Less STEEL more GLASS!

I help design creative solutions with a decade of working closely with architects and structural engineers and in the field with the contractors and installers on the most complex projects.

Case Study #3 - I worked with the architect carefully detailing the layout and alignment of window and door systems from two different manufacturers. The architect wanted to use 2" tall 8" wide horizontal steel beams over the doors in the pavilion to minimize the sightline which looked great but the longer beam over the pocket was sagging 3/4".

The structural engineer recommended a vertical steel column from the roof to support it but that would have ruined the transom sightline so I came up with the solution of welding straps in front and behind the window mullion and covering with brake metal.

I was on sight nearly every week during critical layout phases of construction to help the contractor plan the shell construction. On the left side of the first floor the bottom of the overhead beam was 4" higher than the top of the door that had to align with everything else which I caught and had them re-engineer.

The ribbon of sliding glass walls on the first floor had to align perfectly with the wood ceilings and steel beams and floating pavilion wall below the wraparound transom.