Structural framing

Overview: Build a 1-story model (either digital, hand-drawn, or physical) of a structural framing system in wood, steel, or reinforced concrete. Optionally, combine more than one framing material in a coherent structure.

There are general requirements for this assignment and some specific requirements, depending on your choice of material or presentation technique.

framing image General requirements:

Show a corner fragment of a 1-story building structure, i.e., including two perpendicular exterior walls, and extending from the footing to the roof.
Include at least two "lines of structure" so that all horizontal framing elements are properly supported. Show vertical framing elements (i.e., walls, columns) along these lines of structure.
Show concrete footing, foundation wall, and basement slab for all projects.
Show footing drain pipe.
Show "grade" in relationship to the foundation wall.
Include framing for first floor and roof. Roof can be "flat" or sloped. In either case, model the roofing itself, along with any related components (like copings over parapet walls) schematically as a simple surface (e.g., a sheet of cardboard). Find appropriate details for wall-roof intersections from class notes, text, or reserve readings (especially Architectural Graphic Standards).
Show exterior cladding and interior finishes schematically; i.e., as simple, unarticulated surfaces. For steel or reinforced concrete structural frames, model cladding as a 4"-6" thick surface; for wood construction, the thickness of typical siding can be modeled as 1/2"-1" thick.
Include rough openings for at least one exterior door and one window.
Include your name, date, course number, and assignment number.

General guidelines:

Use "cut-away" technique to reveal construction system details that would otherwise be obscured by cladding, finishes, or other parts of the structure. The idea is to indicate two things simultaneously: (1) the finished construction; and (2) the construction under the finish. Thus, the cut-aways should be sufficient to reveal the "hidden" construction, but not so extreme as to obscure the finished ideas. Note that the schematic "finishes" can be used to hide, and therefore to reduce the necessity of actually drawing or building, the entire construction system.
No labeling of elements is required, but all important constructional elements should be clearly visible. For wood, this includes: joists, rafters, studs, plates, framing connectors (if any), subfloor, and sheathing. For steel, this includes: column base plates, beams and girders, clip angles, corrugated deck (with concrete fill or rigid insulation for roof). For reinforced concrete, this includes the reinforcing bars (in slabs) and rebar cages (in columns and beams). As mentioned, also show cladding elements and roofing, but only schematically. Things like insulation, vapor barriers, air barriers, and so on, may be omitted for this assignment.

Notes for physical models only:

Use only lightweight materials for the model (e.g., paper, cardboard, foam-board, thin pre-cut wood pieces).
Do not attempt to simulate concrete by actually using concrete or other cast products like plaster.
Metal wire can be used to simulate reinforcement; paper can be used to simulate metal hangers; and so on.
The scale for physical models should be 1/2"=1'-0" if possible; use 1"=1'-0" if the smaller scale just doesn't work.
For wood-framing, assume 2x4 or 2x6 stud walls and 2x10 or 2x12 joists and rafters at 24" o.c. Girders can be assumed to consist of double or triple 2x10s or 2x12s; they should be supported by double or triple 2x4s or 2x6s, even when those built-up posts are "hidden" within a stud wall. Note that for 1/2" scale models, wooden elements can be approximated with 1/16"-thick bass/balsa wood (1/4" wide for studs; 1/2" wide for joists).
For reinforced concrete framing, cut-aways should show reinforcing "cages" or bars; and the pattern of formwork and formwork ties should be evident on the concrete surfaces. Flat plate floors are not permitted for this assignment, as they are too simple. Instead, use flat slab, or grid slab, or other joist-beam-girder systems.
Color can be used to differentiate between constructional parts, if desired.

Maximum size:

For digital or hand-drawn projects, 8-1/2"x11" or 11"x17" paper size, submitted flat (or mounted on board). Do not roll up.
For physical models, attempt to stay within 11"x17" base, and 17" maximum height. This may need to be increased a bit if the larger scale is used, but try to keep model reasonably compact.

Groups: Digital or hand-drawn projects must be completed by individuals, but physical models may be turned in by groups of not more than 3 students.

References: Consult the text and course reserve materials for construction details. See course readings.

Links to former class exercises dealing with the construction of structure (2004-2006):

Wood frame exercise from Fall 2006.
Steel framing exercise from Fall 2006.
Steel framing exercise from Fall 2005.
Masonry-OWSJ exercise from Fall 2005.
Wood frame exercise from Fall 2004.