Structural Challenges and Strategies for the Design of Monumental Stairs

1 AIA LU

Monumental stair design requires close collaboration between the architect and structural engineer to develop the envisioned showcase element of a building. This presentation highlights lessons learned from five recent Philadelphia projects with very different feature stairs. We will explain the primary structural challenges of monumental stairs and offer strategies the design team can employ to address those challenges.

The presentation will illustrate the varying structural challenges of steel monumental stairs from projects including the Museum of the American Revolution, 3675 Market St, the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics, the Wharton Academic Research Building, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

These one-of-a-kind stairs each presented unique challenges for the design team, but their solutions all required close structural and architectural collaboration and creativity. We will overview the structural forms and load paths, structural loading requirements, effects of monumental stairs on the building structure, strategies to conceal and minimize structure, and opportunities to expose structure.

We will review the contractor’s and steel fabricator’s roles in the stair design and fabrication and provide examples of how the case study projects varied in the delegation of responsibility. Finally, we will discuss how these stairs are typically fabricated and installed, and how that may impact the architectural design.

Attendees should walk away from the presentation better equipped to collaborate with their structural consultants and contractors, and more aware of how structure can help achieve the architectural vision of a feature stair.