1. Building Materials

This type of building is commonly seen in the San Diego area. It's a parking structure – typically open-air, but this one is elevated and allows for multi-level parking. Therefore, the primary structure must be steel-based, calculated to handle the weight and relevant loads. We used heavy-duty H-steel for the structural system. The structure is assembled/modular. Because buildings like this experience significant lateral inertia, out-of-plane instability (planar buckling) is a key consideration for the designer. When creating the 3D model and renderings, while precise load calculations aren't required, thoroughness is important. After the exterior appearance is finalized, the structural CAD designer can proceed with drawing the formal construction drawings.

2. Building Dimensions

The building’s span is 27 meters, and its length is 90 meters, with a bay spacing of 6 meters. I often mention a 6-meter bay spacing because it’s usually the most economical and efficient. Too-small bays waste materials, and overly large bays require very large roof rafters. It’s not a strict requirement, 5.38 meters or even 7.8 meters could work. As an architect, my advice is to aim for 6 meters if possible, but if not, to keep it around that value. The column height is 11 meters. For steel structures, column heights generally don’t exceed 20 meters, with 6-15 meters being a common range.

3. 3D Modeling and Visualization

I was responsible for the 3D modeling, renderings, walkthrough animations, and installation detail animations for this building. I consistently work on modeling steel-structured buildings like this one. The difficulty level of this building wasn’t particularly challenging. I start by drawing a simple CAD floor plan and confirming the basic dimensions with the client. Once modeling begins, the dimensions are generally fixed. Then, I start with the columns, followed by the steel beams, then the purlins (roof members) and other supports. Once all of these are completed, I proceed with the internal structure.

4. Building Maintenance

The building envelope (exterior) is crucial. Key things to monitor are paint peeling, bolt loosening, weld cracking, and any deformation of the overall structure. A well-maintained building can last 20-30 years. Without maintenance, problems can arise within just 3-5 years.

I’m Zhangteng, a designer specializing in architectural 3D design. If you have any related questions, feel free to consult with me.

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