Looking for an innovative structural engineer. Don't want to do the knee jerk reaction and turn to Arup as the answer. So who do you admire and have successfully worked with?
the structurally fun part of the project is (until value engineering) a large atrium, several other large clear span spaces, and a 30 story tower... All which I hope to
The project is in the northeast, but happy to collaborate with a mid western or pacific rim firm...
I've been looking at:
and
for possible structural concepts...
any feedback about Cantor Seinuk who are behind the diagrid of hearst tower?
Deborah Oakley, a prof at Philadelphia University was always good with structural design. She may be able to put you in touch with a firm that fits your criteria. http://www.philau.edu/schools/add/faculty/index.htm or you could try just making up her email address by using first initial, last name format. Thats how all the professor's emails were done when I was there.
Thats as real world helpful as I can be, sorry, and good luck!
I've been looking at Magnusson Klemencic who did the Seattle library for Rem and the challenger to Arup's world domination Buro Happold who have offices in NYC...
tk, i have worked on a couple towers (one through DD) with magnusson klemencic. they've been amazing and i highly recommend getting in contact with them. They were involved from day 1 on both towers, which started as competition entries.
if youd like to email me we can talk about it and i can probably put you in contact with the engineer i have been working most closely with. our office does a lot of work with them
Philarch- Got your email (was wondering who uc26 was), thanks! I will send you an rfq tomorrow to forward to the marketing staff. I like smarts, that might be better then magic.
lletdownl, I'll also will also follow up with you.
Don't know if we can get the fee's to get the best out of a place like arup or BH.
LeMessurier looks promising too, but their location way up in boston may work against them for this project. We're probably going to lean towards a NYC/NJ or the upper midwestern firm. the first is by the job site, the second is near our office.
Pluk - maybe german collaboration with a korean client will be magic.
So to move the discussion towards more a general structural focus - how collaborative have your projects been with the structural team? There seems to be two modes of arch-engineer relations, the common architect telling the engineer what to do, and the rare situations like cecil balmond and ____ that are equal collaborators. Does it cost more to get that level of collaboration or are engineers not usually up for that task?
I was going to suggest Guy Nordenson also, holz. My old firm did a proposal with them and the stories we heard about him and his firm were so impressive. He sounds fantastic, and the people within his firm with whom I had contact were great - professional but cool too.
Sarah, I had forgotten Deborah Oakley's name - I adored her when I taught there briefly.
Buro Happold is worth the effort. speak with Craig Schwitter of the NYC office.
if the engineers don't have to be in the USA, then look at Atelier One, based in the UK. Neil Thomas is the main engineer. they do some amazing stuff - alot of the work for the Stones, Pink Floyd, U2 - when you just need to have a 40m cantilevering structuring - that also telescopes out. as well as work with a number of artists.
if you are interested mostly in facade work, try Front Inc; www.frontinc.com, Marc Simmons. they have worked with anyone who is anyone. very creative work.
Not quite as flashy as Buro Happold or Atelier One, but very good is Whitby and Bird, again out of the UK.
I had a "performance based structures" class taught by the head of BH's LA office. He went to Cooper Union for architecture then got a master's degree in engineering at MIT. They have a great way of running their office. Email me if you want contact info, etc.
Most of the pictures here, is a surface stop. The structure borders like a polymesh. Not much thought about the structure to hold it in the air.
Only 3dh maneage more than an undulated surface, and deliver the structure for anything. Compared 3dh the polymesh attitude is primitive.
LB, when did you teach there? You know, she used to be a man? I never had her, she left before I took structures, but she lectured once, and really seemed to know her stuff.
