arrives in Jeddah and proceeds by land transportation from Jaddah to Makkah. Normal airport facilities are capable of handling this traffic during most of the year; however, approximately once a year, vast numbers of Moslem pilgrims from all over the world travel to Makkah to participate in the Haj pilgrimage. The Haj activity takes place within about a six week period resulting in unusually high air traffic for this rather short period of time. Since the public facilities at the new airport were designated to handle only the normal flow of domestic and international air traffic, a separate terminal facility was required to process the Haj pilgrims.

There are 210 semi-conical Teflon-coated Fiberglass roof units contained within a total of ten modules. Five modules located on each side of the central spine entry road cover a total area of approximately 105 acres. A single module contains 21 semi-conical fabric roof units stretched and formed by 32 radial cables. The modules are supported by 45-meter-high steel pylons located on a square 45-meter grid. The columns taper from 2.50 meters at their base to 1.00 meter at the top. In each module, steel cables radiate from the top of the columns to a 3.96-meter diameter central steel tension ring to which are attached the steel radial cables. The inherent long-span characteristics of steel cable structures allow for the spacing of columns to be far enough apart to give not only a very open feeling to the large support area but to allow for maximum flexibility in planning for the various support buildings located within the support area.

The form and height of the fabric roof units promote circulation of air from the open side of the support area up to and through the open steel tension ring located at the top of the roof unit. Mechanical fan towers placed intermittently between the columns enhance air circulation. Acoustical problems created by the many thousands of pilgrims located beneath the fabric roof are also diminished due to roof height and material. The fabric roofs provide shelter from intense desert heat. Because the fabric has a low heat transmission, it allows the sun to cast a warm light over the support area; at night, it will become a great reflective surface as pylon-mounted uplights bounce light from the roof to the ground below. Located under the landscaped central mall, two large exhaust fans for each module draw off exhaust fumes of the buses."

— from Oswald W. Grebe. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill: Architecture and Urbanism 1973-1983. p382

Glue Laminated Beams

2010-05-05T01:59:00.001-05:00

Some of the characteristics of glued laminated beams are the following:

1. The wood species is most often Douglas Fir or Southern Pine.

2. The individual laminations are properly seasoned and joined, and the assembly of laminations is glued together in a shop under strict quality control.

3. Using the proper adhesives, the joints are durable and at least as strong as the wood itself.

4. Because the individual laminations are thoroughly dried before assembly, finished members are relatively free from seasoning action and therefore tend to be dimensionally stable.

5. Glued laminated members are stronger than conventional sawn timbers, for two main reasons: (1) the individual laminations, being only 1" or 2" in nominal thickness, are easily seasoned before fabrication, and (2) the laminations are selected free of defects normally found in larger timbers and any defects are small and dispersed

6. Two types of glue are used: casein glue for interior applications and waterproof glue (phenol, resorcinol, or melamine) when exposed to weather or excessive interior moisture.

7. Glulam beams resist destruction by fire and are therefore considered to be heavy timber construction by the International Building Code, if they are at least 6 inches wide and 10 inches deep. This is essentially the equivalent of one-hour fire-resistive construction.

8. The basic methods of design are the same as those for sawn timbers, with modifications made to the design values for a number of factors, including curvature factor, volume factor, beam stability factor, and short-time loading.

9. The standard finished widths of glued laminated members are less than the nominal widths. For example, a glulam with a nominal width of 4" has a net finished width of 3-1/8".

10. The standard depths are based on an exact number of laminations; the net depth of a 2" nominal lamination is 1-1/2", and the net depth of a 1" nominal lamination is 3/4".

Vierendeel

2010-05-04T23:14:00.002-05:00

Arthur Vierendeel (10 April 1852 – 8 November 1940) was a Belgian civil engineer born in Leuven, where he also studied and had a very long career as university professor.

He obtained an MSc in engineering in 1874 at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. His work, Cours de stabilité des constructions (1889) was an important reference during more than half a century. His first bridge was built in Avelgem in 1902, crossing the Scheldt river. The construction of this bridge became famous through the Stijn Streuvels book "De Teloorgang van de Waterhoek".

During World War I and World War II, many Vierendeel bridges were destroyed, some survived and others were rebuilt.

The Vierendeel principle, a construction similar to a truss but with rigid joints, was used in the New York World Trade Center.

A Vierendeel truss, named after its Belgian inventor, is one without diagonals. Strictly speaking, therefore, it is not a truss at all, but a kind of rigid frame. As in other trusses, the bending moment is resisted by a couple, consisting of a compressive force in the top chord and a tensile force in the bottom chord. However, since there are no diagonal members, the chords must also resist shear, which is perpendicular to the axis of the chords. This produces local moments in the chord members, in addition to the axial tension or compression. The vertical members are also subject to bending moment caused by shear. Vierendeel trusses also tend to have high deflection. Therefore, to provide members adequate to resist both bending moment and direct stress, and to keep the deflection within acceptable limits, a Vierendeel truss requires much more material than a triangulated truss. Vierendeel trusses made of reinforced concrete or structural steel are used where diagonal members would conflict with door or windows, or where the Vierendeel configuration might be more desirable aesthetically than that of a truss with diagonals. Typical applications include bridges and deep transfer members supporting discontinuous columns above.

ADA - Handrail Shapes

2010-05-03T18:19:00.002-05:00

Referenced from the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998

New Urbanism Principles

2010-05-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

1. Walkability

-Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work
-Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; porches, windows & doors; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; narrow, slow speed streets)
-Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases

2. Connectivity

-Interconnected street grid network disperses traffic & eases walking
-A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards, and alleys
-High quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable

3. Mixed-Use & Diversity

-A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings
-Diversity of people - of ages, income levels, cultures, and races

4. Mixed Housing

A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity

5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design

Emphasis on beauty, aesthetics, human comfort, and creating a sense of place; Special placement of civic uses and sites within community. Human scale architecture & beautiful surroundings nourish the human spirit

6. Traditional Neighborhood Structure

-Discernable center and edge
-Public space at center
-Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art
-Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk
-Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. The transect is an analytical system that conceptualizes mutually reinforcing elements, creating a series of specific natural habitats and/or urban lifestyle settings. The Transect integrates environmental methodology for habitat assessment with zoning methodology for community design. The professional boundary between the natural and man-made disappears, enabling environmentalists to assess the
design of the human habitat and the urbanists to support the viability of nature. This urban-to-rural transect hierarchy has appropriate building and street types for each area along the continuum.

7. Increased Density

-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live.
-New Urbanism design principles are applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities.

8. Green Transportation

-A network of high-quality trains connecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods together
-Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation

9. Sustainability

-Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations
-Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems
-Energy efficiency
-Less use of finite fuels
-More local production
-More walking, less driving

10. Quality of Life

Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.

from: http://www.newurbanism.org/newurbanism/principles.html

Habitat for Humanity - Drywalling

2010-05-01T09:26:00.001-05:00

Today at habitat we were drywalling. We were using 5/8" thick drywall. I was wondering why we needed to use 5/8" instead of 1/2". 5/8" thick drywall is used for fire rated walls but since the joist spacing is 24" on center instead of the typical 16", 5/8" thick drywall is used so the wall is sturdy.

Seaside, Florida

2010-04-30T22:02:00.004-05:00

Seaside is an unincorporated master-planned community on the Florida panhandle in Walton County, roughly midway between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City. It was founded by builder/developer Robert Davis in 1979 on land that he had inherited from his grandfather. The town plan was designed by architects/new urbanists Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.

Seaside is often cited as the first New Urbanist development. At the time of Seaside's construction, Walton County had no zoning ordinance, leaving Seaside's founders able to plan with a comparatively free hand. In the absence of these regulations (e.g., minimum lot size, separation of uses), Duany and Plater-Zyberk (DPZ) were able to design a mixed-use development with densities greater than conventional suburban development.

DPZ hired architects such as Melanie Taylor and Robert Orr to design the buildings and housing for the development. Seaside is primarily a resort community, consisting of residents who live there for months at a time as well as vacationers renting cottages and houses.

Seaside is often cited as an example of successful implementation of New Urbanism. Time magazine called it "the most astounding design achievement of its era and, one might hope, the most influential". It has been used as a model for other new urbanist developments in the United States and abroad. However, some have criticized Seaside as being overly rigid, as the community's architectural standards provide strict limitations on the external aesthetics of the houses, resulting in conformity of style rather than creativity – which some people call a manufactured fantasy. Others have criticized the community for its lack of socioeconomic diversity, which they see as ironic given that the community was itself modeled on the diverse and urban neighborhoods of large North American cities such as New York City and San Francisco.

However, Seaside (and New Urbanism more generally) has had a significant impact on urban planning in many cities. New Urbanist developments continue to proliferate across North America, and many planners and urban designers are beginning to understand the importance of mixed-use and higher density communities (see Transit-oriented development).

Retaining Wall Faliure

2010-04-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

1. OVERTURNING - Rotation due to settlement at the toe or excessive moment stress

2. SLIDING - due to a lack of horizontal friction at its base or lack of soil pressure resistance in front of the toe or shear key.

3. SETTLEMENT - due to the insufficient bearing capacity of the supporting soil.

To resist failure, retaining walls are usually designed with a safety factor of 1.5, or the ability to withstand 1.5 times their overturning moment.

Beam to Column Moment Connections

2010-04-29T08:03:00.002-05:00

A. Angle Bracket Connection

B. Structural Tee

C. Welded Connection

D. Stub Bracket

Types of Nails

2010-04-28T21:54:00.003-05:00

Pier Luigi Nervi

2010-04-27T21:39:00.003-05:00

Pier Luigi Nervi (June 21, 1891 - January 9, 1979) was an Italian engineer. He studied at the University of Bologna and qualified in 1913. Dr. Nervi taught as a professor of engineering at Rome University from 1946-61. He is renowned for his brilliance as a structural engineer and an architect, and for his novel use of reinforced concrete.

Pier Luigi Nervi was born in Sondrio and attended the Civil Engineering School of Bologna, from which he graduated in 1913. After graduation, Nervi joined the Society for Concrete Construction. Nervi spent several years in the Italian army during World War I from 1915-1918, when he served in the Corps of Engineering. His formal education was quite similar to that experienced by today's civil engineering student in Italy.

From 1961-1962 Nervi was the Norton professor at Harvard University.

Nervi began practicing civil engineering after 1923, and built several airplane hangars amongst his contracts. During 1940s he developed ideas for a reinforced concrete which helped in the rebuilding of many buildings and factories throughout Western Europe, and even designed/created a boat hull that was made of reinforced concrete as a promotion for the Italian government.

Nervi also stressed that intuition should be used as much as mathematics in design, especially with thin shelled structures. He borrowed from both Roman and Renaissance architecture to create aesthetically pleasing structures, yet applied structural aspects such as ribbing and vaulting often based on nature. This was to improve the structural strength and eliminate the need for columns. He succeeded in turning engineering into an art by taking simple geometry and using sophisticated prefabrication to find direct design solutions in his buildings.

