Architecture Commons^™

Funicular Shell Exploration: Form Finding And Fabrication, Alexis Truong, Adria Burton, Ethan Mach

Architectural Engineering

Analysis and evaluation of interdisciplinary challenges associated with integrating the design and construction processes to deliver innovative thin shell structures.

Arce 415 Portfolio, Jay Skaff, Audrey Williams, Sarah Tom

Architectural Engineering

The purpose of this studio is to design a sun shelter for children at the SLO Botanical Gardens. It will be used for outdoor presentations and learning experiences. When coming up with the initial design of the shell structure for the SLO Botanical Gardens, the team needed to consider the material being used, the constructability of the structure, the people who would be using the structure, and the overall lifespan of the shell.

Team Torroja, Justine Teoh, Lindsey Brophy, Brandon Watrin

Architectural Engineering

For this project, we were tasked with designing a sun shelter by SLO Botanical Gardens for their Children's Garden. It was requested that the form by derived from structural shells. The structure is to serve as a multi-purpose space to host a variety of activities on the 30 foot by 60 foot site.

Investigation Into Excessive Deflections In A Concrete Flat Slab, Matthew Frydman

Architectural Engineering

This senior project was inspired by a project experience during a summer internship in Denver, Colorado at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. After a pipe froze and burst in the 13,000 sq. ft. basement of a two story building built in the 1990’s, an investigation was needed to determine the structural impacts of the event. A site visit was performed to collect data, and it quickly became clear that slab deflections and strength were top priorities. The slab was able to deflect in the basement due to a cardboard void form that was used to accommodate expansive soils. This project …

Makom Hillel: Slo Hillel Outdoor Event Space, Eli J. Greenberg

Architectural Engineering

This report details the design development for Makom Hillel, an outdoor event space dedicated to San Luis Obispo’s Hillel chapter. Hillel is an international organization working to connect Jewish students and community members with each other and their religion. The platform was designed as a service-learning senior project for the ARCE Department at Cal Poly SLO. The gravity and lateral systems were designed using the 2018 NDS, ASCE 7-16, and Simpson Strong Tie’s 2021 Wood Construction Connectors catalog. This project was conducted during Spring and Fall 2021 and supervised by Professor Brent Nuttall.

Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery - Serenity Shade Structure, Jack C. Radovan

Architectural Engineering

This project includes the design and construction of a shade structure over the serenity seating area at Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery. Growing Grounds is a part of TransitionsMental Health Association. It is a nonprofit wholesale nursery that provides horticulture, socialization opportunities, paid employment and soft job skills training for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The shade structure will serve as place where staff and volunteers can gather and sit.

Piles Redesigned: A Comparison Of Concrete And Timber, Riley N. Mullen

Architectural Engineering

This project redesigned a foundation with timber piles and assesses the environmental impacts.

Parametric Study Of New Diaphragm Design Methods, Emily Rose Taylor

Architectural Engineering

Large retail buildings and warehouses are typically a one-story concrete or masonry walled structure with a panelized wood roof. These buildings fall under the category of “RWFD”, or “Rigid Wall Flexible Diaphragm”. There are two preexisting methods that can be utilized in designing flexible diaphragms, but there is a third being introduced in the new ASCE 7-22 code. Given this code is unreleased, there really is no guidance to the user as far as which method is the most time efficient or cost effective. The purpose of this project is to analyze the same building using each design method in …

Chinese Timber Woven Arch Bridges, Owen M. Anderson, Kaleigh G. Kant

Architectural Engineering

This is a report on the study and analysis conducted on Chinese timber woven bridges. It explores historical and cultural values behind them as well as their structural behavior. Finally, the bridge design is described in a series of equations that would make for simple design and construction.

Considerations Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Advanced Structural Engineering Courses, Claire Leader, Faith Sharp, Anahid Behrouzi

Architectural Engineering

This paper presents various techniques investigated by the authors to bring discussion of societal impact into two advanced structural engineering courses taught at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo within the Architectural Engineering (ARCE) department during the 2020-21 academic year. The first was an undergraduate reinforced concrete design lecture/lab class where the instructor was able to convey the stories of the individuals and events that influence the ACI 318 code and ASTM standards used for concrete design. The second was a graduate nonlinear structural behavior lecture class that involves a weekly seminar by guest speakers who presented case studies with …

Equilibrium Without Statics: The Modern Muller Breslau Method, Claire Tyler Ballard

Architectural Engineering

This senior project report discusses the applications of the Modern Muller-Breslau Method. To complete this project, the student learned this method and created unique example problems. The report explores these unique example problems with explanations of the processes to solve each problem. The examples shown consist of determinant beams, frames, trusses, and 3-hinged arches. In addition, a more complex structural analysis topic, plastic analysis, will be explained. Lastly, the report concludes with an insight into a student’s experience with the method.

