STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

A large cavity double-skin façade could be easily accommodated by this truss system, with
glass planes at both ends of the spreaders, or at the mast plane and either end of the
spreaders.
2.2.6 Gridshell
Shell structures have long been recognized for the superior efficiency deriving from their
shape. Thin shell structures in reinforced concrete have been used in many long-span
structural applications. While the design, engineering and construction of these form-active
structures remains challenging, they are highly efficient structures. The strength of the shell
derives from the double-curved (synclastic or anticlastic) surface geometry.
.Gridshells are a subset of shell structures. Rather than
being monocoque shells, they are comprised of a grid of
discreet structural members forming squares, triangles or
parallelograms that define the shell geometry. Unique
shapes can be developed with grid shells that benefit from
the combination of shell and arch action. This structure type
was pioneered by Frei Otto in the 1940’s, and used in the
construction of the Mannheim Multihalle in Germany
Figure 2.10 Mannheim Mulithalle,
Germany; grid shell by Frie Otto
with Burro Happold, 1975 (Griel
2006)
constructed in 1975. (Paoli 2007, p.12)
Engineering firm Schlaich Bergermann & Partners, working
with various architects, have designed a number of glazed
enclosures using gridshell structural support, and have pioneered a gridshell technique
based on the kitchen sieve (Schlaich & Schober 1994, p.1-27).
The systems employ a network of in-plane cables to provide stability and shear resistance to
the minimal shell grid. These designs represent the state of the art in structural glass
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