Noted works

The Tour de la Bourse in Montreal (1964)Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence (1931)
Exhibition Building, Turin, Italy (1949).
UNESCO headquarters, Paris (1950) (collaborating with Marcel Breuer and Bernard Zehrfuss)
The Pirelli Tower, Milan (1950) (collaborating with Gio Ponti)
Palazzo dello sport EUR (now PalaLottomatica), Rome (1956)
Palazzetto dello sport, Rome (1958)
Olympic Stadium, Rome (1960)
Palazzo del Lavoro, Turin (1961)
Palazzetto dello sport, Turin (1961)
Sacro Cuore (Bell Tower), Firenze (1962)
Paper Mill, Mantua, Italy (1962)
George Washington Bridge Bus Station, New York City (1963)
Tour de la Bourse, Montreal (1964)
Field House at Dartmouth College
Thompson Arena at Dartmouth College (1973-74)
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, San Francisco, California (1967) (collaborating with Pietro Belluschi)
Paul VI Audience Hall, Vatican City (1971)
Australian Embassy, Paris (1973) Consulting engineer
Good Hope Centre, Cape Town (1976) by Studio Nervi, an exhibition hall and conference centre, with the exhibition hall comprising an arch with tie-beam on each of the four vertical facades and two diagonal arches supporting two intersecting barrel-like roofs which in turn were constructed from pre-cast concrete triangular coffers with in-situ concrete beams on the edges.
Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, VA (1971)

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pier_Luigi_Nervi

Types of Mortar

2010-04-26T18:12:00.003-05:00

Type N

Type N is of medium strength, which means it is the best choice for projects with bricks that are not load bearing. Garden walls, chimneys, and barbeques are common applications for this mix. Type N is also preferred for soft stone masonry. This is the mortar most often used by home owners. It is easy to work with and is appropriate for most brick projects that the typical home owner would attempt. This results in a 750 psi compressive strength.

Type S

Type S is known for its strength and is used outdoors. Patios, foundations, and retaining walls all use Type S, which is known for its ability to absorb most impacts. Type S is still an easy product to work with, but homeowners should have some experience working with brick before beginning any type of project that requires this product. This results in a 1800 psi compressive strength.

Type M

The strongest mix that you will find in a home improvement store, Type M is typically used only with stone. Type M is preferred with stone because the strength of the mortar typically mimics that of the stone being used. It is also used in situations where being able to bear heavy loads are important, such as retaining walls. This results in a 2500 psi compressive strength.

Glass Block Mortar

This specialty mortar is actually a Type S mortar that is colored for use with glass block, not brick. Rather than the traditional gray color, glass block mortar is white and can be tinted to match the material. Of course, because the color is the only significant change in this type of mortar, Type S mortar can also be used for glass block projects.

Refractory Mortar

Refractory mortar is used when heat is of a concern. This product, though more expensive than other formulas, is the best choice if you are building or repairing a barbeque or chimney that will be used regularly or exposed to high temperatures. Created with a calcium aluminate base, it will cure in wet conditions and resist melting in incredibly hot temperatures.

Most home improvement project's success depends on the quality of materials chosen and the research that goes into the project before it has begun. If you are contemplating working with brick or building something with brick, take the time to choose the right product for the task. Keep in mind that each manufacturer will have different usage instructions and a slightly different mix for their products. Take the time to read the instructions that come with the mix you buy and be sure to contact the manufacturer with any questions before beginning to work with brick.

Shanghai World Financial Center

2010-04-25T12:32:00.003-05:00

The Shanghai World Financial Center (Abbr: SWFC; simplified Chinese: 上海环球金融中心) is a supertall skyscraper in Pudong, Shanghai, China. It is a mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors. Park Hyatt Shanghai is the hotel component containing 174 rooms and suites. Occupying the 79th to the 93rd floors, it is the highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 53rd to 87th floors of the neighboring Jin Mao Tower

The most distinctive feature in the design of the building is an aperture at the peak. The original design specified a circular aperture, 46 m (151 ft) in diameter, to reduce the stresses of wind pressure, as well as serve as a subtext for the design, since "Chinese mythology represents the earth with a square and the sky with a circle". It also resembled a Chinese moon gate due to its circular form in Chinese architecture. However, this initial design began facing protests from some Chinese, including the mayor of Shanghai, who considered it too similar to the rising sun design of the Japanese flag. Pedersen then suggested that a bridge be placed at the bottom of the aperture to make it less circular. On 18 October 2005, KPF submitted an alternative design to Mori Building and a trapezoidal hole replaced the circle at the top of the tower, which in addition to changing the controversial design, will also be cheaper and easier to implement according to the architects. In the eyes of some, the building resembles a giant bottle opener.

The Shanghai World Financial Center (left) and the Jin Mao Tower (right)There are 3 observation decks in Shanghai World Financial Center. The height of its lowest observation deck (观光大厅) is 423 m (1,388 ft), on the 94th floor, the second is 439 m (1,440 ft) high, on the 97th floor, named "Observatory Bridge" (观光天桥), and the highest (观光天阁) is 474 m (1,555 ft) high, on the 100th floor.[17] Admission ranges from 100 RMB for the 94th floor only to 150 RMB for all three observation decks.

The skyscraper's roof height is set at 492 m, and has temporarily claimed the highest roof in the world. Before construction resumed on the roof, tower height was scheduled to be 509.2 m (1,671 ft) so the building would hold the title of the world's tallest building (structural top) over the Taipei 101, but a height limit was imposed, allowing the roof to reach a maximum height of 492 m. Architect William Pedersen and developer Minoru Mori have resisted suggestions to add a spire that would surpass that of Taipei 101 and perhaps the Freedom Tower, calling the Shanghai WFC a "broad-shouldered building". The SWFC boasts a gross floor area of more than 377,300 m2 (4,061,200 sq ft) and 31 elevators and 33 escalators.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_World_Financial_Center

AIA Lecture - Communal Healing Frameworks for Wounded Warriors and Their Families

2010-04-24T10:26:00.003-05:00

Today I attended this lecture. The symposium will brought together a variety of perspectives from former military physicians, combat veterans, researchers, psychologists, civilian physicians, complementary medicine researchers, and designers to examine communal healing frameworks for wounded warriors, vets, and their families. Presentations were about the integration of communal healing programming with communal healing space: examining how communal environments can be used as a tool for communal healing programming.

Click here for a copy of the lecture notes.

A list of the AIA Chicago Chapter of events can be found at:

http://www.aiachicago.org/events.asp

Moment and Shear Connections

2010-04-23T00:01:00.003-05:00

1. Shear Connection - A beam bolted to a column. It is a shear only connection because the beam flanges are not rigidly connected to the column. Note the gap shown between the bottom flange of the beam and the column.

2. Moment (Rigid) Connection - A welded beam to the column. The beam flange welds transmit full flange strength to the column. The shear tab, welded to the column, and bolted to the beam web, supports the beam until it is welded and offers permanent shear resistance. Electric Arc Welding is generally used in steel construction with the fillet weld being the most common type of weld.

A moment connection is one that can stabilize a frame against lateral forces without the use of diagonal bracing or shear walls.

Building Code - Structural

2010-04-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

Referenced from the IBC, Chapter 16

SECTION 1602 DEFINITIONS AND NOTATIONS

1602.1 Definitions. The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings shown herein.

ALLOWABLE STRESS DESIGN. A method of proportioning structural members, such that elastically computed stresses produced in the members by nominal loads do not exceed specified allowable stresses (also called "working stress design").

DEAD LOADS. The weight of materials of construction incorporated into the building, including but not limited to walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, and the weight of fixed service equipment, such as cranes, plumbing stacks and risers, electrical feeders, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems and automatic sprinkler systems.

DESIGN STRENGTH. The product of the nominal strength and a resistance factor (or strength reduction factor).

DIAPHRAGM. A horizontal or sloped system acting to transmit lateral forces to the vertical-resisting elements. When the term "diaphragm" is used, it shall include horizontal bracing systems.

Diaphragm, blocked. In light-frame construction, a diaphragm in which all sheathing edges not occurring on a framing member are supported on and fastened to blocking.

Diaphragm boundary. In light-frame construction, a location where shear is transferred into or out of the diaphragm sheathing. Transfer is either to a boundary element or to another force-resisting element.

Diaphragm chord. A diaphragm boundary element perpendicular to the applied load that is assumed to take axial stresses due to the diaphragm moment.

Diaphragm flexible. A diaphragm is flexible for the purpose of distribution of story shear and torsional moment where so indicated in Section 12.3.1 of ASCE 7, as modified in Section 1613.6.1.

Diaphragm, rigid. A diaphragm is rigid for the purpose of distribution of story shear and torsional moment when the lateral deformation of the diaphragm is less than or equal to two times the average story drift.

DURATION OF LOAD. The period of continuous application of a given load, or the aggregate of periods of intermittent applications of the same load.

ESSENTIAL FACILITIES. Buildings and other structures that are intended to remain operational in the event of extreme environmental loading from flood, wind, snow or earthquakes.

FABRIC PARTITION. A partition consisting of a finished surface made of fabric, without a continuous rigid backing, that is directly attached to a framing system in which the vertical framing members are spaced greater than 4 feet (1219 mm) on center.

FACTORED LOAD. The product of a nominal load and a load factor.

GUARD. See Section 1002.1.

IMPACT LOAD. The load resulting from moving machinery, elevators, craneways, vehicles and other similar forces and kinetic loads, pressure and possible surcharge from fixed or moving loads.

LIMIT STATE. A condition beyond which a structure or member becomes unfit for service and is judged to be no longer useful for its intended function (serviceability limit state) or to be unsafe (strength limit state).

LIVE LOADS. Those loads produced by the use and occupancy of the building or other structure and do not include construction or environmental loads such as wind load, snow load, rain load, earthquake load, flood load or dead load.

LIVE LOADS (ROOF). Those loads produced (1) during maintenance by workers, equipment and materials; and (2) during the life of the structure by movable objects such as planters and by people.

LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN (LRFD). A method of proportioning structural members and their connections using load and resistance factors such that no applicable limit state is reached when the structure is subjected to appropriate load combinations. The term "LRFD" is used in the design of steel and wood structures.

LOAD EFFECTS. Forces and deformations produced in structural members by the applied loads.

LOAD FACTOR. A factor that accounts for deviations of the actual load from the nominal load, for uncertainties in the analysis that transforms the load into a load effect, and for the probability that more than one extreme load will occur simultaneously.

LOADS. Forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effects, differential movement and restrained dimensional changes. Permanent loads are those loads in which variations over time are rare or of small magnitude, such as dead loads. All other loads are variable loads (see also "Nominal loads").

NOMINAL LOADS. The magnitudes of the loads specified in this chapter (dead, live, soil, wind, snow, rain, flood and earthquake).

OCCUPANCY CATEGORY. A category used to determine structural requirements based on occupancy.

OTHER STRUCTURES. Structures, other than buildings, for which loads are specified in this chapter.

PANEL (PART OF A STRUCTURE). The section of a floor, wall or roof comprised between the supporting frame of two adjacent rows of columns and girders or column bands of floor or roof construction.

RESISTANCE FACTOR. A factor that accounts for deviations of the actual strength from the nominal strength and the manner and consequences of failure (also called "strength reduction factor").

