On Tuesday, February 17th, we took a tour of several of the sporting facilities around the university, beginning with Huff Hall. As mentioned previously in the course, we were able to see the aftermath of the questionable addition, namely the two staircases not five feet from each other that lead to the same place. That wasn't the focus of the tour of this building, however, as we headed to the gymnasium, home of Illini volleyball.
It was in the gym that we were introduced to trusses and their uses in distributing loads across a large lattice of metal bars and beams, something that I found quite interesting and relevant to my mechanical engineering coursework. We were shown how the manner in which the various beams and columns were organized allowed the weight of the roof to be spread out. This technology allows us to cover large surfaces with minimal material, reducing costs and giving us a cool ceiling to look at in the process. This visit also made me want to go see a volleyball game some time because I'm told we are quite good at hittin' the old volley ball around.
From Huff we attempted to enter the Armory through a subterranean tunnel, but unfortunately we were met with a locked door. It seems as though all subterranean tunnels on campus have gone on super ultra lockdown as of late. Because of this, we had to enter the armory the old fashioned way, and we got to take a look at the impressive structures inside. The portion that we visited was the indoor track, with its colossal metal arches that were truly a marvel of engineering. Here we learned that while most arches have keystones wedged at the highest point to bring each side together, these metal arches were held together by a single pin where the keystone would be. This simple pin keeps each side of the arch from falling outward, and this feature was highlighted by a skylight that runs the length of the indoor track, allowing natural light to filter in from outside.
Our final stop on the day's tour was the football practice facility, which provides half of a regulation football field for the various athletic programs during the offseason or inclement weather. This facility was more comparable in size to Huff hall than the Armory and featured a third kind of support structure. We learned that only one side of the large truss system was truly secured, and this was done with a pin. On the far side of the facility, the truss rested on a surface, held in place by its own weight and frictional forces. It was interesting to learn that all concrete and solid features of the walls were purely aesthetic and provided no structural support, serving as a backstop and shelter from the outdoors for the university's athletes.
Though we did not personally visit it, we briefly discussed the structures supporting the State Farm Center, formerly Assembly Hall. Due to the nature of the dome, many of the forces are projected horizontally as opposed to vertically. Because of this, a large cable is wrapped around the outside of the stadium. Held taut, it prevents the dome from falling outwards, and serves as a substitute for the pillar systems found in both Huff hall and the Armory. We also learned that the ceiling of the facility is only about a half of a foot thick, making the structure that much more impressive.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Week Four Observations
On February 10th, we were taken throughout THB and got to see (semi) firsthand what goes on with the mechanical systems. Unfortunately, due to various mishaps we were barred from going below ground and seeing all of the mechanical systems, so we had to make do with the various ducts and pipes throughout the building.
With the knowledge that all of the behind-the-scenes machinery was responsible for doing the work to pump air throughout the building, we began on the ground floor to observe the largest air ducts, which run from the basement all the way to the ceiling and then run the length of the building. While on the ground floor, we observed a vent-like apparatus that lined the bottom of the large glass windows. This apparatus serves to heat up the cold air that sits at the bottom of the window, in turn causing a large "envelope" to rise up the window and seal out the cold air. I thought that was pretty neat.
Heading back up to the third floor, we went down to the south end of the building to see the intake duct at its largest alongside the two outtake ducts. The two outtake ducts remain the same size throughout the whole building with vents placed periodically along their length to remove stale air from the building. The intake duct, however, starts out at the same length as the other two, but gradually gets smaller as more of the air is released into the building. Alongside this intake duct there are several electronic units, each controlled by a computer, that regulate the temperature of the air coming from the intake duct. We observed several copper coils that wind through the device which are capable of heating up the air just before it is released to the room.
We followed the intake duct from the south side of building back to the north side of the building, observing the thinning of the intake duct as more air was dispersed throughout the building. From the south side we returned to the ground level to see professor hinders' office, where the intake valves were rather tiny. These offices themselves rarely require the air from the ducts because of the sunlight that they receive throughout the day, serving to naturally heat the room.
The last stop on our tour was a quick view of the outside, where we saw the large vents through which all of the air for the building is taken. It was literally a large hole just outside the building, and I thought it was quite interesting that such an ingenious system could be made to seem so simple. From the outside we also observed how the building's design is used to call attention to this air duct system, as the large ducts that run the length of the building are clearly observed from outside and serve to frame the building.
Week Four was super exciting! Each week is better than the last!!!!!!
With the knowledge that all of the behind-the-scenes machinery was responsible for doing the work to pump air throughout the building, we began on the ground floor to observe the largest air ducts, which run from the basement all the way to the ceiling and then run the length of the building. While on the ground floor, we observed a vent-like apparatus that lined the bottom of the large glass windows. This apparatus serves to heat up the cold air that sits at the bottom of the window, in turn causing a large "envelope" to rise up the window and seal out the cold air. I thought that was pretty neat.
Heading back up to the third floor, we went down to the south end of the building to see the intake duct at its largest alongside the two outtake ducts. The two outtake ducts remain the same size throughout the whole building with vents placed periodically along their length to remove stale air from the building. The intake duct, however, starts out at the same length as the other two, but gradually gets smaller as more of the air is released into the building. Alongside this intake duct there are several electronic units, each controlled by a computer, that regulate the temperature of the air coming from the intake duct. We observed several copper coils that wind through the device which are capable of heating up the air just before it is released to the room.
We followed the intake duct from the south side of building back to the north side of the building, observing the thinning of the intake duct as more air was dispersed throughout the building. From the south side we returned to the ground level to see professor hinders' office, where the intake valves were rather tiny. These offices themselves rarely require the air from the ducts because of the sunlight that they receive throughout the day, serving to naturally heat the room.
