Instant Landmark

by Vincent J. DeSimone, (M.ASCE), Partner; DeSimone, Chaplin & Assoc., New York, NY,
Carlos M. Dobrya, (M.ASCE), Partner; DeSimone, Chaplin & Assoc., New York, NY,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1988, Vol. 58, Issue 6, Pg. 48-50


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The 42 story curved glass facade of an $80 million structure at 17 State St. is destined to appear on the New York City postcards that show the tip of Manhattan Island. The site offers unobstructed view s of Battery Park and New York Harbor. It also offered difficult wind and subsurface conditions. Effective 100 year wind loads on the building are about 30% higher than city code requirements. The structure is a three-section bundled, braced core combined with perimeter moment resisting frames coupled at the roof level by an outrigger space truss. The glass facade panels are held in place by four-sided stopless silicone glazing and framed by split aluminum mullions. When connected, the flat panels appear to be a solid curved glass wall. Laboratory tests for the system reached the static equivalent of 200 mph winds. Uplift problems posed by the high winds were solved by high strength rock anchors drilled into bedrock at the base of the piers, which were post-tensioned.

Subject Headings: Wind engineering | Glass | Wind loads | Space frames | Panels (structural) | Curvature | Building envelope

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