Proposal

Structural Depth

Due to the national significance of the building, the structural design of the Army National Guard Readiness Center Addition was guided by progressive collapse and blast requirements.  For the purpose of this thesis, the problem of progressive collapse shall be reevaluated for an alternate steel framing system.  With the added risk of terrorist attacks and other threats on the building’s structure, blast and explosion loading will also be considered for the new steel structure.  Through research and analysis of various load cases and various collapse scenarios, the structure will be designed to protect the occupants from potential disasters.

Breadth 1- Acoustic Study

This breadth topic will focus on the noise transmission and potential acoustical issues that may become apparent when changing the structural system of the Army National Guard Readiness Center. Changing the existing cast-in-place concrete system to stall may induce noise problems in the office spaces on the 5T level below the mechanical penthouse. The proposed steel framing system will reduce the concrete thickness of the penthouse floor causing increased vibrations of the penthouse floor from mechanical equipment and potentially transmitting more sound pressure levels of the mechanical equipment to the office spaces directly below. this acoustical analysis will determine the sound pressure levels of the mechanical equipment located on the penthouse level and then the sound transmitted into the office spaces on the 5T level will be calculated to determine if they are appropriate. If necessary, additional acoustical materials will be introduced to keep the sound level within an acceptable range for the office space.

Breadth 2 - Construction Management

Curing time and formwork construction can be eliminated from the construction schedule when changing the structural system from concrete to steel.  Procurement time however, may increase the construction time and must be considered as well.  To account for this and other impacts the redesign will have on the project schedule and cost, an in-depth analysis will be completed to determine if the proposed steel system is an economical alternative to the existing concrete structure.  To ensure that this analysis is as accurate and true to life as possible, general contractors, sub-contractors and vendors from the Arlington area will be consulted.