Large-Scale Timber Shear Wall Experimentation In An Undergraduate Design Course, Taylor Christian Cardinale, Michael James Deigert, Anahid Behrouzi, John W. Lawson

Architectural Engineering

Despite the widespread use of light-frame timber construction in residential building, wood design courses are typically offered to graduate students and focus on member-level calculations for gravity and lateral systems per the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction. In years prior, the 10-week advanced undergraduate class described in this paper exposed students through a system-level perspective through a group design project of a multistory, mixed-use wood building located in a seismic region. A significant course modification in Fall 2020 involved the two class sections constructing and testing large-scale wood shear walls representing a one-story segment of a wall present …

Student-Led Summer Diversity Workshops For Built-Environment Majors, Dolores Herrera, Claire Marie Leader, Soham Patel, Anahid Behrouzi

Architectural Engineering

In response to the instances of racial injustice in Spring 2020, members of the College of Architecture & Environmental Design (CAED) Student Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (SDEI) committee at the authors’ institution developed online summer workshops focused on topics of anti-racism titled the Unlearning Series. This series began with the mission of questioning practices and education in the built environment that are integrated in formal instruction. The goal is to utilize an alternative method of education where participants (students, faculty, staff, and administrators) recognize how their discipline shapes and supports systems of oppression, while giving them tools to combat it. …

Analysis Of The Implementation Of Fluid Viscous Dampers In A Steel Special Moment Frame, Brad D. Weber

Architectural Engineering

This report examines the effects of adding fluid viscous dampers to a steel special moment frame through a series of analysis methods. Simple analysis procedures are first carried out and described, including a linear static procedure and a linear dynamic procedure. Then further analysis is carried out using a nonlinear dynamic analysis procedure. Multiple parameters are modified throughout the analysis processes to determine the impact on results and the data from all the analysis methods are compiled and used to demonstrate the overall impact of the use of fluid viscous dampers in a steel special moment frame.

Structural Calculations For Take Heart School In Kenya, David Corona-Perales

Architectural Engineering

Take heart is a new organization focused on helping widows with small business opportunities, it has continued to grow over the years and now also provides orphans safe living conditions and education opportunities. This is Take Heart’s first construction project; Take Heart bought a three-acre piece of land in Migori county in Kenya, where a Missionary base school will be built to provide care for orphans and windows. The overall project is a multistep project that when completed will have a primary school( pre k – 8th grade), dormitories , training center, guest house, and a cafeteria that will have …

The Nolan House, Keiko-Ann K. Sanders, Gilbert C. Munoz, Michael A. Bahr, Titas Kalvalnis

Architectural Engineering

As a precedent, The Green Team analyzed the history of glass architecture, literature, and culture. Based on our research, we found that glass is often depicted as breakable, delicate, and a way to expose or display aspects that would otherwise be hidden. We challenged ourselves to incorporate safety and privacy into our glass house as a way to combat the pre-existing notions of glass in architecture.

Solar Energy In Relation To Structural Engineering, Rachel Keith

Architectural Engineering

Solar power is increasingly popular among households around the world. However, many people may not understand how solar modules work, system design, factors that affect efficiency, or options for integrating a residential solar system with the existing power grid. This paper addresses all of these.

Journeyman International: Dwell Being Jonestown, Mississippi, Autumn Wagner

Architectural Engineering

Journeyman International is a non-profit organization that works with countries all over the world to support humanitarian projects by pairing clients with design professionals and volunteers to oversee the design and construction of projects. This specific project partners with Third Lens Ministries and But God Ministries, two organizations that are hoping to empower the community in Jonestown, Mississippi. Dwell Being promotes sustainability and affordable housing in a new housing community in Jonestown that is designed for healthy living and community interaction. Jonestown is a very small 0.4 square acre town that has roots in systemic racism and oppression. A once …

Reconceptualizing Mies' Glass House, Araceli Avelar, Armando Castaneda Jr, Madison Lam, Ignatius Malari, Alejo Favero, Augusta Orlauskaite, Ella Gleason

Architectural Engineering

Our team used the glass house studio to explore class stratification, particularly using the glass as a reflection of class dichotomy in our society. The glass and Miesian design approach glorifies the clean cut, picture-perfect utopia only accessible to the wealthy few. But reality proves that there is more to this. As architects and engineers, we should strive to create environments that may uphold our values of equity and diversity and ultimately serve all sectors of society.

49 X 49 Glass House, Daisy Penaloza, Emmanuel Corona Navarro, Chengbin Kuang, Blake Durham, Grace Lauer, Augustas Lapinskas

Architectural Engineering

This project started with an analysis of the Core House or 50x50 House by Mies van der Rohe and Myron Goldsmith. Through many iterations and obstacles, we arrived at the 49x49 house. We looked into some literary influences that affected the social interpretations of glass, the most notable one being Zamyatin’s “We”. These factors influenced our main design process as we asked ourselves, what can we do with glass? When we were imagining our initial ideas for what would become of our house in the future, we took inspiration from another master’s work, New Babylon by Constant Nieuwenhuys, which correlated …

Equilibrium Without Statics: The Modern Müller-Breslau Method, Claudia Rene Zapata-Kraft

