Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum.

The structural solution for this irregular design, comprising intersecting planes of cladding, involved a mixture of steel and concrete. Concrete frame was used where possible, which provides thermal mass and minimises vibration within the large gallery areas. Additional steel framing was used for the non-structural cladding system and in areas where large column-free spaces were required. The cladding, which has drawn considerable press attention, comprises folded stainless steel laid at angles that highlight the geometry of the structure.

Over the Contemporary Permanent Gallery on the ground floor, the roof spans 13 m across using cellular steel beams, which also allow the transfer of services within the structure of the floor. Similarly, in the north-west corner a large double-aspect window set at an incline is framed in 10 m steel cantilevers and supported by adapted steel trusses above.

Deflection is a potential problem with steel, and the criteria were discussed in depth with both design team and supply chain. To ensure accuracy in crucial details such as these, we developed a structural model alongside our bespoke analytical software, which was loaded onto a central BIM system accessible to all involved in the design, allowing collaborative solutions to be found.