As a structural engineer, I don’t always get to see the finished product, so to speak; therefore, when I do, it’s rewarding to think, “As a design professional, I was a part of that project.”
The “finished product” in this blog entry is a very contemporary and modern residence located in North Carolina (NOTE: Foundation design by others). The stairs to the upper level (visible through the glass) are striking and were part of the structural design (i.e., stair stringers; upper and lower beams).
From a structural-design perspective, there were some challenges throughout, such as determination of shear walls with, shall we say, less than ideal wall lengths.
Overall, here are some of the structural elements that were part of this design:
- Wood-framed shear walls
- Specification of roof-truss shear panels
- Specification of roof and floor drag trusses
- HSS frames at large openings
- Specification of trussed end walls for a Master Bath Extension
- PSL stair stringers