443 Greenwich Street, New York

Tensegrity systems create rigid, three-dimensional structures that hang in space by passing loads through a series of compressive struts and tension rods or cables. We recently designed a walk-on transparent elliptical tensegrity roof system. Glazing is supported by compressive props carried on tension rods loading an outer elliptical compression ring. The system combines a tennis-racket scheme in plan with parabolic lenses in elevation. Our special software facilitates design of glass facades and roofs with minimal structure.

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Tameer Towers, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Cable net structures can efficiently enclose long-span openings without heavy, rigid trusses or frames and are unsurpassed for transparency. A rigid building frame at the opening perimeter anchors the cables. A flat cable net has little initial transverse stiffness, so it can experience large deflections due to wind loading. Where transverse deflections must be limited, as at larger spans, anticlastic nets with perpendicular cables following opposite curves create a more rigid 3-D form. Cable net efficiency and performance is all about form. Our extensive form-finding experience for complex geometries, together with our practical knowledge of cable engineering and construction, places us at the forefront of this new design trend.

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Roof cap of Federation Towers, Moscow

Grid shell framing systems are ideal for enclosing large, uninterrupted spaces. Where roof geometry and boundary conditions are favorable, grid shells can rely on ultra-lightweight tensioned frames. In other situations, heavier moment-connected members create rigid two-way frames to cover unlimited geometric forms. The weather barriers on these large, arching geometries can be glazing, or can be other materials such as pillows of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) or Mylar. Our extensive experience with form-finding for efficient shapes, with handling complex geometries, and with practical application of tensioned systems, places us at the forefront of this new design trend.

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Proposed soccer stadium fabric roof

Where building skins require movement for ventilation or creation of open spaces, we offer full design services to help. We assist in determining appropriate types of movements—lateral or vertical, by sliding, swinging, or rotating—and help detail motorized systems that are water-tight and fit within the overall framework of the skin. We also assist with innovative retractable stadium roofs and help integrate their designs with the main structure, such as fabric roofs that can be opened and closed by operable cable systems serving as part of the roof structure.

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Temporary bridge, New York

We design bridges, theater stages, tents, and scaffolding systems meant for temporary use. Skins for such temporary structures require special attention to facilitate fast erection, and where necessary, fast deconstruction and storage for later re-use. The materials and details must also be appropriate to provide the intended life-span of the structural skin.

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443 Greenwich Street, New York

Glass stairs, floors, and walkways are becoming increasingly popular in hotels, residences, and high-end retail venues. We fully design all-glass staircases, stairs with glass infill treads and impact-resistant glass balustrades where transparency is a key design consideration. Our specialists engineer steel and glass walkways and transparent bridges, whether they provide internal links between floors or give an entrance its unique identity. All are designs based on built-up laminated safety glazing that offers structural redundancy with post-failure strength to provide security appropriate for structural walk-on glazing.

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Durable underwater glazing systems

Underwater glazing isn’t just for aquariums anymore. Underwater hotels are starting to be built in exotic locations with large acrylic enclosures for guest rooms and other viewing areas. And more commonly, resort hotels and residences are increasingly using glass to create custom swimming pools and other water features. Whatever the application—shark tank, swimming pool, or underwater hotel room—we can engineer the acrylic or glass enclosures for hydrostatic loads, and design the joints and interfaces for long-term water-tightness and pressure integrity.

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