Progress Update #51

 Overview/Project Accomplishments:

• Bolting and Welding lower Exhibit Hall structural steel.
• Installing Infill Beams on the lower Exhibit Hall.
• Installing the Star Beams for upper Exhibit Hall steel.
• Installing MEP hanger inserts over the classrooms, café and loading dock roof areas.
• Constructing mechanical room plenum walls.

Star Girder Beams

Featured in the progress images are the first erected steel members of the roof of the museum’s Exhibition Hall.   These members, forming the shape of a star, are tension girders which resist the tendency of the exhibition gallery to “sag” at the edges of the box.   The forces created by the weight of the building, exhibits, and occupants is resisted by putting these large steel members into tension.   The steel members only forming the star weigh 470,500 pounds, or 235.25 tons.