THESIS PROPOSAL

Structural Depth:

The proposed thesis is intended to optimize the lateral system for the 8th Street Office Building. Two alternative lateral systems will be investigated and designed under the same loads and locations as the existing lateral system of reinforced concrete shear walls. The two alternative lateral systems will be:

  • Braced Frames
  • Steel Plate Shear Walls

The existing system, which was analyzed in Technical Report 3, and the two alternative systems will be compared based on a variety of factors including weight, cost, constructability, serviceability, and ability to resist torsion. An optimal lateral system for the 8th Street Office Building will then be chosen. Finally, the optimal system will be redesigned according to the new transportation core locations determined in the architectural breadth and the additional loads from the green roof in the sustainability breadth.

Architectural Breadth:

The first breadth topic will attempt to minimize the area of the overall service core of the 8th Street Office Building in order to provide more useable space for the tenants. Elevators, stairwells, and restroom will be among the spaces that are rearranged. Main areas of concern will include movement and flow as well as the necessary means of egress. The relocation of the transportation cores within the service core will have the potential to affect the lateral system.

Sustainability Breadth:

The second breadth topic will involve the addition of a green roof to the 8th Street Office Building, which is seeking to achieve Silver Certification under the USGBC LEED for New Construction Rating System. The green roof will replace the existing planters and be extended to the remainder of the roof. Its main purpose will be to collect and retain greywater for use within the building. Drainage and retention methods will be detailed, and water savings will be calculated.

Revised Thesis Proposal (1/15/2010)

Revised Executive Summary (1/15/2010)

Thesis Proposal

Executive Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of Carol Gaertner. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

All renderings have been provided courtesy of Commonwealth Architects.
 
 
This page was last updated on 01.15.10 by Carol Gaertner and is hosted by the AE Department ©2009.