PROJECT: Belknap Research Building ($49,000,000)

 SCOPE: The University of Louisville needed a nanotechnology clean-room building located within the Belknap Campus.

 CHALLENGE: Vibration studies were conducted at various sites in and around the campus to select a suitable site. The site selected had an ambient vibration level of 1780 micro-inches per second (mips). Based on the site location criteria for nanotechnology buildings, the site was unsuitable for such research. The world renowned nanotechnology consulting firm of Colin Gordon & Associates, retained by the University of Louisville, recommended the building be built where the ambient level would be a fraction of the expected performance level. For the convenience of the faculty members, the University of Louisville insisted on keeping the building at the selected site and placed the responsibility of the structural design with our firm.

 SOLUTION: Our firm explored various alternatives to dampen the ambient vibration through computer finite element modeling. We selected an appropriate system for the construction of the building. For certification as a building suitable for nano VC-D, the University retained the independent consulting firm of Colin Gordon & Associates. Colin Gordon & Associates rated the building well within the VC-D class and the building almost meets the next lower level of VC-E class. This research facility is an excellent nanotechnology building on a non-nano site. Mission Accomplished! However our creativity is well hidden and buried beneath the soil.  

 PROJECT: Cardiovascular Innovation Institute ($28,000,000)

SCOPE: The medical community of Louisville, Kentucky has been a pioneer of innovative solutions in the treatment heart diseases, including artificial heart implants and heart assistance devices. It is no wonder that the University of Louisville has recognized the advancements of these treatments and taken steps to nurture research for the study and treatment of heart diseases. The University elected to establish and construct the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute at its Medical Campus.

CHALLENGE: The site selected on the Medical Campus was bound on three sides by existing buildings. To take full advantage of the selected site, the architectural design called for outer columns to be located at the perimeter of the existing walls.

SOLUTION: To accommodate the dead and live loads from the seven floors of this concrete frame building, our firm designed unique foundation systems composed of eccentric pile caps with tie-beams. To accommodate the extreme column loads and to alleviate the stress concentration in the pile caps, we designed special shear blocks, which safely transfer the heavy column loads to the tie beams. The new building is now seamlessly integrated with the existing buildings on all three sides. Mission Accomplished! Our creativity, again, is buried deep into the ground.

 PROJECT: Marriott Convention Center Bridge ($2,500,000)

SCOPE: Generally, elevated walkway bridges are built utilizing piers, which are shaped like a “Hammer Head” and they are appropriately called “Hammer Head” piers. These piers are symmetrical, balanced, and easy to build. However, the piers are major obstacles, constricting pedestrian pathways on the sidewalks below the elevated walkways. When the city of Louisville decided to build an elevated walkway bridge to connect the Marriott Hotel with the Kentucky International Convention Center, the City requested that the sidewalk below the elevated walkway be allowed the maximum unrestricted pathways as possible due to heavy pedestrian traffic.

 CHALLENGE: “Hammer Head” piers were ruled out for the elevated walkway bridge between the Marriott Hotel and the Kentucky International Convention Center since they would severely restrict movement on the sidewalks below. A design, which would allow pedestrian traffic flow below the elevated walkway, was required for this project.

 SOLUTION: Our firm devised a creative solution to the problem and designed a “Sickle” pier, which resembles the shape of a sickle. The “Sickle” pier is located against the walls of the existing structures to support the elevated walkway. Mission Accomplished! Our creativity, once again is buried deep into the ground.

PROJECT: Clinical and Translation Research Building ($140,000,000)

 SCOPE: The University of Louisville planned to build a cancer research building in two phases. However, through tremendous support from the community, all the funding for both phases was acquired and it was decided to build both phases for cost effective reasons.

 CHALLENGE: The building length dictated the requirement for an expansion joint at the most critical area that affects the aesthetics and interior design of the building. In addition, the expansion joint would increase the cost of the building.

 SOLUTION: Various alternatives including the use of the expensive type “K” cement were discussed to minimize the expansion and contraction during the construction phase. It was finally decided to leave out an infill strip in the transverse direction to relieve the thermal stresses during the construction phase and fill the strip at a later date. This simple solution spared the requirement for an expansion joint and the associated hardware, thereby saving thousands of dollars in construction costs. Mission Accomplished! However, our creativity is latent and preserved for future generations to investigate.

 PROJECT: Lahoff Milling Company, Danville, Illinois ($35,000,000)

 SCOPE: Lahoff Milling Company decided to expand their corn milling facility.

 CHALLENGE: Lahoff Milling Company dictated two conditions for the expansion of their facility to avoid the trapping of the flour dust that has the potential for becoming a breeding ground for insects. The two conditions were:  

1. No cracking in the concrete slab.
2. Other than the working floor, no member shall have exposed surface that is less than 60 degrees.

 SOLUTION: The building was seven stories and the team elected to use only composite steel frame made of steel tubes fabricated in double cruciform trees and if necessary, wide flange beams with protective plates to the bottom flange inclined at 60 degrees to the horizontal surface. The team selected “K” Shrinkage Compensating Cement for all floor slabs to minimize the surface cracking. The project was successfully completed to the satisfaction of the client. Mission Accomplished! Again our creativity is well preserved in a latent state.

PROJECT: LMPD River Station ($350,000)

 SCOPE: Louisville Metro Police Department decided to construct a River Station, which is a floating office located on the Ohio River.

 CHALLENGE: The Louisville Metro Police Department was very concerned about the live load capacity as well as the floatation capability of their new office building.

 SOLUTION: Our firm made calculations, detailed the necessary floatation system, which can fully support full dead and live loads imposed by the Kentucky Building Code and provide the free board necessary for this floating building. Mission Accomplished! This time our creativity is sunk in the deep river waters.