STRENGTH, NOMINAL. The capacity of a structure or member to resist the effects of loads, as determined by computations using specified material strengths and dimensions and equations derived from accepted principles of structural mechanics or by field tests or laboratory tests of scaled models, allowing for modeling effects and differences between laboratory and field conditions.

STRENGTH, REQUIRED. Strength of a member, cross section or connection required to resist factored loads or related internal moments and forces in such combinations as stipulated by these provisions.

STRENGTH DESIGN. A method of proportioning structural members such that the computed forces produced in the members by factored loads do not exceed the member design strength [also called "load and resistance factor design" (LRFD)]. The term "strength design" is used in the design of concrete and masonry structural elements.

VEHICLE BARRIER SYSTEM. A system of building components near open sides of a garage floor or ramp or building walls that act as restraints for vehicles.

NOTATIONS.

D = Dead load.

E = Combined effect of horizontal and vertical earthquake induced forces as defined in Section 12.4.2 of ASCE 7.

F = Load due to fluids with well-defined pressures and maximum heights.

Fa = Flood load in accordance with Chapter 5 of ASCE 7.

H = Load due to lateral earth pressures, ground water pressure or pressure of bulk materials.

L = Live load, except roof live load, including any permitted live load reduction.

Lr = Roof live load including any permitted live load reduction.

R = Rain load.

S = Snow load.

T = Self-straining force arising from contraction or expansion resulting from temperature change, shrinkage, moisture change, creep in component materials, movement due to differential settlement or combinations thereof.

W = Load due to wind pressure.

The 2009 Version of the International Building Code can be found free online at:
http://publicecodes.citation.com/icod/ibc/2009/index.htm?bu=IC-P-2009-000001&bu2=IC-P-2009-000019

Nailing Methods

2010-04-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

1. Face Nailing - The strongest nailing method.

2. End Nailing - The weakest method. A nail is driven through one piece of wood into the end grain of the adjoining piece. Works best for holding memebers in alignment until addtional framing or sheathing can strenghten the connection

3. Toe Nailing - About 2/3 as strong as face nailing. Used when access is not available to end nailing.

CMU Blocks

2010-04-20T15:17:00.003-05:00

A. Stretcher (3 core) - Unit most common for unreinforced construction.

B. Double Corner - Most common for reinforced construction. Large cores with vertical steel bar and grout create internal reinforced concrete columns.

C. Low Web Bond Beam - Unit provides space for horizontal reinforcing bar and grout. Used to tie wall together at critical points or create a bond beam.

D. Channel Bond Beam or Lintel - Unit provides space for horizontal reinforcing bar. Used to create lintels over openings.

E. Control Joint - Used for making expansion or vertical shear type control joints in construction. Sealant is used between interlocking units.

F. End - Used where the end of the unit will be exposed.

G. Corner - Half block used at corners and ends of walls to create a running bond pattern.

Material Weights

2010-04-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Reinforced Concrete = 144-150 PCF (Pounds Per Cubic Foot)
Fresh Water = 62.4 PCF
Snow = 8 PCF
Dry clay soil = 63 PCF
Sandy gravel, dry or wet = 119 PCF
Cast aluminium = 165 PCF
Steel = 490 PCF
Asphalt Shingles = 1.7 - 2.8 PSF (Pounds Per Square Foot)
1/2" Gypsum wall board = 2 PSF
2x4 Wood stud wall with GWB on both sides = 8 PSF, 35-40PCF average weight of wood regardless of species.

If you know additional weights of materials, please leave comments.

Structural Terminology / Definitions

2010-04-18T08:38:00.005-05:00

Bleeding - The movement of water to the surface of freshly cast concrete.

Bond Beam - A horizontal reinforced masonry beam, usually built integrally with a masonry wall.

Broom - To crush and spread the head of a wood pile by driving with a hammer.

Building Frame System - In seismic design, a structural system with and essentially complete frame providing support for gravity loads. Lateral loads are resisted for shear walls or braced frames. Building frame systems are designed for seismic forces which are lower than those for bearing wall systems.

Chevron Bracing - A type of diagonal bracing in which one end of each brace frames into a beam-column joint and the other end frames into a beam. There are two configurations, V-bracing and inverted V bracing. Because various potential problems with chevron bracing, the bracing members must be designed for increased seismic loads.

Curing - Maintaining concrete at the proper moisture and temperature after its cast.

Damping - The decrease of vibration caused by the absorption of of energy. Buildings contain a number of elements, both structural and nonstructural, which absorb energy during earthquakes and thereby diminish the earthquake induced vibrations.

Dead Load - The vertical load due to the weight of all permanent structural and non structural components of a building, such as walls, floors, roofs and fixed service equipment.

Drift - The horizontal movement of a structure when subject to wind or earthquake forces.

Dynamic Lateral Force Procedure - A method for determining earthquake forces in which a mathematical model of the structure is developed and then subjected to appropriate ground motions. This procedure is always acceptable for design.

Equilibrant - A force equal in magnitute to the resultant, but opposite in direction and on the same line of action of the resultant.

Essentric Braced Frame - A braced frame in which at least one end of each brace is essentric to the beam column joint or the opposite brace. The intent is to make the braced fram more ductile and therefore able to absorb a significant amount of energy without buckling the braces.

Jetting - A method of placing piles using high pressure water jets.

Intensity - The effects of an earthquake on people and structures at a particular place, as measured by the Modified Mercalli scale.

Magnitude - Refers to an earthquake's energy.

Medthod 1 (Normal Force Method) - A wind design method in which the wind pressures are assumed to act simultaneously normal (perpendicular) to all exterior forces.

Nonbearing Wall - A wall which supports no vertical load other than its own weight.

Overburden - Material overlying a useful mineral deposit.

Response Spectrum - A curve which shows the maximum acceleration of a series of idealized structures when subject to an earthquake.

Seismicity - A measure of the frequency, intensity, and distribution of earthquakes in a given area.

Shear Wall - A wall designed to resist lateral forces parallel to itself caused by wind or earthquakes.

Spud Pile - A steel pile with a tip at the lower-end.

Stud Wall - A wall consisting of small, closely spaced members usually sheathed on both faces with a wall material.

Suction - negative pressure.

Tension - Stress which tends to stretch a member or pull it apart.

Three Hinged Arch - An arch with a hinge at each support and at the high point, or crown; the only type of arch which is statically determinate.

Trowel - A smooth dense concrete surface, produced by steel troweling after the concrete has partially hardened.

Two Way Concrete Slab - A concrete slab in which the main reinforcement runs in two directions, generally perpendicular to each other.

Vault - A series of arches placed side by side to form a continuous structure.

W - A standard designation for a structural steel, wide, flange shape. Also, the total dead load used in earthquake design.

Habitat for Humanity - Foundation Wall Forms

2010-04-17T17:57:00.000-05:00

Today we set up the form work for the concrete foundation walls. This involved cleaning off the footings, marking red chalk lines for the outer wall, moving the formwork sections into the excavated pit, and then setting up the formwork. The forms are tied together with 2" pins, and braces. This is very labor intensive work. The forms are made in 36", 24" 18", 16", 14" and 12" widths and lengths of 4', 5', 8' and 10'. These are modular to accommodate the size and thickness of the foundation walls.

Welding Symbols

2010-04-16T08:31:00.001-05:00

Frei Otto

2010-04-15T07:38:00.001-05:00

Frei Paul Otto (31 May 1925) is a German architect and structural engineer.

Otto studied architecture in Berlin before being drafted into the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot in the last years of World War II. It is said that he was interned in a French POW camp and, with his aviation engineering training and lack of material and an urgent need for housing, began experimenting with tents for shelter. After the war he studied briefly in the United States and visited Erich Mendelsohn, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, and Frank Lloyd Wright. He began private practice in Germany in 1952. His saddle-shaped cable-net music pavilion at the Bundesgartenschau (Federal Garden Exposition) in Kassel brought him his first significant attention. He earned a doctorate about tensioned constructions in 1954.

Otto is the world's leading authority on lightweight tensile and membrane structures, and has pioneered advances in structural mathematics and civil engineering. Otto's career bears a similarity to Buckminster Fuller's architectural experiments: both taught at Washington University in St. Louis in the late 1950's, both were architects of major pavilions at the Montreal Expo of 1967, both were concerned with space frames and structural efficiency, and both experimented with inflatable buildings. The work of both men go far beyond traditional methods of calculating structural stresses. His designs are regarded to have been heavily influenced by Australian architect Barry Patten, and his most famous design, the Myer Music Bowl (1959) in Melbourne.

Otto founded the famous Institute for Lightweight Structures at the University of Stuttgart in 1964 and headed the institute till his retirement as university professor. Major works include the West German Pavilion at the Montreal Expo in 1967 and the roof of the 1972 Munich Olympic Arena, inspired by Vladimir Shukhovs architecture.

The International Architecture Symposium "Mensch und Raum" (Man and Space) at the Vienna University of Technology (Technische Universität Wien) in 1984 received in international attention. Otto participated, among others: Justus Dahinden, Dennis Sharp, Bruno Zevi, Jorge Glusberg, Otto Kapfinger, Paolo Soleri, Pierre Vago, Ernst Gisel, Ionel Schein.

As an architect and engineer, Otto is still active. One of his more recent projects was his work on the Japanese Pavilion at Expo 2000 with a roof structure made entirely of paper.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frei_Otto

Structural Terminology / Definitions

2010-04-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

Arch - A curved structure in which the interal stresses are essentially compression.

Balloon Framing - A method of framing wood stud walls, in which the studs are continuous for the full height of the building, which is usually two stories.

Bending Moment - The algebraic sum of the moments of all lateral forces that are on one side of a given cross-section of a beam.

Camber - A curve built into a structural member to compensate for deflection.

Cantilever Beam - A beam that is restrained against rotation at one end and free at the other.

Cluster - A group of piles.

Combined Footing - A footing supporting two or more columns.

Drag Strut (Collector or Strut) - A member which collects seismic load from the diaphram to which it is attached and delivers it to a shear resisting element.

Engineering News Formula - A dynamic formula used to determine teh capacity of driven piles.

Expansive Soil - A fine-grained cohesive soil which undergoes large volume changes with changes in moisture content.

Force - A push or pull on an object. The description of a force includes magnitude, direction, and point of application.

Flat Slab - A concrete slab reinforced in two directions which brings its load directly to supporting columns without any beams or girders, usually requiring column capitals and drop panels (thickened slab around columns).

Friction Pile - A pile whose load is supported by friction between the pile surface and the surrounding soil.

Gunite - Pneumatically applied concrete shot into place by means of compressed air. This method may be used for both repair work and new construction, especially in difficult locations or where thin sections occur.

Inelastic - Describing a material which does not return to its original size and shape when load is removed, but retains permanent deformation. Also describes structural behavior in which members are stressed above the yield point.

Laitance - A low-strength layer of fine particles that floats to the surface of wet concrete.

Line of Action - A line parallel to and aligned with a force.

Mandrel - A solid core is used in driving a shell pile into the ground. When the driving is complete, the mandrel is removed and the shell is filled with concrete.

Modulus of Elasticity (e) - Within the elastic limit, the constant ratio of the unit stress in a material to the corresponding unit strain. The modulus of elasticity of a material is the measure of its stiffness.

