After a three week process in designing the structure for my thesis, I came out of the review for this with some good ideas and criticism moving forward.
The design intent for the structure was to create a dialogue between an existing precast building and a new greenhouse that would house the vertical farming portion of the program. The need for natural sun on plants reinforces the light weight structural design of spider glass and tension rods.
Several good comments came from the review panel of engineers and architects, probably one of the more useful reviews in the past 3 terms. Much of this project is about the details and systems, and the ideas I got addressed these issues directly.
The first biggest issue was whether or not to enclose the ground floor under the greenhouse. There were convincing arguments to leave it open, even though it is in Milwaukee, WI.
Other systems issues that came up were a need for a double skin facade, rainwater collection and harvesting and thermal properties of the mass building in conjunction with the greenhouse. Creating these relationships will strengthen the design parti and goals moving forward in the next phase of the project.
A short and preliminary document of the structural design exercise is here:
Structural Document
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