710
Design Rationale: Verification of Structural System
713
VERIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
713.1
STRUCTURAL COMPATABILITY
Once the minimum spans required for an acceptable degree of
adaptability and an acceptable range of plan options had been identified
for the bed care functions of the hospital, it was necessary to test these
spans in terms of the requirements of the non-bed care portions of the
hospital.
713.2
DIVERSITY OF REQUIREMENTS
713.2.1
Size
In contrast to the nursing unit, non-bed care functional units are less
predictable. They vary widely in size not only from one unit to another but
from one hospital to another, depending upon the relative number of beds
served, outpatient load, degree of medical specialization, etc.
713.2.2
Internal Organization
Non-bed care units were examined to identify consistent patterns of
organization which might be sufficiently extensive to justify a new
structural discipline. No consistency of plan organization exists between
functional units. Each is optimized in response to the medical and
operational needs of a particular set of activities. It is unlikely, therefore,
that any non-bed care unit or combination of units will become a generator
of a new structural discipline.
713.2.3
Large Column-free Areas
Structural spans in the nursing tower system range from 40'6" to 58'6".
Bay spacing is 22'6". Functional units were examined to determine
individual spaces which exceeded 22'-6" in one or both dimensions and in
which of these a clear, column-free area was required. Certain large
areas such as auditorium, swimming pool, etc., must be column-free.
Although relatively few in number, they must be accommodated within the
building system.
The structural system provides bands of free space equal to the length of
span. The minimum of 40'-6" can readily accommodate any auditorium
with a seating capacity of up to 200 seats and a band of 58'6" can
accommodate an auditorium with a seating capacity of up to 400 seats.
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