Design and Engineering of BIN and Support Structure

An expansive space that will straddle LA’s famed Wilshire Boulevard, the project will feature 110,000 square feet of gallery space in one single level to display and present art in a non-hierarchical, egalitarian way. As part of the new building, Clark will construct a new theater, education spaces, three restaurants, a museum shop, multi-purpose event spaces, and ancillary and back-of-house facilities.

The California Building for the Permanent Collection is slated to open to the public in 2024.

Client

California Building Co

Location

Los Angeles, California

Architect

Thomas Smith Studio

Year Completed

2024

Design and Engineering of BIN and Support Structure

Overview

We got an RFQ from a client to run some DEM and FEM analysis on a hopper model they sent over. But when our Design Engineering team got stuck into the work, we quickly realized the model was a bit of a dog’s breakfast—missing parts and not quite up to scratch with the standards.

The Challenge

First up, we flagged all the design discrepancies to the client and gave them the lowdown on what needed fixing. Seeing the mess, the client decided to hand us the whole shebang, shifting our scope from just running DEM and FEM analysis to handling the complete design and engineering, including the fabrication drawings.

Outcome

The project saw us turning a rough starting point into a top-notch hopper design that’s ready for action. With our expertise in design, analysis, and fabrication, we delivered a solution that’s up to Aussie standards and built to last.

The Solution

We took on the challenge and gave the hopper a full design makeover, ensuring it met Australian standards. We built a new 3D model from the ground up and ran DEM analysis to make sure the material handling was on point. Then, we put the hopper and its structure through rigorous FEM analysis and made the necessary tweaks based on the results.

Once the model was shipshape, we sent it off for client approval. After getting the green light, we cracked on with the fabrication drawings, ensuring everything was ready to roll.