Description: Varsity Village for University of Cincinnati
Detailing for the 1750 ton Varsity Village for University of Cincinnati is expected to be complete in late October. This is another ‘unique’ project that has presented its own special challenges.
Although not as complex as some larger stadiums and other projects we have detailed, the project has some very distinct features. The entire perimeter of the building is made of diamond-shaped wide flanges acting as columns, bracing and floor support beams. These Diagrid members are also segmented/radiused in plan view, ensuring there are no “square” connections.
As with many jobs, we were required to write some custom macros for the unique Diagrid joints. The macro calculates the optimum angles to place and bevel-cut the ‘middle splice” plate, allowing all 4 Diagrid flanges to connect to the plate and be properly welded. Although this macro has been able to connect the bulk of the Diagrid connections, we still have to review each joint to make sure all the connection criteria have been addressed.
Detailing of these Diagrid frames also created challenges. Each Frame usually consisted of 10 to 12 shop drawings to show all shop details and welds. Dowco and Steel Services’ shop had to come up with a method to show all the Work Points and offsets required to satisfy all the different joint conditions. With over 90 Diagrid frames, this amounted to almost 1000 shop Diagrid drawings.
The connection design for all the joints was done by Ferrell Engineering. Due to the complex nature of the geometry, we provided 3D
DXF files to Ferrell Engineers so they could better visualize and provide design sketches for each joint. With all revisions to Projects today, we also sent Steel Services an Xsteel viewer’s license to help them visually track this project. With weekly updated models being sent, this also helps them have a greater insight on the impact of revisions and changes taking place.
We also now have a new macro that links our APIP Drawing Index database with the Xsteel database. Using ‘user attributes” in Xsteel, we can view the model as to what is detailed, checked, sent for approval, shop issued etc. The key is that all this info is coming from APIP and is not being manually entered (eliminating possible input errors). This will soon be the norm for all projects throughout all Dowco offices.
This is the first project we have detailed for Steel Services Corporation (SSC) http://www.steelservicecorp.com from Jackson, Mississippi. SSC has been in business since for 35 years. Recently we had the pleasure of meeting their Engineering Manager, Mr. Darryl Ballard who visited our headquarters in Burnaby. Darryl commented “When complete, this project will be a feather in our cap’ – another complex project for Dowco.
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