This document discusses parametric architecture and structural design tools. It provides an overview of using parametric tools for geometry exploration, performance-oriented design, and linking architectural geometry to structural analysis. Examples are given of using these tools for a Shanghai tower project, generating unique floor plates and structural members from architectural massing, applying point loads, and automating structural analysis at scale for a sports hub project. Custom visualization and optimization scripts are also discussed. Despite new tools enabling more design freedom and efficiency, human factors like judgment, decision making and project management remain crucial for successful execution.

1. 1
Kermin Chok
Digital Structural Design
13 March 2013
kc@meinhardt.com.sg

2. Overview
• Parametric Architecture vs Structure
• Parametric Structural Design
• Structural Optimization
• Automation at scale
-- Sportshub Connection Checks
2
• Custom tools
-- Dynamic Post Processing
-- Visualizations
• Closing Ideas
Overview

3. • Ease of geometry exploration
• Performance oriented design
-- Daylighting
-- Dynamic cost evaluation
-- Response facades
Grasshopper 3d: 3
LMTS
Grasshopper 3d:
Shaghai Tower
Pararmetric Architecture

4. Structural Engineering at
Scale 4
=
Detailed Repetition
Pararmetric Structural Engineering

5. 1. Floor plates cut from
surface massing
2. Columns “traced”
along surface massing
5
0. Geometry
Reconstruction
Tradewinds Project - Architectural Massing

6. 65 Unique Floor Plates
6
Mesh adjustment
script to move nodes
to support points
Tradewinds Project - Unique Floor Plates

7. 7
Tradewinds Project - Point Load Application

8. 8
Tradewinds Project - Structural Analysis

9. 9
https://vimeo.com/26446659
Linkages to Architectural Geometry

10. 10
https://vimeo.com/26446721
Custom Structural Optimization

11. 11
Automation at Scale - Sportshub Connections

12. SQL Server: 28 million FEA Meshing and Analysis
beam results
Section modifications
from base engineer
Hosting environment
for custom scripts
12
Custom scripts 3D surface
geometry engine
Sportshub Connections - Custom Workflow

13. 13
https://vimeo.com/35834421
Sportshub - Model Generation

14. 14
https://vimeo.com/35942266
Sportshub - Model Post Processing

15. 15
https://vimeo.com/26446830
Communication: Distilling Analysis Results

16. 16
https://vimeo.com/26446734
Communication: Stress Flows

17. Design freedom is increasing
Design efficiency is increasing
BUT 17
Design is getting
more accelerated
more complicated
Where does all these tools lead us?

18. The edge of complexity is always being pushed
18
Grasshopper 3d:
Shaghai Tower
Project Complexity

19. NONETHELESS
Design Outcomes are evolving to be:
19
more efficient
more sustainable
more human
Where does all these tools lead us?

20. Despite all this new tools:
Things still take twice as long as you
think
20
At the execution level

21. 21
Human Factors are ever more important

22. Judgement
Decision making
Project management
now becomes even more crucial
On Sportshub, we resorted to basic tools such as:
• Google docs for work tracking
22
• Daily goals
• Close Proximity
• Notecards
• Whiteboards
Execution Velocity

23. 23
Questions