Moment Distribution - A method of solving for the bending moments in statically indeterminate structures, such as rigid frames and continuous beams, by successive approximation.

Open Web Steel Joist - A shop-fabricated lightweight steel truss used to span between main memebers or bearing walls and support roof or floor loads.

Organic - Soil with high decomposed vegetable or animal matter. Organic soils are usually very compressible and have very low bearing capacities.

Overhanging Beam - A beam that rests on two or more supports and has one or both ends projecting beyond the support.

Plywood - A laminated panel of thin wood veneers, or piles, permanently bonded together with an adhesive. The grain of the adjacent piles is usually placed at right angles.

Positive Moment - Bending moment which produces compression in the upper part of a beam and tension in the lower part.

Pounding - The collision between two adjacent buildings which move differently during and earthquake.

Precast Pile - A reinforced concrete pile cast in other than its final location. After curing, it is moved to its final location and driven into place. Precast piles are square, round, octogonal, and are frequently prestressed.

Pretensioning - A method of prestressing concrete in which the tensile force is put into high-strength steel wires before concrete is cast.

Static Lateral Force Procedure - A method of seismic design in which static horizontal forces which produce internal forces similiar to those that would be induced by an actual earthquake motion are applied to a structure. This procedure is allowed only under certian conditions of building regularity, occupnacy and height.

Statnation Pressure (qs) - The direct wind pressure on a vertical surface, in pounds per square foot.

Stiffness (Rigidity) - Resistance to deformation.

Tapered Girder - A plate girder having a d tapered profile, usually varying from minimum depth at the supports to maximum depth at midspan.

Tubular System - A structural system used in tall buildings, consisting of closely spaced columns at the perimeter connected by deep spandrel beams, which acts like a tube which cantilevers from the ground when subject to lateral wind or earthquake loads.

Ultrasonic Testing - Nondestructive testing of welded joints using high-frequency sound waves.

Yield Point - The unit stress at which a material deforms with no increase in load.

Lateral Force Resistive Systems

2010-04-13T09:27:00.000-05:00

A. Bay-Type System: Rigid frames in plan and elevation. Lateral forces are transfered to the foundation at interior and exterior bays.

B. Tube System: Perimeter walls are rigid and rigidly connected to each other at the corners. Lateral loads are transferred to teh foundation at the perimeter.
Examples: John Hancock, Chicago (trussed tube), Willis Tower, Chicago (bundled tube), World Trade Center, NYC (tube in tube)

C. Core System: Shear walls are placed (symmetrically, whenever possible) inside the structure. Structure free plates are cantilevered from the core. This allows for uninterrupted glass on the perimeter. Usually used in conjunction with tube systems.

D. Suspension System: Floors are suspended from the structure and loads are transfered to massive compression piers (similiar to a suspension bridge).
Examples: HongKong and Shanghai Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis.

Structural Terminology / Definitions

2010-04-12T08:44:00.003-05:00

Accelerator - A substance, such as calcium chloride, added to a concrete mix to speed up its setting and strength development.

Aftershock - Earthquakes following the occurance of a large earthquake, or main shock. The magnitude of an aftershock is usually less than the main shock.

Axial Load - A longitudinal load which acts at the centroid of a member and perpendicular to its cross section, thereby producing uniform tensile or compressive stress without any bending.

Bolt - A metal fastener with a head at one end and an external thread at the other end to receive a nut.

ca and cv - Seismic coefficients based on the building's seismic zone factor and soil type.

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion - The ratio of unit strain to temperature change, which is constant for a given material.

Cofferdam - A watertight, temporary structure used under water, in which construction work can be performed.

Compacted Fill - Fill which has been densified by the application of pressure, usually by mechanical equipment, in order to increase its strength and stability and reduce its settlement. Properly compacted fill is often suitable for the support of building footings.

Concentric Braced Frame - A braced frame in which the center line of intersecting members meet at a point and whose members are therefore subjected primarily to axial forces.

Couple - Two forces equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, and acting at some distance from each other. The moment produced by a couple is equal to the value of one force multiplied by the distance between the two forces.

Displacement - Horizontal or vertical movement of a structural element resulting from applied seismic or other load.

Drilled Pile - A vertical shaft drilled into the ground and filled with concrete, which supports building loads by skin friction.

Fault - The boundary between adjacent rock plates along which movement may take place during an earthquake, such as the San Andreas fault in California.

Focus - The location in the earth's crust where rock slippage beings during earthquakes. Also called the hypocenter.

Gravel - A coarse granular material, with particles varying from about 3" to 3/16".

Groove Weld - A weld placed between two butting pieces of metal to be joined.

Heavy Timber - Referring to construction in which fire resistance is obtained by using wood structural members of specified minimum sizes.

Joists - One of a small series of small, closely spaced beams used to support floor, ceiling or roof loads.

Lintel - A structural member placed over an opening and supporting construction above.

m - A symbol for bending momement.

Precast Concrete - A concrete element cast in a location other than its final position. After curing, it is moved to its final location and installed.

Reinforced Brick Masonry - A type of wall construction consisting of brick units, usually two tiers, with a solidly grouted space between each in which vertical and horizontal reinforcing bars are placed.

Reinforcing Steel - Round steel bars with surface deformations which are placed in the forms prior to casting of concrete, which primarily resist tension.

Sand - Granular material, ranging from about 3/8" to 0.005"

Seismic Separation (Building Separation) - The separation between two adjoining buildings, or parts of the same building, to permit these adjoining elements to move independently when subject to earthquake motion. The amount of separation should be sufficient to prevent the adjoining elements from battering each other during and earthquake.

Seismograph - An instrument which makes a continuous permanent record of earth motion, called as seismogram.

Single Shear - Describing a bolted joint which has one shearing plane through the bolts.

Size Factor - A factor used to reduce the allowable bending stress for wood beams deeper than 12".

Statically Indeterminate - Describing a structure whose reactions cannot be found from the equations of equilibrium only, but requires additional equations. Examples are continuious beams, fixed end beams, and most rigid frames.

Stirrup - A vertical steel bar, usually U-shaped, used to reinforce a reinforced concrete beam where the shear stresses are excessive.

Tilt-up Wall - A reinforced concrete wall which is present at the job site, usually in a flat position, and later tilted up an set into place.

Unified Soil Classification System - The widely most used system for classifying soils. In this system, the soils are primarily classified as coarse-grained (gravels and sands), fine-grained (silts and clays), and highly organic.

Wind Bent - A frame used to resist lateral forces from wind.

Web - The portion of a truss between the chords, or the portion of a beam between the flanges.

Structural Definitions / Terminology

2010-04-11T07:56:00.001-05:00

Amplification - An increase in a building's response to earthquake ground motion, resulting from the building's period coinciding with that of the ground shaking or other causes.

Bearing Capacity - The load per unit are which can be safely supported by the ground.

Caisson - A waterproof box-like structure in which construction work can be performed underwater. Also a pile constructed by pouring concrete into a drilled shaft.

Centriod - The point in a cross-section where all of the area may be considered concentrated without affecting the moment of the area about any axis. For symmetrical shapes, the centroid is the geometric center of the shape.

Clay - A fine-grained, cohesive, inorganic soil.

Coefficient of Friction - The ratio of the maximum frictional force between two bodies to the normal (perpendicular) for pressing the surfaces together.

Column - A member, usually vertical, which is subject primarily to axial compressive loads.

Compression - Stress which tends to shorten a member or crush it.

Component - One of two or more forces which will produce the same effect on a body as a given force.

Continuous Beam - A beam that rests on more than two supports.

Construction Joint - The joint between two successive concrete pours. Construction joints are usually located where the shear is minimum, such as the midspan of the beams.

Deflection - The movement of a beam from its original location when load is applied to it.

Fill - A manmade deposit of soil.

In situ - In place.

Moment - The tendency of a force to cause rotation about a given point or axis.

P-Delta Effect - The secondary effect on frame members produced by vertical loads acting on a building frame which is laterally displaced by earthquake loads.

Pile Cap - A thick, reinforced concrete slab placed over a group of piles and used to distribute the structural load to all the piles in a group.

Resonance - The condition that occurs when a building's period is close to that of the predominant period ofe the earthquake ground shaking. Resonnance causes the building's response to be amplified, and the resulting increases in the building's earthquake induced forces and deformations must be considered in design.

Rigid Frame - A frame with rigid joints, in which members and joints are capable of resisting vertical and horizontal forces primarily by flexure. It is also called a moment resisting frame.
Vertical Shear (v) - The algebraic sum of the forces that are one side of a given cross-section of a beam.

Thrust - The horizontal reaction at the base of an arch.

Volume Factor - A factor used to reduce the allowable bending stress for glued, laminated beam, based on width, depth and span.

Working Stress - The maximum unit stress permissible in a structural member. It is also called the allowable stress.

Site Planning Terminology and Definitions

2010-04-09T09:27:00.002-05:00

Acre - an area equal to 43,560 square feet.

Arcade - a covered pedestrian way that overlaps the sidewalk.

Battering - the sloping or recessing of successive courses of stone or masonryto help resist the soil thrust and to prevent overturning.

Blackwater - wastewater that contains toilet waste.

Building Sewer - is the portion of the sanitary system from 3'-0" beyond the building connecting to the public sewer.

Courtyard Building - a building that occupies all or nearly all of the edges of a lot with a private interior courtyard. This building layout is ideal when security or privacy is needed for the outdoor space.

Egress Court - a type of discharge exit that is a court or yard on private property that provides access to a public way fromone or more exits.

Forecourt - a design where the building line is set back from the frontage line and a wall is placed at teh frontage line, creating a semi-private courtyard.

Gabions - manufactured wire mesh baskets constructed on site and filled with stone. They often tolerate differential settlement.

Greenfield - undeveloped land that containing vegetation and undistrubed ecosystems.

House Sewer (House Drain) - the portion of the sanitary sewer system within a building and to a point that extends 3'-0" outside of the building in which it serves.

National Flood Insurance Program - standards that require local participating governments adopt minimum floodplain management plans. Thse plans include requirements for zoning, subdivdivision of buildings, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances. These requirements must be met in order for federal flood insurance to be available for property owners.

Perimeter Yard - is a building that is located in the middle of the lot with open space surrounding it. It is often utilized in semi-urban or suburban locations for residential use.

Porch and Fence - a design that separates the building and the sidewalk with a yard. A fence is placed at the frontage line with a porch placed in front of the building.

Probable Maximum Flood - the most severe flood that may reasonably be possible for a particular location.

Rear Yard Building - a building in which the front of the building is placed on lot line. This allows open space at the rear of the lot, which can be used for parking, service or other micellaneous functions. This is ideal for retail use buildings that allow a maximum amount of storefront.

Sediment Trap - a small control device used for drainage areas less than 5 acres.

Side Yard Building - a building layout that occupies one side of the lot with the other side of the lot is left open. This layout is best utilized to create a semiprivate yard or to orient the building for solar access.

Silt Basin (Sediment Basin) - a large control device used for drainage areas in excess of 5 areas.

Standard Projected Flood - a flood that may be expected from the most severe combination of meterological and hydrological conditions in a particular location, excluding rare combinations as with a Probable Maximum Flood.

Stoop - a design that incorporates a first floor that is slightly elevated above the street to provide privacy for the windows.