Arquitectonica
Frank O. Gehry and Associates
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates
Zaha Hadid
Daniel Libeskind
mOrphosis
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Cesar Pelli & Associates
Bernard Tschumi Architects
that right, Tim McFarland is the one person if you are particularly wanting something sophisticated with glass.
another source for Facades, is Andy Watts of Newtecnic. he used to be with Atelier One, now has his own specialist facade consultancy. but based in UK, though lots of work overseas. www.newtecnic.com
wow! my list keeps on getting longer and longer of structural engineers to consider. Thanks for all the input!!! keep on listing cool engineers - I'm not the only one looking...
the project is in the NY metro and my office is in Minneapolis. So looking for a collaborator either near the site, or in my neck of the woods (our MEP is in WI) to make it easier to convene meetings.
PER- send me your qualifications and a fee proposal. I'll review them objectively.
mag. klem, as i mentioned above have been very involved in the projects ive worked with them on. In both cases we came to them with a structural scheme however, so their design work was less in creating an innovative structure, but rather, amending our structure to realistic sizes. They do however have access to really interesting methods and systems... including some really innovative ways to do composite concrete and steel structures (which is what were using on both towers... one 320m and the other 340+m)
hope this is helpful. I believe MKA has an office in chicago, though im pretty sure its new, and am NOT sure how established it is, or how capable of independent work it is. But their office in seattle is impressive, and ive found everyone ive met from their office to be very professionals, modest but motivated and interested in being a key piece in even the earliest design decisions.
Andy Watts at Newtecnic is impressive. He's working on the Russia Tower (formerly Moscow City Tower) with us. It's all in Gehry's Building Project (Catia). WSP too, do big stuff.
Think about it this way ; by building in any of the known methods, it newer make a difference ; yet you want others to maneage the construction, there are the problem.
If you don't want to shape the structure yourself , maybe just that, that distance between the real newthought and the actural develobment in structural experience -- see experimenting also in the old day's ,was what brought the changes in structural thinking. This computer generated framework is new, it has been develobed for a porpus ,it solve a structural problem by sheets materials alone, this detail make the whole difference allready, --- Poly meshes are and has been a long appriciation by architects wishes, but nomatter how fine a production, that newer would compare, compare the intire thing, made in sheets as material, n.c. cut and perfectly numbered, even you drop it it is repariable, by simple computer skills, --- with a new method you has better calculations as you make the questions if cost now by first quality materials is what you want, this can be computed with a computer generated building framework, so can mow many meter to cut, and what cost is that, byt this or that cost pr. cut Feet.
Then you want someone else decide, where to buy the materials ...
I work in the Buro Happold New York Office. We have a fantastic portfolio of work and ALOT of experience with large span and grid shell roofs as well as complex geometries.
I had worked with BH on some projects while I was working at architectural firms. My admiration for the office and their abilities is what attracted me to pursue a position in their office.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also send me a personal email if we dont want to clog up the post.
Even though you don't want to turn to arups you should consider UK firms as they provide what i would call the rolls royce of structural engineering... Adams Kara Taylor in London are one of the top UK firms, they're progressive and design led and they work with the cream of the crop of the architectural world in Britain. They did Wolfsburg Science Centre with Zaha Hadid and have been involved in numerous other big names, FOA among others.
Dec 7, 07 8:06 am ·
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Structural magicians
Looking for an innovative structural engineer. Don't want to do the knee jerk reaction and turn to Arup as the answer. So who do you admire and have successfully worked with?
the structurally fun part of the project is (until value engineering) a large atrium, several other large clear span spaces, and a 30 story tower... All which I hope to
The project is in the northeast, but happy to collaborate with a mid western or pacific rim firm...
I've been looking at:
and
for possible structural concepts...
any feedback about Cantor Seinuk who are behind the diagrid of hearst tower?
Deborah Oakley, a prof at Philadelphia University was always good with structural design. She may be able to put you in touch with a firm that fits your criteria. http://www.philau.edu/schools/add/faculty/index.htm or you could try just making up her email address by using first initial, last name format. Thats how all the professor's emails were done when I was there.
Thats as real world helpful as I can be, sorry, and good luck!
