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W.E.B. Du Bois Library (UMass Amherst)

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Engineer / Architect: Engineers: Charles A. MaGuire and Associates
Architects: Edward Durell Stone
Location: 154 Hicks Way - UMass Amherst
Western Massachusetts
Year Built: 1974
Structural Form: High rise building consisting of 26 floors with unique columns
Historical Details: With its 26 floors, the W.E.B. DuBois Library is the tallest library in the United States at 297 feet tall. It is named after African-American activist W.E.B. DuBois and holds a large collection of his writings.
Technical Details: In order to understand the structural behavior of the Du Bois Library, a 2D model was created to examine one face of the structure. However this model is only an accurate model for the overall behavior. It does not represent the exact behavior from the structural details where every other floor is supported from those below. The second to last image demonstrates which of the columns are in tension and compression based on the direction of the wind. In this case, with the wind coming in from the right side, the first four columns are in tension while the remaining four are in compression. The exterior columns are exposed the greater of the two tensile and compressive forces.
Image Source(s): Allen Sit
References: UMass Wiki - W.E.B. DuBois Library

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