Pangolin Gridshell

The Gridshell Structure is the third of its kind in a multi-project collaboration led by Dalhousie University’s Coastal Studio. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada issued an international, multi-university grant for educational design. North American schools of Architecture, the University of Arizona, University of North Carolina Charlotte, and the University of Louisiana Lafayette took part in the design collaboration.

The Gridshell provides moveable seating and shelter to the space, while promoting flow for foot traffic and maintaining the open-air feeling of the campus setting. The addition of night lighting makes this space versatile at any hour of the day and provides a place for students to take refuge individually or commune on campus.

Purpose

• Shade pavilion at university thoroughfare
• Advancement of educational design-build practices

Slender Features

• 1:900 thickness to span ratio for sprung steel gridshell
• 1:1000 thickness to span ratio for sprung sheet cladding

Novel Features

• 1st permanent sprung (aka elastic) steel gridshell built in North America
• 3rd permanent sprung (aka elastic) gridshell built in North America
• 27-minute erection from flat to formed

Progressive Features

• Educational design-build

Notable Value

• Tailoring the structural design approach to fit the needs of an educational design-build studio
• Commitment to slenderness goals

Awards

• National Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Design/Build Award, 2018

LINKS:
The Pangolin “Sonoran Pentapus” Video
Student Work CAPLA

SHOUT OUTS:
Chris Trumble (CAPLA) – a master at effective group collaboration
CAPLA students (CAPLA) – impressive level of design ability
Sean Reinsma (Blackwell) – Co-project Engineer, structural analysis model
Renée MacKay-Lyons (Blackwell) – Structural Designer (rods)
David Vrljic (Blackwell) – Structural Designer (welded connections, foundations)
Simon Rayment (Blackwell) – Structural Designer (anchorage)

IMAGE CREDITS:
Studio Pangolin | University of Arizona