The objective of this project was to redesign Penn State’s Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub instituting our own unique design features and components.
Sponsored by: Penn State University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Team Members
Jason Seeger Aidan O’Connor Elias Wetzel Aidan Steininger
Instructor: Sayed Soleimani
Project Poster
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Project Video
Project Summary
Overview
Team 3 was tasked with redesigning the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College. We consulted the existing architecture and structural drawings when deciding what components of the building we wanted to keep or modify. We redesigned the building’s layout, structural member sizing and locations, spread footings, and steel connections along with incorporating new components such as a green roof and elevator-roof access.
Objectives
Team 3’s main objective when redesigning the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub was to create a structurally sound building that was energy efficient and reflected the high quality and functionality of the original structure while simplifying the design.
Approach
– First we visited the existing building to familiarize ourselves with the structure, taking photographs and notes when observing the building’s layout and exposed interior steel members.
– We then consulted the building’s architectural and structural drawings when discussing what components of the building we wanted to keep and eliminate.
– Afterwards, we utilized AutoCAD to 2-D draft the new locations of the building’s beams, columns, stringers, and lateral members.
– Utilizing ASCE 7-22 we calculated the different types of loads that this building will experience and determined how to safely design each member.
– We then used SAP2000 to 3-D model the building and apply loads to the structural members to verify that our selections were adequate.
– Analyzing SAP2000’s results and comparing them to our own personal results, we were able to make revisions to both our calculations and model.
– We used a combination of Ram Connection, hand calculations, and SolidWorks to draft and design steel connections for all of the members.
– In regards to our footing design we decided to designed for the lowest load-bearing column because, when we designed it for the largest load, the footings were too large and would overlap each other. We also tried a rectangular footer, but we had the same issue.
Outcomes
– Our redesign of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub includes a green roof which we estimate will generate Penn State roughly $1,430.55 in energy savings annually.
– In addition, we have also explored utilizing a geopolymer concrete mix design that could potentially cut down our Carbon Dioxide emissions by as much as 1,050,240 lb.