Oh crap, I had the email format backwards, lastname THEN first initial. Whoops!
thanks sarah!
I've been looking at Magnusson Klemencic who did the Seattle library for Rem and the challenger to Arup's world domination Buro Happold who have offices in NYC...
Anybody have contacts within these offices?
they have a new york office:
link
not magic but very smart
tk, i have worked on a couple towers (one through DD) with magnusson klemencic. they've been amazing and i highly recommend getting in contact with them. They were involved from day 1 on both towers, which started as competition entries.
if youd like to email me we can talk about it and i can probably put you in contact with the engineer i have been working most closely with. our office does a lot of work with them
If you're still looking TK, I just e-mailed you.
I second Buro Happold. It seemed like their motto was "we can do anything you want....for a price."
there is an office in cincinnati that did a lot of u of c's starchitect stuff. card is at my office. some acronym.
We use LeMessurier, in Cambridge, they do great work...If you know SE, you've heard of Bill.
Philarch- Got your email (was wondering who uc26 was), thanks! I will send you an rfq tomorrow to forward to the marketing staff. I like smarts, that might be better then magic.
lletdownl, I'll also will also follow up with you.
Don't know if we can get the fee's to get the best out of a place like arup or BH.
LeMessurier looks promising too, but their location way up in boston may work against them for this project. We're probably going to lean towards a NYC/NJ or the upper midwestern firm. the first is by the job site, the second is near our office.
Pluk - maybe german collaboration with a korean client will be magic.
So to move the discussion towards more a general structural focus - how collaborative have your projects been with the structural team? There seems to be two modes of arch-engineer relations, the common architect telling the engineer what to do, and the rare situations like cecil balmond and ____ that are equal collaborators. Does it cost more to get that level of collaboration or are engineers not usually up for that task?
there's always holl's ingenieur, guy nordenson
doesn't arup do all the norman foster/renzo stuff? they're goto for a good reason.
also, werner sobek might be an interesting choice.
I was going to suggest Guy Nordenson also, holz. My old firm did a proposal with them and the stories we heard about him and his firm were so impressive. He sounds fantastic, and the people within his firm with whom I had contact were great - professional but cool too.
Sarah, I had forgotten Deborah Oakley's name - I adored her when I taught there briefly.
Buro Happold is worth the effort. speak with Craig Schwitter of the NYC office.
if the engineers don't have to be in the USA, then look at Atelier One, based in the UK. Neil Thomas is the main engineer. they do some amazing stuff - alot of the work for the Stones, Pink Floyd, U2 - when you just need to have a 40m cantilevering structuring - that also telescopes out. as well as work with a number of artists.
if you are interested mostly in facade work, try Front Inc; www.frontinc.com, Marc Simmons. they have worked with anyone who is anyone. very creative work.
Not quite as flashy as Buro Happold or Atelier One, but very good is Whitby and Bird, again out of the UK.
If the site is in the northeast, how is boston further than the midwest?
wow. frontinc are my new bff's.
and their collaborator list is impressive:
abalos + herreros
adjaye
asymptote
jean nouvel
gehry
gluckman mayner
H&deM
Kengo Kuma
KPF
Denari
OMA
Peter Gluck
REX
Piano
Rogers
SANAA
SHoP
Holl
Ando
treekiller.
I had a "performance based structures" class taught by the head of BH's LA office. He went to Cooper Union for architecture then got a master's degree in engineering at MIT. They have a great way of running their office. Email me if you want contact info, etc.
Most of the pictures here, is a surface stop. The structure borders like a polymesh. Not much thought about the structure to hold it in the air.
Only 3dh maneage more than an undulated surface, and deliver the structure for anything. Compared 3dh the polymesh attitude is primitive.
yeah, treekiller, why didn't you go right to the source?
LB, when did you teach there? You know, she used to be a man? I never had her, she left before I took structures, but she lectured once, and really seemed to know her stuff.
not something that comes up in these conversations very often.