Tangent - a stright portion of a road which is connected to curved roads

View Plane Restriction - a restriction set on buildings, set by local ordinances which protect scenic views from a specific point or area. Zoning codes limit the height and bulk of buildings in general.

Piles and Caissons

2010-04-08T19:18:00.001-05:00

Caissons are drilled and poured, while piles are driven into the earth.

Belled Caisson - is practical where the bell can be excavatd in a cohesive soil

Socketed Caisson - is drilled deep into rock at the bottom rather than belled. Its bearing capacity comes not only from its end bearing, but from the frictional forces between the sides of the caisson and the rock.

End Bearing Pile - a pile that is driven until its tip encounters firm resistance from the rock or dense sands and gravels

Friction Pile - a pile driven into softer material without encountering a firm bearing layer, it will still develop a considerable load-carrying capacity through the frictional resistance between the sides of the pile and the soil through which it is driven.

Left and Right Handed Door

2010-04-07T13:58:00.004-05:00

Door "hands" are labeled according to which side the hinge are on. A simple way of remember this is "hands" and "hinge" both start with the letter "H" and both words have 5 letters. So a "Right Hand Door" would be a door whose hinges are on the right hand side of the door when you are facing it.

The difference between right hand and right hand reverse simply is that all doors are labeled according to the user of the door standing on the outside of the door. So if one were to stand outside of an apartment door to enter an apartment and the hinges are on the right hand side, it would be a right hand door.

If one were to stand on the inside of an apartment unit and the user was facing the door that leads to the common hallway and the hinges were on the right hand side, it would be a right hand reverse door.

Door swing does not matter.

Radburn, New Jersey

2010-04-06T21:46:00.003-05:00

Radburn is an unincorporated planned community located within Fair Lawn, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States.

Radburn was founded in 1929 as "a town for the motor age". Its planners, Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, and its landscape architect Marjorie Sewell Cautley aimed to incorporate modern planning principles, which were then being introduced into England's Garden Cities, following ideas advocated by urban planners Ebenezer Howard and Sir Patrick Geddes.

Radburn was explicitly designed to separate traffic by mode, with a pedestrian path system that does not cross any major roads at grade. Radburn introduced the largely residential "superblock" and is credited with incorporating some of the earliest cul-de-sacs in the United States

Superblocks were popular during the early and mid-20th century, arising from modernist ideas in architecture and urban planning. A superblock is much larger than a traditional city block, with greater setback for buildings, and is typically bounded by widely spaced, high-speed, arterial or circulating routes rather than by local streets. Superblocks are generally associated with suburbs, planned cities, and the urban renewal of the mid-20th century; that is, in areas in which a street hierarchy has replaced the traditional grid. In a residential area of a suburb, the interior of the superblock is typically served by cul-de-sac roads.

Urban planner Clarence Perry argued for use of superblocks and related ideas in his "neighborhood unit" plan, which aimed to organize space in a way that is more pedestrian-friendly and provided open plazas and other space for residents to socialize. In the 1930s, superblocks were often used in urban renewal public housing projects in American cities. In using superblocks, housing projects aimed to eliminate back alleys, which were often associated with slum conditions.

Superblocks are also used when functional units such as rail yards or housing projects are too big to fit in one block.

A well-known example of a superblock is the World Trade Center site in New York City, where several streets of Manhattan's downtown grid were removed and de-mapped to make room for the center.

A supposed major advantage of the use of the superblock is to improve separation of vehicular and pedestrian circulation. New Urbanists would argue that separating those functions effectively kills the social interaction that bolsters urban areas.

The British new town of Milton Keynes is built around a grid of one-kilometer square superblocks.

referenced from wikipedia.org

Site Planning and Design Definitions

2010-04-05T17:07:00.000-05:00

Alluvium – soil, sand or mud deposited by flowing water

Angle of Repose – the greatest angle at which soil will lay without sliding. This angle varies with the size and shape of the soil grains. Generally sand and gravel have a steeper angle than silts and loams. Damp soil has a steeper angle than saturated or totally dry soil.

Aquifer – a permeable stratum of soil material that allows the passage of water under ground and is the water source for wells.

Auger Boring – a method of soil testing which uses an auger drill bit fastened to a rod to bring the soil to the surface. Most efficient in clay or sand because the bit is easily obstructed. It has a limited depth capability.

Bedrock – the most stable soil type
Catch basin – a reservoir in which debris and sediment from runoff may settle before it enters the storm drain.

Concave Slope – a slope that occurs when the distance between increases towards the base of the hill.

Constellation Pattern – a pattern that develops when equally substantial urban cores develop across a territory and then connect with highways. If the cores are large enough they can grow into each other forming one large megalopolis. Unlike the grid pattern, which is developed because of its rigid order, the constellation pattern tends to be the result of a lack of planning in an area where resources are evenly distributed.

Contour Interval – The vertical distance or change in elevation between sequential contour lines on a topographic map.

Convex Slope – a slope that occurs when the distance between contour lines increase towards the top of a hill

Core Boring – a method of soil testing which involves an intact cylindrical sample that is extracted by drilling through all types of soils including bedrock. Excellent depth capacity. This test is very reliable but very expensive.

Covenant – also called a restrictive covenant – it is a type of deed restriction. It is a provision in the deed that places limitations on land development by the buyer. These restrictions are intended to be public interest and may include; property use, building and fence locations, yard size, cost and style of architecture. As part of the deed, these restrictions may affect the decision of a potential buyer. They are commonly used to maintain aesthetic uniformity or construction quality and may be enforced for a period of years.

Culvert – a drain or channel that permits the passage of water below ground. Typically, a large diameter concrete or metal pipe often used to channel water under a road.

Cut and Fill – A method of grading used to create a level area on a sloped site. To cut is to remove soil; to fill is to add soil. Ideally this type of grading should be limited in order to minimize the impact on a naturally occurring site. In addition, the amount of cut and fill should be balanced whenever possible. This reduces the need for delivery or removal of soil. On a topographic map, an area of fill is indicated by a solid line that bumps out towards a lower contour line; a cut is indicated by a solid line that bumps towards a higher contour line. A slope stake is a marker used to identify where cut or fill meets the original grade.

Districts – are medium to large areas of the city that are understood as entities because of some common identifying characteristics. A financial districts, slums, or a neighborhood with a predominant cultural base are examples.

Drain tile – a perforated pipe surrounded by granular fill used to relieve hydrostatic pressure from foundation or retaining walls.

Ecology – The study of living organisms in relationship to their environment.

Edges – the linear elements that are not considered paths. Walls shores, and edges of development are examples.

Excavation – the removal of soil from its natural position to allow for construction below grade.

Equinox – When the sun crosses the plane of the equator and the day and night are equal length. This happens two times each year when the sun is halfway between the summer and the winter solstice.

Flume – an elevated artificial channel that carries fast moving water and is used to transport items such as logs or fish, or to divert a stream.
Frost line – the maximum depth at which soil will freeze; below this depth soil will remain above freezing. This depth varies greatly between regions and according to soil types and local conditions. An exterior foundation wall must extend to, and the footing must be placed below this line as specified by the locality. This is true except where the footing bears on solid rock, is otherwise protected from frost or when frozen conditions are permanent.

Grid Pattern – the most common type of urban pattern, consisting of orthogonal streets and highways that create a regular grid pattern of land parcels.

Humus – soft dark soil containing decomposed organic matter, poor bearing capacity.
Hydrology – the study of the occurrence, movement and quality of water on a site. Concerned with water forms, drainage patterns, runoff, water table and aquifer zones.

Invert – the lowest point or lowest inside surface of a drain, sewer pipe or other plumbing line. For drains and sewers, this point must be established due to the dependence on gravity.

Landmarks – any physical feature so long as they uniquely stand apart from its context. Some skyscrapers, cliffs, monuments and domes act as landmarks.

Loam – rich soil containing equal parts of sand, silt and clay
Nodes – junctions of paths and concentrations of a particular use that identify important places in a city. Prominent corners, subway junctions and train stations are examples of nodes.

Paths – streets, walkways, canals and railroads; channels along which people move.

Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.) – a zoning designation in which parcels of land are developed with a combination of commercial, residential and civic uses. Disorganized development lead to the implementation of zoning ordinances that, while separating the use districts, created a monotonous and homogenous environment. The goal of the P.U.D. is to integrate mixed use development and promote a vital and diverse community.

Proctor Test – a test method used to determine the optimum relationship between moisture content and compaction of soil. Fill must be compacted prior to construction. Samples of fill are compacted according to a specified procedure and weighed to determine the necessary compaction requirements. Fill is placed onsite in a series of compacted layers or lifts 8-12”. Site soil must be compacted between 95% and 100% of optimum density based on laboratory tests.

Percolation Test – a test method to determine the rate at which soil absorbs effluent. Used to assess the suitability of soil for a leachfield. This test measures the time it takes a water level to drop one inch in a test hole. Test holes can be made in several locations to determine the average condition.
Picturesque – a garden design style characterized by wild ruggedness; in architecture, asymmetrical combinations of form and a variety of textures.

Raker – a temporary diagonal brace used to support vertical sheeting against earth walls created by excavation.

Radial Pattern – a development pattern in which arteries radiate from a central urban core. Population tends to be most dense in the core and along the arteries, and less dense in the spaces between the arteries. When communications along the transportation lines grow long enough, the simple radial pattern can become like a radial satellite pattern.

Radial Satellite – like the basic radial pattern, the satellite pattern consists of a central urban core and radiating transportation lines. Unlike the more simple radial pattern, significant urban cores have developed at the end of the transportation lines. When these satellite communities develop transportation lines between them that bypass the central core, these roads are called beltways.

Reparian Rights – Water rights that entitle a landowner whose property is adjacent to a river or other body of water the use of that water for various purposes including; irrigation, generating electricity, transportation, and fishing as well as other municipal or industrial uses.

Ridge – a ridge is represented on a contour map by contour lines that point down hill.

Sheepsfoot – A tamper-roller which has large teeth used to increase soil stability and bearing capacity. Used during the soil compaction process

Sheet flow – water that drains in a thin layer across a sloped surface, pavement, grass or landscape. The runoff is directed to a gutter or channel, and then storm sewer or natural water course.

Shoring – temporary wood or steel bracing, usually set at an angled position and used to hold walls in place.

Silt fence – a filter fabric usually fixed to wood stakes filters fine sediment from runoff before it reaches receiving streams or storm sewers.

Storm drain – underground conduit used to carry rainwater, not sewage, from a catch basin to a paved channel or body of water. Controls runoff and erosion in high density areas with impervious surfaces. The diameter is determined by the region’s rainfall in inches per hour.

Swale – a type of above ground drainage used to control runoff. A shallow, sloping sometimes grassy depression incorporated into landscaping.

Test Pit – this soil test involves an excavation of an open pit. This allows for the visual examination of the existing conditions as well as the ability to take intact samples for further testing. This can help determine the depth of the water table.

Trenching – creating shallow excavations used for pouring small footings and foundation walls, or to provide drainage of surface water.

