VAA provided structural engineering services for Meridian Crossing's, two eight-story office towers connected by a one-story steel framed link.
The two towers are framed with composite steel beams and concrete slabs. The lateral force resistant system consists of cast in place concrete shear walls surrounding the stair and elevator shafts located in the center of building. The exterior façade consists of precast wall panels and glass that are suspended from the steel perimeter floor beams.
There were several unique architectural components to the building, which our structural team provided creative solutions.
To enhance architectural features, columns were not permitted at the building corners. Our design featured cantilevered beams up to 12 feet in length.
The exterior glass and precast wall panels were not in a uniform layout, rather a stepped pattern. Support locations of the precast wall panels varied and had to be coordinated carefully with the architect. Some areas required unique supports for the precast panels due to the stepping pattern below the floor structure.
In order to resist the wind loads at the stepped precast panel/glass façade, different types of bracing were required along the wall, depending upon the location of the precast concrete wall panels. Our team provided site observation to ensure materials lined up appropriately.
Due to the interaction of the glass and precast wall panels, the perimeter beam deflection criteria were stringent. Our team researched and specified steel beams stiff enough to limit the deflection.
This project was on a very aggressive schedule, which our team met with its efficient and knowledgeable efforts.