Architectural Engineering

This senior project is an investigation of the Modern Müller-Breslau Method. The purpose of this senior project was to see how quickly and easily a graduating senior in a structural engineering program could acquaint themselves to the method, as well as create new problems that demonstrate its power in equilibrium without the use of any statics. The focus of this project and paper is determinate structures including beams, axial members, frames, three-hinged arches, and finally three-dimensional trusses. Examples of each type of problem will be shown with explanations along with a reflection on the experience from a student’s perspective on …

An Architectural And Structural Investigation And Reimagination Of The 50x50 Glass House, Andrew Hensen, Ivan Avila, Donatas Krivicius, Sarah Navias, Sevilla Santana, Katherine Sheetz, Michael Storti

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Schematic Structural Design For Center For Centering (C4c), Jonathan Oberempt, Faith Sharp, Samuel Buckman

Architectural Engineering

The Center for Centering (C4C) is a meditative center for individuals to reflect and discover their own creativity. Based on a spoke and wheel concept, the center integrates social, sensory, environmental, and inductive spaces, allowing for individuals to discover themselves in different settings, while appearing as a striking sculpture conceived in a spiral gesture integrated in the local landscape.

The location for this structure is in Santa Cruz, CA, on Swanton Ranch. The building is built on mostly flat terrain surrounded by sparse trees and an overlooking view of the ocean.

The initial concept for the Center for Centering is …

Take Heart School, Quentin John Porter

Architectural Engineering

Journeyman International, also known as JI, is a non-profit organization that groups together design and construction students with organizations looking to build humanitarian projects around the world. This pairing is beneficial for both the organization because they get free design and construction expertise, as well as for the students who get real-world experience. The Take Heart School is a planned school and grounds for the region of Migori Kenya. Take Heart Africa is a fair trade store with all profits going to help the impoverished communities of Kenya. The three-acre site will have a school with eight classrooms, offices, a …

Design And Construction Of Modular Concrete Footings And Testing Assembly For Use In Cal Poly's High Bay Laboratory, Thomas Little, Anders Johnson

Architectural Engineering

The purpose of this project was to improve the testing capabilities of the ARCE High Bay lab by designing and fabricating a pair of modular concrete footings along with a reusable testing frame capable of testing full-scale steel moment connections.

Health + Efficiency House: A Take On The 50x50 Glass House, Eva Wieczorek, Krystal Bacon, Kaylee Hernandez, Jennifer Long, Moises De La Cruz, Elle Gallmann, Jurgis Vaišvila

Architectural Engineering

Under the guidance of Professor Edmond Saliklis and Professor Meredith Sattler, four Architectural Engineering students joined forces with three Architecture students from both Cal Poly and Vilnius Technical University in Lithuania. The portfolio exemplifies a complete reimagination of Mies van der Rohe and Myron Goldsmith's 50x50 Glass House as if it were designed today in Palm Springs, CA. The work completed in this interdisciplinary studio includes historical context, abstract creation, architectural and structural design all relating back to the Glass House.

Structural Calculations For Mbandazi Village, Joshua Scott Shockey

Architectural Engineering

The Mbandazi Village project consists of two buildings: the wellness center and the shopping center/housing. The building covered in this design was the shopping center/housing.

Global considerations for this project include the improvement of life in this area of Rwanda. Though my scope of this project was a residential development and an economic center, the whole project also includes a wellness center. Altogether this is an important step to bring a developing nation up to speed as well as bring people together.

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Nicholas Scalzo

Architectural Engineering

This project goes through the architectural and structural design of a post and beam accessory dwelling unit. In it are basic calculations for the gravity and lateral system as well as unique designs such as cantilevered diaphragms, angled shear walls, and post and beam framing. In it are also structural and architectural Revit drawings and details to go alongside the calculations. This project had all the design done together and had the structure and architecture informing each other and changing throughout the entirety of the project.

Tensegrity, Experimentation In The Removal Of Compression Stability Elements, William R. Adam, Ivan E. Cruz, Jose Hernandez, Joe Kasey Tatis-Flanagan, Truman J. Waller

Architectural Engineering

Tensegrity strives to create an impossible floating structure. To achieve this mark, cables are used to suspend the pavilion mid-air which creates an axial stress governed system. Within this axial force design constraint, a 3D space truss becomes the form. This structure pays homage to famous structural designers of the past such as Santiago Calatrava and Kenneth Snelson. Similar to these artists, tensile elements are at the forefront of the design. To accomodate the user, we have provided a sitting space nestled in the center of system. This is intended for visitors first to be puzzled by the seemingly discontinuous …

Steel To Concrete Connections, Dylan Thompson

Architectural Engineering

This project consists of the design, installation, and implications of steel beam to concrete wall connections. A new, modern single family home in Beverly Hills was the site of the connections. Calculations and details of gravity and drag beams were carried out, communication with the steel fabricator shop and the architect were performed, and a subsequent site visit to view construction methods was completed. Takeaways from the project were the economics of the connections designed, communication within separate disciplines on the site, and visualization of designed elements in the real-world.