Underpinning – providing additional support to an existing foundation by rebuilding or reinforcing

Uniform Soil Classification System (U.S.C) – used to determine drainage potential, bearing capacity and erosion potential. Classified by grain size and physical characteristics such as well- graded, uniformly graded, gap-graded, organic and inorganic. Other characteristics include: Color – Indicates the amount of organic matter, drainage and fertility. Texture – indicates the ability of soil to hold water and its workability. Structure – flattened, granular or chunky; the degree of drainage, aeration, and ability to hold water. Depth – the degree of fertility and availability of minerals.

Valley – a valley is represented on a contour map by contour lines that point up hill

Waler (Wale or Whaler) – a horizontal brace of steel or timber used to support sheathing or other members such as concrete formwork. Holds vertical members and form work in line.

Weir – an embankment, levee or dam formed to hold a river or stream or divert a flow of water

Wash Boring – The drilling of a test hole to locate bedrock beneath very compact soil. A pipe is driven into the soil while water forces the material to the surface. It can penetrate all materials other than rock.

Water table – the boundary between aerated and water saturated soil. This plane may rise and fall seasonally

Soil Types

2010-04-04T19:31:00.001-05:00

Habitat for Humanity - Stud Walls

2010-04-03T14:49:00.005-05:00

Today at Habitat, we built stud walls in the basement that will surround the staircase. It is important to have the crowns face in the same direction so the drywall doesn't appear to be wavy. The sill plate must be pressure treated.

Here is some common terminology associated with stud walls:

Crowning: refers to the direction the board "bows". If it looks like a banana while standing in your wall, you want all the bananas bowing the same way, so your wallboard will be (fairly) striaght.

Double top plate (or double plate): The horizontal framing member at the top of the wall that attaches to the studs and to the ceiling and-or roof framing above.

Sill Plate: The horizontal framing member at the base of a wood-framed house. Attached to the foundation with anchor bolts set into the foundation. A layer of foam sill seal material insulates between the sill plate and the foundation.

Pressure Treated Sill Plate: A sill plate treated with a chemical additive intended to fight decay and rot.

Dorobanti Tower

2010-04-02T21:09:00.001-05:00

Romania's capital city could be set to receive a 200m tall offering from star-architect Zaha Hadid. Dorobanti Tower has been proposed to join the eclectic mix of historic, communist and modern architecture in Bucharest and if approved will tower 80 m above the present tallest building in the city.

Providing a 5-star hotel (34,000 sq m) and apartments (35,000 sq m) the elliptical meshed structure has been designed to create an iconic presence in the heart of the city. The tapering form, a product of regulations and restrictions due to adjacent listed buildings, provides an immediate contrast to the jagged edged communist architecture surrounding the plot.

The meandering exterior columns are formed of concrete filled steel which both adds strength to the structure and provides fire resistance for the steel frame.

The design represents a departure from Hadid's signature style, however, this is integrated in to a public realm surrounding the structure in the addition of a "warped concrete carpet" with one continuous surface connecting the three surrounding streets adjacent to the tower. The deformations on the landscape create seating areas, water basins, garden spaces including trees and a lifted terrace.

Designed for the client, Smartown Investments, there will also be 4,600 sq m of retail situated in the base of the tower. Dorobanti Tower is scheduled for completion in 2013.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10974

2010-04-01T21:11:00.002-05:00

Foster was born in Reddish, Stockport, England,[2] to a working-class family. He was naturally gifted and performed well at school and took an interest in architecture, particularly in the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.

Leaving school at 16, he worked in the Manchester City Treasurer's office before joining National Service in the Royal Air Force. After he was discharged, in 1956 Foster attended the University of Manchester's School of Architecture and City Planning (graduating in 1961). Later, he won the Henry Fellowship to the Yale School of Architecture, where he met former business partner Richard Rogers and earned his Master's degree. He then travelled in America for a year, returning to the UK in 1963 where he set up an architectural practice as Team 4 with Rogers and the sisters Georgie and Wendy Cheesman. Georgie (later Wolton) was the only one of the team that had passed her RIBA exams allowing them to set up in practice on their own. Team 4 quickly earned a reputation for high-tech industrial design.

Foster + Partners' breakthrough building in the UK was the Willis Faber & Dumas headquarters in Ipswich, from 1974. The client was a family firm insurance company which wanted to restore a sense of community to the workplace. Foster created open-plan office floors long before open-plan became the norm. In a town not over-endowed with public facilities, the roof gardens, 25m swimming pool and gymnasium greatly enhance the quality of life of the company's 1200 employees. The building is wrapped in a full-height glass facade which moulds itself to the medieval street plan and contributes real drama, subtly shifting from opaque, reflective black to a glowing backlit transparency as the sun sets. The building is now Grade One listed.

Today, Foster + Partners works with its engineering collaborators to integrate complex computer systems with the most basic physical laws, such as convection. The approach creates intelligent, efficient structures like the Swiss Re London headquarters at 30 St Mary Axe, nicknamed "The Gherkin", whose complex facade lets in air for passive cooling and then vents it as it warms and rises.

Proposed or under construction

Torre Caja Madrid, in Madrid, (Spain).Florence TAV Station, Florence, Italy (2003-2010)
Palmer Tompkinson Building, Longslade 2012
South Beach, Singapore, Singapore, 2012
APIIC Tower, Hyderabad, India (2007-2020)
Torre Caja Madrid, Madrid, Spain (2004-2008)
Black Sea Gardens, Byala, Bulgaria (2008)
Tower, Cork, Republic of Ireland, (2008-2011)
Culture and Leisure Centre, Ciudad del Motor de Aragón[1], Alcañiz, Spain (2007) (competition won)
Tivoli Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark (2010) (competition won)
Museum of Aviation, Getafe, Spain (currently in design phase)
200 Greenwich Street, Tower 2 of the planned reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York City, United States (currently in design phase)
Reconstruction of New Holland Island, Saint Petersburg, Russia (ongoing)
Russia Tower, Moscow, Russia (2007 – 2011)
U2 Tower, Dublin, Ireland (2008-2011) (competition won)
Spinningfield Square, Manchester, UK (2005 – 2010)
Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, Dallas, United States (2009)
The Bow, Calgary, Canada (2007-2011)
Jameson House, Vancouver, Canada
The Troika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2004 – 2009)
Queen's Dock, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland (2004 – 2007)
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Middlesex Guildhall, London, United Kingdom (2009)
Khan Shatyry in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Masdar City, Abu Dhabi (2007-2023)
New Yale School of Management campus, New Haven, CT (announced September 4, 2007)
Camp Nou stadium, Barcelona, Spain (announced 18 September 2007)[8]
Crystal Island, Moscow, Russia
Zagreb Airport, Zagreb, Croatia
Hermitage Plaza, Paris (La Défense), France (2010-2014)
Dubai Towers, Melbourne (TBD)
[edit] Completed

Reichstag dome at night1970–1971, IBM Pilot Head Office, Cosham, Portsmouth, UK
1971–1975, Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters, Ipswich, UK
1974–1978, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
1983, Renault Distribution Centre, Swindon, United Kingdom
1979–1986, HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong
1981-1991, Terminal building at London Stansted Airport, UK View on the map
1992, Torre de Collserola, Barcelona, Spain
1984-1993, Carré d'Art, Nîmes, France View on the map
1993, Kings Norton Library, Cranfield University
1993, Lycée Albert Camus, Fréjus, France
1994, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska
1988–1995, Metro of Bilbao, Spain
1995, Faculty of Law, Cambridge
1995–1997, The Clyde Auditorium, part of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow, Scotland
1991–1997, Commerzbank Tower, Frankfurt, Germany
1992–1998, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
1993–1998, Valencia Congress Centre, Valencia, Spain View on the map
1999, Redevelopment of the Great Court of the British Museum, London, United Kingdom
1999, Department of Economics, Manor Road Building, University of Oxford, UK
1999, Reichstag restoration, Berlin, Germany
2000, Greater London Authority Building (London City Hall), London, United Kingdom View on the map
1996–2000, Millennium Bridge, London, United Kingdom View on the map
2000, Center for Clinical Science Research, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
2001, Expo MRT Station, Singapore
2001, Al Faisaliyah Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2001, La Poterie metro station, Rennes, France
2001, J Sainsbury headquarters, Holborn Circus, London
1999–2001, Lionel Robbins Building renovation, British Library of Political and Economic Science, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
2002, 8 Canada Square (HSBC Group Head Office), London
1997–2003, Metropolitan Building in Warsaw
2003, Clark Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
2003, Universiti Teknologi Petronas main campus, Malaysia
1997-2004, 30 St Mary Axe, Swiss Re London headquarters, London, United Kingdom View on the map
2004, The Sage Gateshead, Gateshead, UK
2004, McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, United Kingdom
2004, Tanaka Business School, Imperial College London
2004, The Millau Viaduct, near Millau, France
2005, Western Årsta Bridge, Stockholm
2005, 40 luxury apartments, St. Moritz, Switzerland
2005, National Police Memorial, The Mall, London, United Kingdom
2005, The Philological Library at the Free University of Berlin, Germany
2005, Deutsche Bank Place, Sydney, Australia (the first Sir Norman Foster building in the Southern Hemisphere)
2002-2006, Dresden Hauptbahnhof reconstruction, Dresden, Germany
2006, Hearst Tower,New York City, United States
2006, The Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building at the University of Toronto, Canada
2006, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Astana, Kazakhstan
2002-2007, Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom
2004-2007, The Willis Building, City of London, United Kingdom
2005–2007, Thomas Deacon Academy
2004–2007, Kogod Courtyard, Center for American Art and Portraiture at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC
2007, International Terminal, Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, China
2006–2008, Lumiere residences, Sydney, Australia
2006–2008, John Spoor Broome Library, California State University Channel Islands.
2007–2008, New Elephant House, Copenhagen Zoo, Copenhagen, Denmark

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Foster_(architect)

Price Tower

2010-03-31T09:37:00.002-05:00

The Price Tower is a nineteen story, 221 foot high tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is the only realized skyscraper by Wright, and is one of only two vertically-oriented Wright structures extant (the other is the S.C. Johnson Wax Research Tower in Racine, Wisconsin).

The Price Tower was commissioned by Harold C. Price of the H. C. Price Company, a local oil pipeline and chemical firm. It opened to the public in February 1956

"Wright had two major difficulties of a philosophical sort in designing a skyscraper: first, as a believer in an architecture close to nature, he had a hard time justifying a tal, upright, seemingly anti-nature building; and, second, his obsession with the twin concepts of continuity and plasticity—a preoccupation that had led him to the sea-shell and the cocoon as ideal structural prototypes—made it difficult to approach the design of a tall, multicellular building...He solved this dilemma in a characteristic fashion, by going to the one source in nature which did suggest a way of building a tall structure: the form of a tree.

In structural terms a tree is a vertical beam cantilevered out of the ground...

To Wright, the cantilever was also the 'most romantic, most free, of all principle of construction.'...

By 1929,...Wright had really designed his concrete-and-glass tree just the way he wanted it: the vertical service core was the trunk, and all utilities were contained within this vertical shaft. All floors were cantilevered out from it, and the exterior skin was simply sheathed in glass and metal. This project—the famous apartment tower for the vestry of St Mark's-in -the Bouweie in New York—was never built, but Wright returned to the basic concept again and again; finally, in 1954, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Wright was able to build his St Mark's tower—twenty-five years after it was first designed."

