Studio IV - BUILD - HOLT WATTERs FIELD STATION
Phase I of this project was a collaboration of 22 students and faculty in from University of Colorado Denver's Colorado Building Workshop and Bespoke Project Solutions, who oversaw construction in both Denver and Antarctica. The buildings were constructed by the student team on the Auraria campus at University of Colorado Denver from April to June 2022. The buildings were disassembled, packed, and shipped starting in July 2022, and reassembled at Cape Shirreff from December 2022 to February 2023.
As part of the Structures team, I worked on the design of the footing pads and cable bracing systems for the Berthing and Galley buildings, procured and fabricated materials, and managed the larger team during construction phase.
The foundation consists of 24 footings, a drop beam assembly, and a cross-bracing system made up of pressure-treated wood and steel cable.
The footing pads are made up of double-stacked 4x4 pressure-treated wood. These plies are tied together using threaded rod and 2 steel L angles, which help tie the pad to the column. Additionally, strapping is threaded through the middle ply of the second layer of 4x4s, and wraps around the column. The strap is connected by nailing through overlapped ends into the column.
L angle pieces were fabricated, welded, and galvanized.
Each length attaches to a turnbuckle assembly, and then diagonally from angle to plate or bolt in their specific location.
