Credit Due For Design Of ‘Clouds’ and ‘Sails’

Regarding the recent article “No Walk On the Beach”, it should be noted that, in the New World Symphony's performance hall in Miami, Mayer Structural Design provided the light-gauge-metal structural design and geometry layout of the primary framing members for all the components, including the structural steel brackets and fittings, that make up the “sails,” “clouds” and high-ceiling acoustical panels.

Mayer also developed the concept and designed the threaded rod-and-hanger system used to support the box beams that support the cloud and high-ceiling-panel joists. The firm also developed the concept of the box-beam system and the “welded steel fittings that were adjustable” for the sails to support the individual studs, whose geometry and configuration was also developed by Mayer.

Lotspeich Co. Inc., the design-build drywall contractor, utilized this system during the erection process to provide the vertical alignment for the box beams. It selected Radius Track to fabricate the box-beam members, joists and studs as per Mayer’s 3D building information models and details

Lotspeich erected the sail studs based on a coordinate system provided by Mayer. The method of erecting the system was established early on, in a collaborative effort between Lotspeich and Mayer Structural Design.

Although the participation of the system’s team “six months earlier” in the process may have resulted in a better location of the stalactites, and invariably would have made the design of numerous different connections easier, credit Gehry Partners for locating the stalactites without having the benefit of knowing the final location of the framing members.

Haskel Mayer, P.E.
President, Mayer
Structural Design Inc.,
Miami Beach. Fla.

Dangerous Details

In reference to the article "Reports Point to Connections in Fatal Garage-Panel Event", this is one of the most dangerous details I have seen in my 58 years in design of structures. It is a detail waiting to fail; the pins' only correction leaves the gooseneck design in time to move and rotate and fail, as all concrete stressed will either move or elongate. A good structural engineer should evaluate this potential calamity.

Hamilton B. Bowser sr., P.E.
Annapolis, Md.