— Peter Blake. Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture and Space. p86-88

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Price_Tower.html

Adrian Smith

2010-03-30T16:13:00.002-05:00

Adrian Smith was born on August 19, 1944 in Chicago. His family moved from Illinois when he was the age of five and settled in San Clemente, California. Growing up within distance of the ocean and beach, the young Adrian was instilled with a respect for the relationship between a building and its environment. "It gave me a sense of place," he has said. His father, Alfred Smith, ran a department store and was a member of the city council. But it was his mother who suggested to him when he was in high school that he become an architect based on his abilities with math and geometry.

Adrian went to Texas A&M University in College Station, TX from 1962–1966. While visiting home during 1966, he made small talk with an accountant at a wholesale warehouse in L.A. while his father picked out women's dresses for the store. This accountant was the father-in-law of a Chicago architect. And Adrian used the contact that he had made to write Bruce Graham, the son-in-law, and ask for a job. Bruce Graham replied that Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was not hiring but that he should apply the following year. In 1967 Adrian began his thirty nine year career at SOM as an intern working on the John Hancock Center, one of Graham's building projects.

Adrian graduated from the University of Illinois - Chicago in 1969.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Adrian Smith was a Design Partner in the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill from 1980 to 2003 and a Consulting Design Partner from 2004 to 2006. Adrian also served as the SOM’s Chief Executive Officer (1993 to 1995). He was the Chairman for the SOM Foundation (1990 to 1995) which serves to recognize and nurture students in architecture, design, urban design and structural engineering.

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Further information: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
After nearly four decades with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (1967–2006), Smith left and with Gordon Gill and Robert Forest to found their own firm, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG). AS+GG has declared that it will focus on design of high-performance, energy-efficient and sustainable architecture on an international scale.

Recognition
Projects under his design direction have won over 90 major awards for design excellence, including 5 international awards, 8 National AIA awards, 22 Chicago AIA awards, and 2 ULI Awards for Excellence. Smith's work at SOM has been featured in major museums in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Kevin Lynch

2010-03-29T15:58:00.002-05:00

Kevin Andrew Lynch (1918 Chicago, Illinois - 1984 Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts) was an American urban planner and author.

Lynch studied at Yale University, Taliesin (studio) under Frank Lloyd Wright, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and received a Bachelor's degree in city planning from MIT in 1947. He worked in Greensboro, NC as an urban planner but was recruited to teach at MIT by Lloyd Rodwin. He began lecturing at MIT the following year, became an assistant professor in 1949, was tenured as an associate professor in 1955, and became a full professor in 1963.

Lynch provided seminal contributions to the field of city planning through empirical research on how individuals perceive and navigate the urban landscape. His books explore the presence of time and history in the urban environment, how urban environments affect children, and how to harness human perception of the physical form of cities and regions as the conceptual basis for good urban design.

Lynch's most famous work, The Image of the City published in 1960, is the result of a five-year study on how users perceive and organize spatial information as they navigate through cities. Using three disparate cities as examples (Boston, Jersey City, and Los Angeles), Lynch reported that users understood their surroundings in consistent and predictable ways, forming mental maps with five elements:

paths, the streets, sidewalks, trails, and other channels in which people travel;
edges, perceived boundaries such as walls, buildings, and shorelines;
districts, relatively large sections of the city distinguished by some identity or character;
nodes, focal points, intersections or loci;
landmarks, readily identifiable objects which serve as external reference points.
In the same book Lynch also coined the words "imageability" and "wayfinding". Image of the City has had important and durable influence in the fields of urban planning and environmental psychology.

Parallel to his academic work, Lynch practiced planning and urban design in partnership with Stephen Carr, with whom he founded Carr Lynch Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lynch died at his summer home in Martha's Vineyard in 1984.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_A._Lynch

National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban

2010-03-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Located in the city of Dhaka, the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, stands out as an architectural masterpiece surrounded by water and beautifully landscaped gardens. Considered to be the largest legislative complex in the world, it is home to all of Bangladesh’s parliamentary activity. It is also a popular tourist attraction, which is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, including the residences for the members of parliament and layout of the lawns and lake, was created by gifted American architect Louis I. Khan. Construction was started by the Government of Pakistan in 1961 and the building was earmarked for the federal legislature of East and West Pakistan. However, after its completion on 28 January 1982, Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban was used for the first time on 15th February 1982 as the venue for the eighth, and last, session of the second parliament of Bangladesh. Since then, this impressive complex has been used for the Bangladesh National Assembly.

The architect’s key design philosophy was to represent Bangladeshi culture and heritage, while at the same time optimizing the use of space. The exterior of the building is striking in its simplicity, with huge walls deeply recessed by porticoes and large openings of regular geometric shapes. The main building, which is at the center of the complex, is divided into three parts – the Main Plaza, South Plaza and Presidential Plaza. An artificial lake surrounds three sides of the main building of Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, extending to the Members of Parliament hostel complex. This skillful use of water to portray the riverine beauty of Bangladesh adds to the aesthetic value of the site.

The Parliament Chamber, which can seat up to 354 members during parliamentary sessions, forms the key part of the Main Plaza. The Parliament Chamber has been designed to make optimal use of natural daylight, which is reflected from the surrounding walls and octagonal drum into the chamber. This natural light is complemented with an efficient, but subtle, use of artificial lighting. The Main Plaza also contains a library, Member of Parliament lounges and conference rooms.

The entrance to the Main Building and the Main Building itself is limited to authorized staff and Members of Parliament. The rest of the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban complex is open to visitors. To the north of the complex, visitors will find the beautiful Crescent Lake and Zia Uddan (Moonlight Park). This is a popular leisure area in Dhaka, with joggers and skaters enjoying the pathways through the gardens.

Visitors to the bustling capital city of Bangladesh should make a point of visiting Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, an architectural marvel set in tranquil surroundings.

from: http://www.bangladesh.com/blog/the-grand-architecture-of-jatiyo-sangsad-bhaban

Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist

2010-03-27T09:54:00.001-05:00

Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1968, is an award-winning Modern style Christian Science church building located in The Loop at 55 E Wacker Drive, (at Wabash Avenue) in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. It was designed by noted Chicago-based architect Harry Weese, whose most famous work is the Washington Metro but who is remembered best as the architect who "shaped Chicago’s skyline and the way the city thought about everything from the lakefront to its treasure-trove of historical buildings."

Built by Sumner Sollitt Construction Company of concrete in a circular design, the building has no windows. Outside light comes through a skylight at the top of the oculus in the center of the conical roof. Pedestrian entrance to the building is via a bridge over a sunken garden, which Weese said "was for the benefit of the [subterranean] Sunday School, which didn't have any windows." The semicircular auditorium which seats 764 is designed so that no seat is more than 54 feet from the Readers' Platform, which is the focal point of all Christian Science church auditoriums. An invisible sound reinforcement system with 350 hidden microphones allows those in attendance at the Wednesday evening testimonial meetings to give testimonies without having to leave their seats. Off street parking is provided by a subterranean parking garage. A feature of the lower lobby is an acrylic painting on canvas entitled "Millenium Garden: Psalm 23,” by Chicago artist Anne Farley Gaines. In 1996 Seventeenth Church received the 25 Year Award of the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Robert Venturi

2010-03-26T22:41:00.003-05:00

Robert Charles Venturi, Jr. (born June 25, 1925 in Philadelphia) is an American architect and founding principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates. Robert Venturi and his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, are regarded among the most influential architects of the twentieth century, both through their architecture and planning, and theoretical writings and teaching. Venturi was awarded the Pritzker Prize in Architecture in 1991. He is also known for coining the maxim "Less is a bore" as antidote to Mies van der Rohe's famous modernist dictum "Less is more". Venturi lives in Philadelphia with Denise Scott Brown. They have a son, James Venturi.

A controversial critic of the purely functional and spare designs of modern orthodox architecture, Venturi has been considered a counterrevolutionary. He published his "gentle manifesto," Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture in 1966, described in the introduction by Vincent Scully to be "probably the most important writing on the making of architecture since Le Corbusier's 'Vers Une Architecture', of 1923." Venturi received a grant from the Graham Foundation in 1965 to aid in its completion. The book has been translated and published in 18 languages.

In 1972, with Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour, Venturi wrote Learning from Las Vegas later revised in 1977 as Learning from Las Vegas: the Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form. The book published studies of the Las Vegas Strip undertaken by a 1968 research and design studio Venturi taught with Scott Brown at the Yale School of Architecture. Learning from Las Vegas was a further rebuke to orthodox modernism and elite architectural tastes. The book coined the terms "Duck" and "Decorated Shed" as applied to opposing architectural building styles.

In contrast to many modernists, Venturi uses a form of symbolically decorated architecture based on precedents. He believes that structure and decoration should remain separate entities and that decoration should reflect the culture in which it exists. In contradiction, Venturi also considers symbolism unnecessary since modern technology and historical symbolism rarely harmonize.

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Robert_Venturi.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Venturi

Water Temple - Tadao Ando

2010-03-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

Few of Tadao Ando's represent the architect's contribution to Japanese culture better than his Water Temple: more than a building, it is a sensorial experience representing a radical change in the age-old tradition of Japanese temple architecture.
In terms of form, materials and spatial sequences, the Water Temple is far removed from the classic wooden Buddhist temple, but what Ando's building shares with the traditional temple is a mystic quality of space. Among the bamboo woods, the mountains, the rice paddies and the sea, the temple appears like a pool of lotus flowers enclosed in a thin oval-shaped skin of concrete and sheltered from view by smooth wings of cement.

Its forms enclose important symbols, partly veiled and partly manifest, rooted in Buddhist doctrine and the most ancient Japanese philosophical tradition.
The lotus, symbol of the heavens, refers to the apparition of Amida Buddha, believed to carry a celestial message from the heavens.
Built for the secret Shingon sect, though it later became a meeting place for all worshippers, the project was commissioned by a member of the sect who also provided part of the financing for its construction.

The Temple rises in Hompukuji, a small town in the northern part of Awajishima Island, amidst a hilly landscape which is partially built-up and has no strong identity of its own.
The sensory experience which Ando has designed begins as the visitor approaches the temple and begins to glimpse the smooth surface of the cement wings shielding the pool among the bushes and trees, and a long white gravel path symbolises the beginning of the purification process believers undergo before they arrive at the sacred place.
At the top of the hill, the two wings further complicate the path to the entrance to the main hall, requiring the visitor to take a tortuous route offering a variety of views over the sea and then over the temple.
Surprisingly, the lotus pool is actually the roof of the temple, which is built partly underground; to reach the sanctuary visitors descend a stairway which cuts the oval shape of the pool in two.

In something more than a simple inversion of the conventional ascent to the holy place, Ando employs a series of different architectonic spaces conceived as a succession of theatres for initiation. Walking between the lotus flowers, one feels that this is a place which transcends day-to-day life, a place where the combination of architecture with nature and the reverberation of the placid mirror of water naturally lead to meditation and asceticism.
After descending the narrow staircase flanked by the cement walls so typical of Ando's works, the visitor finally reaches the sacred space, where everything is enveloped in a warm vermilion red - an unusual use of colour by the architect.
Access to the sanctuary is not immediate: once again, basic geometrical elements oblige the visitor to take a route which only gradually leads to the place of worship, offering continual surprises along the way.

