STRUCTURAL MOMENTS...

Greetings!

 

The design cost of a building project is only a small fraction of the overall cost for most projects. Variations in professional design fees between similarly qualified firms are usually small. Selecting the best architect and engineers for a project will always pay off in the long run.
 
Those notions seem obvious to most of us in the A/E/C industry. So why then are some design professionals compete based on low price rather than qualifications? Is it due to economic conditions? Is it because of a lack of appreciation for the value of good design or the failure of design professionals to convey their value proposition?

 

Chime in. Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

Mohammed
 
Best regards,

 

Mohammed Thomad, PE, SE
Principal
Focus On: 
Significance of Coordination in the Design of Pre-Manufactured Metal Buildings   
 
Pre-manufactured metal buildings (MB) are pre-engineered and manufactured by their suppliers. Due to their low cost, they account for a substantial percentage of low-rise non-residential buildings in the United States. However, poor or late coordination between the MB designer and the structural engineer may diminish its cost effectiveness.

 

In the design of MB, the role of the structural engineer of record is essentially limited to the design of the foundation and other structural elements that are not part of the MB. The structural engineer relies on the information provided by the MB supplier. Namely, design of the building foundation and its anchorage is based on the shop drawings and column load reactions provided by the manufacturer.

 

Owners usually purchase the metal building first, before involving the structural engineer to design the foundations. In that case, the MB supplier selects the system and proceeds to design it without regard to the building foundations. That approach is risky even when the design of the MB structure alone is economical since the added cost to the foundation can substantially impact the overall project cost. For example, selecting a rigid column base to footing connection reduces the column size compared to a standard base. However, column fixity leads to footing overturning, which requires increased area and depth. Fixed base columns usually requires larger footings than pinned base columns.

 

 

Additionally, metal buildings are light weight as compared to traditional buildings. Consequently, they are subjected to wind uplift forces, leading to special foundation design requirements to counteract the wind uplift. These considerations must be carefully explored by the structural engineer working with the manufacturer to find an optimum solution.

 

THOMAD Engineering highly recommends engaging the structural engineer of record before the design starts. Early on, the structural engineer can specify the design criteria and start coordinating with the manufacturer. Working together, they can explore available options to select and design the structure and foundation systems that best achieve the owner's goals and still meet the project budget.

 

For more information on metal building systems visit: http://www.mbma.com/

Future Featured Projects: 

The following projects are currently in design or under construction. They will be featured in future issues of Structural Moments. Permission for publication and credit is pending.

  • New York New York Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Renovations and New Tenant Improvements
NYNY
New York New York - Partial Strip Facade Rendering of New Tenants

 

  • McCarran International Airport, Terminal 1 Remodels, Clark County, NV

 

Stay tuned!

JULY  2013

In This Issue:
Focus On: Pre-Manufactured Metal Buildings
Position Available! 

THOMAD Engineering is looking for a structural drafter with experience in REVIT, click here for more information.
 

Who We Are:

 

THOMAD Engineering is a client focused structural engineering design and consulting firm established in 2003 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. We are committed to providing creative solutions and excellent services to loyal clients on a wide range of projects.

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'Structural Moments' is a monthly e-newsletter published by the staff of THOMAD Engineering. It is intended to inform our valued clients, associates, and colleagues in the A/E/C industry and stimulate a thoughtful dialogue with them.

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