Published by:
Civil Engineering Magazine, the magazine of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Author:
Kevin Wilcox, Civil Engineering Magazine
Synopsis:
The three-story glass atrium and gallery that welcomes visitors to the campus of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is a blending of new spaces with historical structural elements from a 1930s gymnasium that once stood on the site. To transform the space, Haley & Aldrich worked with Ennead Architects, the architectural firm that designed the new structure. As the geotechnical engineering and environmental management consultancy for the project, Haley & Aldrich explored the existing building to review the structural condition, including the existing structural connections and type of the foundation. In addition, they conducted load tests inside the building to determine the existing pile capacity, which was challenging but paid off as it ultimately led to a reduction in the number of new needed foundations.