Check out Dewhurst+McFarland - Tim McFarland engineers all the glass stuff for Jamie Carpenter and the Apple Stores
the guys i was thinking of in cincinnati are THP.
http://www.thpltd.com/
among their client firms:
Arquitectonica
Frank O. Gehry and Associates
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates
Zaha Hadid
Daniel Libeskind
mOrphosis
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Cesar Pelli & Associates
Bernard Tschumi Architects
that right, Tim McFarland is the one person if you are particularly wanting something sophisticated with glass.
another source for Facades, is Andy Watts of Newtecnic. he used to be with Atelier One, now has his own specialist facade consultancy. but based in UK, though lots of work overseas.
www.newtecnic.com
wow! my list keeps on getting longer and longer of structural engineers to consider. Thanks for all the input!!! keep on listing cool engineers - I'm not the only one looking...
the project is in the NY metro and my office is in Minneapolis. So looking for a collaborator either near the site, or in my neck of the woods (our MEP is in WI) to make it easier to convene meetings.
PER- send me your qualifications and a fee proposal. I'll review them objectively.
Guy Nordenson might have created the most beautiful parking structure I've seen:
that might be enough to hire them!
tk,
mag. klem, as i mentioned above have been very involved in the projects ive worked with them on. In both cases we came to them with a structural scheme however, so their design work was less in creating an innovative structure, but rather, amending our structure to realistic sizes. They do however have access to really interesting methods and systems... including some really innovative ways to do composite concrete and steel structures (which is what were using on both towers... one 320m and the other 340+m)
hope this is helpful. I believe MKA has an office in chicago, though im pretty sure its new, and am NOT sure how established it is, or how capable of independent work it is. But their office in seattle is impressive, and ive found everyone ive met from their office to be very professionals, modest but motivated and interested in being a key piece in even the earliest design decisions.
let me know if i can be of any more help.
why didn't they rotate the lights 90 degrees and wash the double-curve instead of hot-spotting the bottom of the beam?
beautiful concrete though...
Andy Watts at Newtecnic is impressive. He's working on the Russia Tower (formerly Moscow City Tower) with us. It's all in Gehry's Building Project (Catia). WSP too, do big stuff.
Think about it this way ; by building in any of the known methods, it newer make a difference ; yet you want others to maneage the construction, there are the problem.
If you don't want to shape the structure yourself , maybe just that, that distance between the real newthought and the actural develobment in structural experience -- see experimenting also in the old day's ,was what brought the changes in structural thinking. This computer generated framework is new, it has been develobed for a porpus ,it solve a structural problem by sheets materials alone, this detail make the whole difference allready, --- Poly meshes are and has been a long appriciation by architects wishes, but nomatter how fine a production, that newer would compare, compare the intire thing, made in sheets as material, n.c. cut and perfectly numbered, even you drop it it is repariable, by simple computer skills, --- with a new method you has better calculations as you make the questions if cost now by first quality materials is what you want, this can be computed with a computer generated building framework, so can mow many meter to cut, and what cost is that, byt this or that cost pr. cut Feet.
Then you want someone else decide, where to buy the materials ...
I work in the Buro Happold New York Office. We have a fantastic portfolio of work and ALOT of experience with large span and grid shell roofs as well as complex geometries.
I had worked with BH on some projects while I was working at architectural firms. My admiration for the office and their abilities is what attracted me to pursue a position in their office.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also send me a personal email if we dont want to clog up the post.
MB- that's very cool, an archinecteur engineer! I'll drop you an email.
Even though you don't want to turn to arups you should consider UK firms as they provide what i would call the rolls royce of structural engineering... Adams Kara Taylor in London are one of the top UK firms, they're progressive and design led and they work with the cream of the crop of the architectural world in Britain. They did Wolfsburg Science Centre with Zaha Hadid and have been involved in numerous other big names, FOA among others.
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