Creo Customer: Building Design that Pushes Engineering Limits

by Lindsey Christensen

We’ve explored how Creo created a few architectural marvels in the past, but an architectural canopy we haven’t “covered” yet. When the Francis Gregory Library began plans for a new modern library design, the engineers at CST were hired to create a large overhanging canopy to extend above the main glass structure, create the image of an outdoor pavilion while still providing shade and protection from rain, snow, and ice.

Since 1893, CST Industries has been creating storage tanks and aluminum covers for thousands of industries. With their history and knowledge of aluminum and truss design, architecture was intrinsic to their passion. CST’s proprietary Omni*Hub system and semi-stand truss designs give stability to an architect’s concept.

But achieving simplicity requires intense planning.

Although the canopy looks effortless and strong in the end, the real precision came in the design, where CST engineers accommodated weight and breadth requirements as well as budget and timeline needs.

The architects initially planned the structure as a single-welded structure, but this would be too costly and take too long. Using a hub and tube technique, CST created the design concept and incorporated the subtle curves and weather requirements for the canopy.

The roof canopy is also equipped with a louver system, so staff can adjust fan blades to allow more or less natural sunlight to penetrate through the ceiling, depending on the preferred temperature and time of year, much like the roof of the Verizon Center. Given the incredible amount of precipitation dumped on D.C. last winter, engineers were forced to tweak the angle of the roof to make sure accumulated snow and ice loads could slide safely off.

The process wasn’t simple, but using Creo Parametric, the CST engineers overcame many design challenges to make the canopy true to customer requirements. Vince and Alison share more about this extremely complex model, the theoretical twist of each tube, and how CST created uniformity in the bolt pattern of each tube and hub connection.

Watch the video