In order to maintain the upper plate’s open circulation, engineers designed a hybrid truss somewhere between a Vierendeel and Warren, which features both vertical and diagonal bracing elements that deliver rigidity as well as permeability. The trusses were shop-fabricated in Canada, then trucked to the university under police escort. Once on site, ironworkers craned the massive assemblies into place, shored them up, and welded them together.
To connect the upper plate with the lower two levels—which house the lobby and exhibition space at grade (middle plate), and auditorium and computer labs below grade (lower plate)—OMA designed the lower plate’s ceiling as a smooth concrete dome that pierces the floor of the upper plate. While a simple and elegant form, this sloping volume is putting the concrete contractor, Pike Company of Rochester, to the test.