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.

Project 1 Introduction

My proposed building for my project is the Hearst Tower located in New York City. The Hearst Tower is owned by the Hearst Corporation who is one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. They own various media companies which include magazines, newspapers, and many television networks (i.e. ESPN, A+E, etc.). The tower is located at the intersection of 57^th and 8^th in New York City, New York. Initially the building was only 6 stories tall and was commissioned by the founder of the Hearst Corporation, William Randolph Hearst. The architect of the building was Joseph Urban, and the original building was design to be expandable to 3 more stories if necessary. The new tower was completed in 2006 and was built within the inner core of the original building in order to keep the cast stone façade. This new tower was designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners. The Hearst Tower was LEED Gold certified and became the first “green” high rise office building to be completed in New York.

Figure 1: Hearst Tower

Figure 2: Original 6 Story Corporate Office

The Hearst Tower is approximately 600 ft tall with a rectangular base that is about 160 ft x 120 ft. The tower has 44 stories, and an 80 ft lobby that contains 2 sets of large diagonal braces and 12 mega-columns. The existing 6 story structure has a footprint of about 200 ft x 200 ft. One of its main features is the exposed lateral bracing system on the building’s outer wall called a Diagrid. It uses triangular elements in the brace to resist any lateral and gravity forces on the structure and remove the exterior columns to give a more open look from within the tower. The Diagrid system is only located on the 44 stories exterior walls and each row of triangular elements spans 4 stories on the tower. There are 9 sets of these triangular rows. The mega-columns in the 80 ft lobby support the Diagrid system and 44 stories in the tower. They are equally spaced from one another and set of large diagonals that are attached to them, are only located on the inner three mega-columns that are on the 160 ft side of the tower.