richards_casestudy.pdf

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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006

Richards Medical Research Center

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA1957-1962

Architect: Louis Kahn

Structural Engineer: August Komendantfloorspace ft

The Medical Research Center was commissioned dur-ing a time when many universities were developing newfacilities to accomodate the increasing need for labra-

tory based medical facilities. Kahn had built neither amedical laboratory or a high rise structure before. Hewas commissioned for the project largely on the basis of

recognition recieved for the Yale art gallery and increas-ing ties to the U.Penn architecture department.

This was the first building in which Kahn collaboratedwith engineer August Komendant, whom he would workwith for 18 years. Komendant was instrumental in the

development of both pretensioned and postensionedconcrete in Germany after WWII, when steel was scarce.

key facts

Brownlee


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006

building components

The building is concieved as a collection of discreet fun-cional components. The origional design called for onecore tower housing circulation, mechanical systems,

bathrooms and animal quarters. This core tower servedthree towers of laboratory space that extend from it in a

pinwheel array. These lab towers are flanked by a se-ries of vertical masses housing fire stairs, plumbing andsecondary ductwork.


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006building components

Shortly after the completion of the 3 tower building,Kahn was commissioned to extend the building west-ward with additional lab towers.


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006structural hierarchies

The central tower is a poured in place concrete struc-ture. The surrounding laboratory towers are based on45 x 45 nine square grid precast concrete assemblies.

The floor grids are held in place by precast columnssituated around the perimeter and aligned with the 15

bay nine square. There are no interior columns and nocorner columns. Kahns strategy here was to create anopen, and flexible lab space with maximum daylight.This early plan shows the secondary vierendeel frame

system as a nine square grid in miniature within eachbay. This was changed to a four square system to re-duce construction costs.

Leslie


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006structural aesthetic


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006precast kit of parts

Komendant devised a kit of precast concrete membersto be assembled one floor at a time on the site.

Leslie


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006steel reinforcement

The 2 main precast beams, which span 45 acrosseach floor are pretensioned. The cross-beam seg-ments are tethered to the main pretensioned beams

and to each other with post-tensioning cables. Thevertical column segments are post-tensioned together

in a similar fashion, as are the edge beams.


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006joint assembly


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006service space


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Richards Medical Research Centercase study Arch 515 Philip Baraldi Spring 2006service space

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richards_casestudy.pdf