The last stop on our tour was a quick view of the outside, where we saw the large vents through which all of the air for the building is taken. It was literally a large hole just outside the building, and I thought it was quite interesting that such an ingenious system could be made to seem so simple. From the outside we also observed how the building's design is used to call attention to this air duct system, as the large ducts that run the length of the building are clearly observed from outside and serve to frame the building.
Week Four was super exciting! Each week is better than the last!!!!!!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Week Three Observations
On the February 3rd, we had our scavenger hunt to find all the different kinds of pillars. I went scavenging (and hunting) with Margaret. Photographic evidence can be found on her blog.
On the 5th, however, we toured the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, which was quite an interesting tour. I had visited the Krannert Center several times before to see a friend perform and for Engineering convocation at the beginning of my freshman year of college, but I had never taken the time to examine the layout of the building.
One of the coolest things I learned from the tour is that not only is there one consistent lobby that connects all the theaters, but this lobby is 1.5 acres (or three tennis courts, if that suits you better), and is one of the largest connected indoor spaces in the country (world?). As we walked through the lobby, we learned that Herman and Ellnora Krannert, the benefactors and namesake of Krannert, had great influence in the building's design. Minute details, such as the pattern of the teak floors or the perforated aluminum ceilings, are nods to the features of the Midwest or even corrugated cardboard, Herman Krannert's most famous invention.
From the large lobby we progressed to the second level, where all the "behind-the-scenes" work takes place for the various performances. The second level is on even ground with the stages of each of the performance halls. We were given a close look at the underbelly of Krannert, as we saw where costumes and props were created for each of the shows and also got to see "backstage" of the Tryon Festival Theatre, which we later learned is often used for plays and musicals.
Returning to the first level, we were shown the great hall, the largest and most impressive of the five theaters. The great hall is capable of seating over two thousand for the many instrumental performances that it hosts. The structure of the great hall was designed with symmetry and acoustics in mind to provide the most ideal performance hall imaginable. There was such attention to detail that each corresponding wooden panel from the two sides of the hall was taken from the same tree to limit the variation in sound and reverberation. We learned that there is even a mock door on the second level to maintain symmetry, though its handle had to be removed due to the hazard it presented in the event of a fire. It's pretty neat considering I'll have the chance to perform in the great hall come April.
Our last stop on the tour was the audience level of the Tryon Festival Theatre, reserved for plays and musicals. Its curved walls and ceilings are tailored to the acoustics of vocal performances, versus the polygonal and sharp edges and surfaces of Foellinger Great Hall. Similar to the Great Hall, it has two levels, but the coolest takeaway from this theatre was that the outermost platforms of the stage can be altered to provide more seating, more stage, or even a hollow room for the pit orchestra depending on the performance and the attendance. In this theatre we also learned of the "fly space," which can be seen from outside the Krannert Center in the form of the tall rectangular structures. This fly space is simply a wide open area containing various catwalks and ropes and wires and what have you. It's interesting to know that those "towers" are all mostly empty space.
So Krannert was fun! It was very cool to learn more about the building and see what was going on in more than just the lobby level. My newfound understanding of the craftsmanship that went into its construction has given me a new appreciation for the building, and I look forward to returning in the near future.
On the 5th, however, we toured the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, which was quite an interesting tour. I had visited the Krannert Center several times before to see a friend perform and for Engineering convocation at the beginning of my freshman year of college, but I had never taken the time to examine the layout of the building.
One of the coolest things I learned from the tour is that not only is there one consistent lobby that connects all the theaters, but this lobby is 1.5 acres (or three tennis courts, if that suits you better), and is one of the largest connected indoor spaces in the country (world?). As we walked through the lobby, we learned that Herman and Ellnora Krannert, the benefactors and namesake of Krannert, had great influence in the building's design. Minute details, such as the pattern of the teak floors or the perforated aluminum ceilings, are nods to the features of the Midwest or even corrugated cardboard, Herman Krannert's most famous invention.
From the large lobby we progressed to the second level, where all the "behind-the-scenes" work takes place for the various performances. The second level is on even ground with the stages of each of the performance halls. We were given a close look at the underbelly of Krannert, as we saw where costumes and props were created for each of the shows and also got to see "backstage" of the Tryon Festival Theatre, which we later learned is often used for plays and musicals.
Returning to the first level, we were shown the great hall, the largest and most impressive of the five theaters. The great hall is capable of seating over two thousand for the many instrumental performances that it hosts. The structure of the great hall was designed with symmetry and acoustics in mind to provide the most ideal performance hall imaginable. There was such attention to detail that each corresponding wooden panel from the two sides of the hall was taken from the same tree to limit the variation in sound and reverberation. We learned that there is even a mock door on the second level to maintain symmetry, though its handle had to be removed due to the hazard it presented in the event of a fire. It's pretty neat considering I'll have the chance to perform in the great hall come April.
Our last stop on the tour was the audience level of the Tryon Festival Theatre, reserved for plays and musicals. Its curved walls and ceilings are tailored to the acoustics of vocal performances, versus the polygonal and sharp edges and surfaces of Foellinger Great Hall. Similar to the Great Hall, it has two levels, but the coolest takeaway from this theatre was that the outermost platforms of the stage can be altered to provide more seating, more stage, or even a hollow room for the pit orchestra depending on the performance and the attendance. In this theatre we also learned of the "fly space," which can be seen from outside the Krannert Center in the form of the tall rectangular structures. This fly space is simply a wide open area containing various catwalks and ropes and wires and what have you. It's interesting to know that those "towers" are all mostly empty space.
So Krannert was fun! It was very cool to learn more about the building and see what was going on in more than just the lobby level. My newfound understanding of the craftsmanship that went into its construction has given me a new appreciation for the building, and I look forward to returning in the near future.
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