Recent weather patterns across North America have brought about more and more violent storms causing a rather alarming increase in wind born damage to existing structures. As a consequence, we architects are seeing ever more stringent building regulations concerning structural resistance to wind forces. The resultant details are fondly reminding me of my seismic days in Santa Monica, CA where moment frames, hold-downs, and shear panels were all the rage, as well as necessary elements of any design.
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Far from the seismic arenas of the western coast, a recent project in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Linden Hills brought it all back. The front of the house has a nice 4’ wide x 9’ tall section of wall sheathed in plywood that is a very common, inexpensive and useful way to resist a lateral wind load. The back of the house, on the contrary, has virtually no solid wall and is made up almost entirely of windows. In other words, a lousy wall for wind resistance. The answer was a steel moment frame incorporated in the wall outlining the window openings much as a storefront does in a shopping center or office building.
The steel frame is rigidly connected at its corners with welds and then firmly bolted to the foundation at its base with anchoring bolts commonly known as “hold-downs”, which stop the rigid frame from tipping over in high winds. You’ll notice all of these elements in the accompanying construction photographs where in the completed project the frame will be hidden, and in another project where the steel frame is expressed on the exterior of the home. Now, when the Alberta Clippers blow and you lean into the wind you’ll know that the buildings around you are bracing themselves as well.
Eric Odor has decades of experience using unique, beautiful, yet functional materials. For some more commentary on his designs, take a look at some of Eric's past posts! For more of his work, visit his profile page!