Structure Magazine

Behind the sweeping timber curves at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is a carefully engineered structural system designed to disappear from view. This article explores the concealed connections, custom detailing, and collaborative problem-solving that made these 75-foot mass plywood beams possible — without compromising the architectural vision.

📖 Continue reading: https://www.structuremag.org/article/design-that-disappears-strength-that-endures/

Designing for impact doesn’t always mean standing out—it can mean blending in. Bentonville’s Gateway Park uses innovative structural solutions to create elevated trails and gathering spaces that enhance the natural landscape while bringing the community together.

📖Read the article: https://www.structuremag.org/article/bridging-nature-structure-creating-a-gateway-to-bentonvilles-trail-system/

The Equivalent Lateral Force procedure is widely used in seismic design — but certain stepped diaphragm buildings may expose important limitations in its assumptions. This article explores how common low-rise structures with varying roof heights can lead to underestimated lateral forces and examines alternative analysis approaches that may better capture real structural behavior.

📖 Read more: https://www.structuremag.org/article/equivalent-lateral-force-and-the-pitfalls-of-stepped-diaphragm-buildings/

Before bridges spanned the Mississippi at Memphis, trains relied on ferries to cross. The 1892 Frisco Bridge changed that—combining ambitious cantilever design with evolving federal requirements to create a structure that still serves today.

📖Continue reading: https://www.structuremag.org/article/historic-structures-frisco-bridge-memphis-bridge-1892/

In mass timber construction, lifting operations leave little room for uncertainty. This article examines the research behind reusable timber lifting screws — exploring how testing, screening protocols, and conservative safety measures could help move a common jobsite practice toward a verified and more sustainable process.

📖 Read more: https://www.structuremag.org/article/reuse-of-timber-screws-for-lifting-from-jobsite-practice-to-verified-reuse/