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Judges
Comments
The building is an
elegant and efficient
design with a unique
architectural shape
and function. The
exposed tension chord
bracing not only is
visually attractive, but
also adds to the overall
lightness of the
framing. Also,
despite the project’s
complexity, it came in
trusses arranged radially around graceful system of small tie rods, under the original
the perimeter of the glass enclo- the truss system efficiently sup- budget.
sure. All truss chord and web ele- ports the weight of the exhibit
ments were designed using shop- and provides a stiff superstructure
welded pipe members to improve to resist hurricane winds.
Instead, the structural engineer
reflectivity of sunlight, minimize
An additional refinement makes solved the problem by utilizing a
maintenance requirements, and
the superstructure even more structural bracing analysis tech-
eliminate the sharp edges so dan-
attractive and even safer for the nique more typically used in plate
gerous to butterflies. The slender
butterflies. With the 3’-deep girder bridges. By stiffening the
perimeter trusses, which are
trusses arranged perpendicular to connections of the trusses along
spaced on 16’ centers at the
the glass enclosure, the inboard the perimeter glass, the designer
exhibit base, utilize 4”-diameter
vertical chord members were created a tension chord bracing
pipes for the vertical chords and
unbraced. A more conventional system that effectively braced the
2”-diameter pipes for the web
engineering design would require inboard truss chords. As a result,
members.
supplemental intermittent bracing all supplemental lateral bracing of
With the external chords connect- (in this case, at 9’ centers vertical- the inboard chord members was
ed just inside the glass with a ly) to prevent lateral buckling of eliminated and the butterfly flight
Project Team
Engineer:
Walter P. Moore and
Associates, Inc. Houston
Architect:
Hoover Architects, a 3D/I
Company, Houston
Contractor:
SAE/Spaw-Glass
Construction, Houston
Project Manager:
Century Development,
Houston