Anto has taken the oval shape of the pool underground and made it into a sacred enclosure within which he has organised different spaces, dividing the area in two with the long stairway and assigning half of it to the sanctuary and the other half to the adjacent rooms.
The sanctuary is bounded by two semicircular walls enclosing a wooden structure built on the traditional model of Shingon temples, with a statue of Amida Buddha in the centre.
The sacredness of the room is accentuated by the use of colour and light: natural light from a single source filters through a grating behind the statue of the Buddha and floods the nave, warming up the vermilion red in which the room is painted.

The plastic and spatial results achieved here make the Hompuki temple one of the high points of Ando's career, expressing a universe of symbolism and colour formerly unknown to him which has enriched his way of expressing the character of Japanese space.

Flores Zanchi

from http://www.floornature.com/progetto.php?id=4043&sez=30

AIA Chicago Lecture - Developing Realistic Budgets at the Master Planning/Programming Stages of Design: “The Price Is Right” Series

2010-03-24T19:12:00.007-05:00

Is the design industry providing effective insight to clients about cost of a project at its inception? What are the fundamentals of a shaping an accurate project budget? Clive Bransby, principal at Construction Cost Systems, Inc./Owner Services Group, Inc., and Michael Behm, AIA, vice president at Leopardo Companies, Inc., will discuss the logistics and constructability issues related to realistic budgets, the Construction Cost Model, and the relationship between project risk and project cost.

Click here for a copy of the lecture notes.

A list of the AIA Chicago Chapter of events can be found at:

http://www.aiachicago.org/events.asp

Dulles International Airport

2010-03-23T23:05:00.000-05:00

Dulles International Airport (for Washington D.C.)
Chantilly
Virginia

Eero Saarinen 1962

The spacious terminal building of Washington DC's international airport is structurally exciting both outside and in. A huge concrete sheet is slung between two asymmetric rows of concrete hooks, creating an inviting and dynamic curve as you approach. Invisibly within the concrete, it is steel suspension-bridge cables between the hooks that support the weight of the concrete roof, which Saarinen described as 'like a huge, continuous hammock suspended between concrete trees.'

The simplicity of the design allowed for elegant expansion of the building in the 1990s, by adding more concrete trees at each end of the row and suspending further hammocks between them.

The outward slope of the concrete hooks counterbalances the tension in the cables supporting the roof sheet; Saarinen, in his own words, 'exaggerated and dramatized' the slope to create the building's 'dynamic and soaring look'

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/dulles/index.htm

Types of Conduit

2010-03-22T20:52:00.005-05:00

Thin-Wall Conduit

•Also known as EMT (electric metallic tubing).

•Steel pipe used to carry house wiring in places where it is exposed.

•Comes in inside diameters of 1/2” to 4”. 1/2” is most common.

•Do not use underground.

Heavy-Wall Conduit

•Also known as rigid conduit.

•Comes in the same sizes as EMT but has thicker walls.

•Has threaded ends for connections.

•Use for carrying wire outdoors and underground.

Plastic Conduit

•Easy to use.

•Use inside and outside.

•Best for burying underground as it will not corrode with water.

Greenfield Conduit

•Also known as flex (Flexible Metal) conduit.

•A hollow spiral metal jacket that resembles BX cable.

•Use for installing wiring in the home

Romex

•Two instulated wires & 1 ground wire

•All encased in a plastic sheath

•Cannot be used for commercial construction nor embedded in concrete

Interlocked Armored Cable

•Pre-wrapped wires encased in a metal spiral armor

•Factory assembled

•Also called BX cable

•Cannot be used underground nor used in concrete

Alvar Aalto

2010-03-21T16:39:00.004-05:00

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3 1898, Kuortane – May 11 1976, Helsinki) was a Finnish architect and designer, sometimes called the "Father of Modernism" in the nordic countries. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware. Aalto's early career runs in parallel with the rapid economic growth and industrialization of Finland during the first half of the twentieth century and many of his clients were industrialists; among these were the Ahlström-Gullichsen family.

Career
Although he is sometimes regarded as among the first and most influential architects of Nordic modernism, a closer examination of the historical facts reveals that Aalto (while a pioneer in Finland) closely followed and had personal contacts with other pioneers in Sweden, in particular Gunnar Asplund and Sven Markelius. What they and many others of that generation in the Nordic countries had in common was that they started off from a classical education and were first designing in the so-called Nordic Classicism style –a style that had been a reaction to the previous dominant style of National Romanticism– before moving, in the late 1920s, towards Modernism.

In Aalto's case this shift is epitomised by the Viipuri Library (1927–35), which went through a transformation from an originally classical competition entry proposal to the completed high-modernist building. Yet his humanistic approach is in full evidence in the library: the interior displays natural materials, warm colours, and undulating lines. Due to problems over financing and a change of site, the Viipuri Library project lasted eight years, and during that same time he also designed the Turun Sanomat Building (1929–30) and Paimio Sanatorium (1929–33). Thus, the Turun Sanomat Building first heralded Aalto's move towards modernism, and this was then carried forward both in the Paimio Sanatorium and in the on-going design for the library. Although the Turun Sanomat Building and Paimio Sanatorium are comparatively pure modernist works, they too carried the seeds of his questioning of such an orthodox modernist approach and a move to a more daring, synthetic attitude.

Detail of Baker House facade on the Charles River.Aalto was a member of the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM), attending the second congress in Frankfurt in 1929 and the fourth congress in Athens in 1933, where he established a close friendship with László Moholy-Nagy and Sigfried Giedion. It was during this time that he followed closely the work of the main driving force behind the new modernism, Le Corbusier.

Auditorium of the University of Technology, Helsinki, Finland (1949-66).It was not until the completion of the Paimio Sanatorium (1929) and Viipuri Library (1935) that Aalto first achieved world attention in architecture. His reputation grew in the USA following the critical reception of his design for the Finnish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair, described by Frank Lloyd Wright as a "work of genius". It could be said that Aalto's international reputation was sealed with his inclusion in the second edition of Sigfried Giedion's influential book on Modernist architecture, Space, Time and Architecture: The growth of a new tradition (1949), in which Aalto received more attention than any other Modernist architect, including Le Corbusier. In his analysis of Aalto, Giedion gave primacy to qualities that depart from direct functionality, such as mood, atmosphere, intensity of life and even 'national characteristics', declaring that "Finland is with Aalto wherever he goes".

Aalto's early experiments with wood and his move away from a purist modernism would be tested in built form with the commission to design Villa Mairea (1939) in Noormarkku, the luxury home of the young industrialsit couple Harry and Maire Gullichsen. It was Maire Gullichsen who acted as the main client, and she worked closely not only with Alvar but also Aino Aalto on the design, inspiring them to be more daring in their work. The original design was to include a private art gallery, but this was never built. The building forms a U-shape around a central inner "garden" the central feature of which is a kidney-shaped swimming pool. Adjacent to te pool is a sauna, executed in a rustic style, alluing to both Finnishand Japanese precedents. The design of the house is a synthesis of numerous stylitic influences, from traditional Finnish vernacular to purist modernism, as well as influences from English and Japanese architecture. While the house is clearly intended for a wealthy family, Aalto nevertheles argued that it was also an experiment that would prove useful in the design of mass housing.

His increased fame led to offers and commissions outside Finland. In 1941 he accepted an invitation as a visiting professor to MIT, in USA. This was during the Second World War, and he involved his students in designing low-cost, small-scale housing for the reconstruction of war-torn Finland. While teaching at MIT, Aalto also designed the student dormitory, Baker House, completed in 1948. This building was the first building of Aalto's redbrick period. Originally used in Baker House to signify the Ivy league university tradition, on his return to Finland Aalto used it in a number of key buildings, in particular several of the buildings in the new Helsinki University of Technology campus, which began from 1950, Säynatsalo Town Hall (1952), Helsinki Pensions Institute (1954), Helsinki House of Culture (1958), as well as his own summer house, the so-called Experimental House in Muuratsalo (1957).

The early 1960s and 1970s (up until his death in 1976) was marked by key works in Helsinki, in particular the huge town plan for the void in centre of Helsinki adjacent to Töölö Bay and the vast railway yards, and marked on the edges by significant buildings such as the National Museum and the main railway station, both by Eliel Saarinen. In his town plan Aalto proposed a line of separate marble-clad buildings fronting the bay which would house various cultural institutes including a concert hall, opera, museum of architecture and headquarters for the Finnish Academy. The scheme also extended into the Kamppi district with a series of tall office blocks. Aalto first presented his scheme in 1961, but it went through various modifications during the early 1960s. Only two fragements of the overall plan were ever realised, the Finlandia Hall concert hall (1976) fronting Töölö Bay and an office building in the Kamppi district for the Helsinki Electricity Company (1975). The Miesian form language of geometric grids employed in the buildings was also used by Aalto for other sites in Helsinki, including the Enso-Gutzeit building (1962), the Academic Bookstore (1962) and the SYP Bank building (1969).

The Aalto-Theater opera house in Essen, Germany.Following Aalto's death in 1976 his office continued to operate, under the direction of his widow, Elissa. The office was involved in completing works already to some extent designed. These works include the Jyväskylä City Theatre and Essen Opera House.

Significant buildings
1921 – 1923: Bell tower of Kauhajärvi Church, Lapua, Finland
1924 – 1928: Municipal hospital, Alajärvi, Finland
1926 – 1929: Defence Corps Building, Jyväskylä, Finland
1927 – 1935: Municipal library, Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia)
1928 – 1929, 1930: Turun Sanomat newspaper offices, Turku, Finland
1928 – 1929: Paimio Sanatorium, Tuberculosis sanatorium and staff housing, Paimio, Finland
1931: Central University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia (former Yugoslavia)
1932: – Villa Tammekann, Tartu, Estonia
1934: Corso theatre, restaurant interior, Zürich, Switzerland
1936 – 1938: Ahlstrom Sunila Pulp Mill, Housing, and Town Plan, Kotka
1937 – 1939: Villa Mairea, Noormarkku, Finland
1939: Finnish Pavilion, at the 1939 World's Fair
1947 – 1948: Baker House, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
1949 – 1966: Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo, Finland
1949 – 1952: Säynätsalo Town Hall, 1949 competition, built 1952, Säynätsalo (now part of Jyväskylä), Finland
1950 – 1957: Kansaneläkelaitos (National Pension Institution) office building, Helsinki, Finland
1952 – 1958: House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
1953: The Experimental House, Muuratsalo, Finland
1958 – 1987: Town centre, Seinäjoki, Finland
1958 – 1972: North Jutland Art Museum, Aalborg, Denmark
1959 – 1962: Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters, Helsinki, Finland
1962: Aalto-Hochhaus, Bremen, Germany
1965: Regional Library of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
1962 – 1971: Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland
1963 – 1965: Building for Västmanland-Dala nation, Uppsala, Sweden
1965 – 1968: Nordic House, Reykjavík, Iceland
1970: Mount Angel Abbey Library, Mt. Angel, Oregon, USA
1959 – 1988: Essen opera house, Essen, Germany

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