Thermal Envelope

The challenge with any potential redesign is to be respective of the architectural mandate, especially the large westward facing glass façade, known as the “veil” and other features. The challenge with any potential redesign is to be respective of the architectural mandate. This feature does, however, draw a substantial amount of load with multiple AHUs devoted to preventing condensation on the façade. This breadth study is devoted to assessing alternatives to the current glass material as well as electrochromatic or other variations of switchable glass. These will be able to achieve modification in how light that passes through the building. Analysis of this will inform the depth of mechanical systems. It is also likely to impact the structure with the change in mechanical loading in the veil space.

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Structural 

The structural system in the building is assessed relative to the thermal envelope breadth study. The change in windows and other materials will induce new loads on the westward façade, especially on the wall with the glass façade to determine whether the new kind of glass requires modification. The outer veil is made of largely self-supporting glass, but this could change with glass modification. The other possibility is removing AHUs that supply the glass in entirety and assessing the change to the steel design from that stand point. The complications of the site and reinforcing the structure could represent the ability to pursue alternatives. Below the museum, micropiles are inserted into the foundation to retrofit the plaza structure being that the museum. It is above a retail and below that, parking garage space. The design is based on the soil boring data from the geotechnical report. The micropile design is intended to support 200 kips axial compression and 140 kips axial tension loads. No lateral load or moment are considered. For framing, the building is framed with wide flange girders with spans typically at 27’-9”. Girder sizes have a depth of 30” with areas in the building plans indicate a 3” 18GA metal deck with 3-3/4” concrete (7-3/4”).