Parametric Design Intent

For the model of the Hearst Tower, the three main elements of the tower I wanted to make parametric were the height of each of the 9 Diagrid rows/bays, the width of each of the column bays, and the angle of each of the isosceles triangles in each of the 9 Diagrid rows/bays of the Diagrid system. In order to preserve some of the symmetry in the tower structure, I limited the height, width, and angles changes to the rows of the Diagrid systems. The tower will be symmetric about an axis that is parallel to its height. The sides of the tower will have different overall widths however between the two sides, the heights angles and widths of the Diagrid elements will be equal. All of other variables (Lobby Height, angle of the inner large diagonals, etc.) will either be calculated from the Diagrid defined dimensions or in certain parametric cases, inputted by the user.

Figure 3: Hearst Tower Lobby

Figure 4: Cross Sectional View of Hearst Tower Lobby

In the Revit model, there will be a parametric path that the user chooses that is defined by which two of the main parametric dimensions the user would like to change. For example the user can decide to change the parametric height and parametric width, so from those two choices the angles of the Diagrid system will be calculated. Given three options to choose from (the height, width, and angle) the user has 3 different parametric combinations to choose from. Also in addition to the three previously mentioned combinations, the user can define the total height and width of the tower and the resulting heights, widths, and angles of the Diagrid system will be equally spaced. The parametric equations used are determined from the trigonometric equations of a simple isosceles triangle.

So in summary, the user must choose two different parametric dimensions to change which are the height of the Diagrid rows/bays, the width of the column bays, and the angles of the isosceles triangles in the Diagrid system. Once the two parametric equations are chosen, the remaining dimensions are calculated using trigonometric equations of an isosceles triangle. For the Conceptual Mass Model, the mass will be defined by the outline of the main tower and lobby. This conceptual mass will not contain the visual aspect of the Diagrid system however the tower outline will contain a similar usage of angles. Eventually, the Diagrid system will be model in the project model and will coincide with the parametric equations of the conceptual mass model.