In order to bring natural light into the building, a new 3,500 SF split- level skylight was designed to run down the spine and span across the central atrium. The 165-foot long skylight begins at the existing roof level (level 5) at the west end, turns vertical up the building face and ends at level 6. The skylight has a tapered design with the west end four feet wide and the east end 42 feet wide. A 2,700 SF section of the existing concrete roof structure had to be removed to accommodate the skylight. The upper skylight support frame consisted of a “tabletop” roof with a center ridge and hipped corners that were rigidly connected for lateral stability. The skylight support elements consisted of hollow structural shapes (HSS). The two building additions occurred on the north and south ends of the original Zachry building and added 185,000 SF over five levels. The north addition contained a 9,500 SF mechanical penthouse (level 6) even with the vertical expansion over the existing building. The two building additions are cast-in-place concrete superstructures with a wide-module pan joist floor system. A major challenge for the additions was the location of new columns and foundations in proximity to the existing building. The foundation system for the additions and existing building consisted of under- reamed piers which were large due to the high dead load from the concrete structure. The columns were pulled back approximately 10 feet from the existing building to accommodate large MEP chases to route utilities from the basement level. Even with the offset columns, additional foundation offsets and deep cantilevered strap beams were required to support the columns to avoid conflicts with the existing piers. To achieve the aesthetic quality and daylighting strategies that the architect desired, the project had an abundance of steel sunshades, screens, canopies, and trellises. The trellis over the south addition had the longest cantilever, 36 feet with a back-span of only 22 feet. The cantilevered beam consisted of a W44x262 and suspended a three- story “billboard” wall clad with perforated metal panels and contained cantilevered 18 inch square HSS beams at each level to resist out-of- plane wind loading. Sustainable Design By utilizing over 80 percent of the original 300,000 SF structure, con- struction waste was reduced, and carbon emissions significantly de - creased thereby reducing negative environmental impact of traditional new construction. The ZACH is now the largest academic building on campus at 525,000 SF and is accessible to engineering students 24/7, which increases the utilization factor and efficiency of the building. The ZACH is large enough to fit two Boeing 747’s placed end to end! The project also features a 13,000 SF landscaped (green) roof and a 2-acre outdoor green space known as the Engineering Quadrangle (E-Quad). The E-Quad contains a food truck park, rain garden, engineering-focused artwork, seating benches, and picnic pavilions, uniting students from all around campus. Both green spaces contain sustainable materials and low-maintenance native planting. Rethinking Engineering Education The facility contains technology-enhanced active-learning studios, interdisciplinary laboratories, 60,000 SF of makerspace (a design cen-
Completed Building Southeast Corner Photo: Randy Braley.
ter containing machining and fabrication equipment), a student career center, study and gathering spaces, engineering-inspired art, and a green roof where outdoor lectures can be conducted. Interior floor-to- ceiling storefront provides visual access into the fabrication center and engineering laboratories to put engineering education and experiments on full display. Both the function of the facility and the building itself present a positive public image of engineering excellence. As Michael K. Young, President of Texas A&M University, stated at the dedication ceremony, the Zachry Engineering Education Complex is a “stunning feat of engineering.” The ZACH is not only a display of engineering excellence but a world class facility that brings engineering to the forefront and further ce- ments Texas A&M University’s status as a national leader in engineer - ing education. The building itself serves as a recruiting tool attracting the best and brightest students and professors to TAMU for generations to come. Completed Building, Food Truck Park and Engineering Quad. Photo: Randy Braley. CARLO TADDEI, PE is a Principal, Higher Education and K-12 Market Sector Leader, and Fort Worth Office Lead for JQ Engineering. He served as Engineer of Record for the TAMU ZEEC. Founded in 1984, JQ provides structural and civil engineering, geospatial and facility performance services throughout the United States. The firm is considered a leader in engineering design innovation and technology to support its complex, multi-state and multi-market projects. Nationally, JQ has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” and as a “Hot Firm” by Zweig Group. JQ has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio. For more information, visit the company’s website at: www.jqeng.com.
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csengineermag.com
august 2020
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