Advisor: Dr. Gregory K. Michaelson, P.E.
Project Description: Marshall University, like many campuses around the nation, is a rapidly growing institution. With more students, there comes a need for additional campus housing, thus the construction of additional dormitory buildings. But, before a new dorm can be built, it must be carefully designed to ensure the safety of all students who will live in it. This senior capstone project observes the need for this design and allows students to get hands-on with real world projects. The scope of this project includes the design of a structural steel frame that could be used to support all the load that a typical dorm building would experience. Marshall University, like many campuses around the nation, is a rapidly growing institution. With more students, there comes a need for additional campus housing, thus the construction of additional dormitory buildings. But, before a new dorm can be built, it must be carefully designed to ensure the safety of all students who will live in it. This senior capstone project observes the need for this design and allows students to get hands-on with real world projects. The scope of this project includes the design of a structural steel frame that could be used to support all the load that a typical dorm building would experience. As a part of this design project bracing against lateral loading, concrete floor slabs, member connections, and cost estimates are all considered.
Students working on this project were supplied with a basic drawing of what the final building should look like and created multiple possible alternative designs for the structural aspects. These alternatives were then compared based on defined criteria (i.e., safety, cost, and build time). After this comparison, the most efficient alternative was selected and further optimized. This project is just one example of the many real projects that students in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences get to take a part in to prepare for their future career.