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Main staircase, with overlook into the large gymnasium at right.

forces arising in the helical structure. The absence of a vertical surfaces but also the horizontal undersides of
regular columnar grid, of course, posed extraordinary the cantilevers, enhancing the perception that the bars
design coordination challenges. “We had to pay careful are monolithic forms partly suspended in midair. Seen
attention to how loads were being transferred down up close, however, the grid of the bricks lends a delicate
through the building,” said Andrew J. Graham, AIA, scale to the huge blocks.
NCARB, senior associate and senior architect at LEO Graham noted that the Gilbane Building Company
A DALY. “For every single space we had to check to acted as construction manager at risk for the Heights,
make sure we didn’t inadvertently have a structural meaning that the contractor accepted responsibility for
member in the wrong place.” (The completed project delivering the project for a guaranteed maximum price.
won an award from the American Institute of Steel Gilbane therefore was engaged early in the process
Construction.) and was instrumental in working through problems
Now that the building is finished, the structural of constructability. Architect Duffy added that
gymnastics are largely hidden, leaving the impression coordination among the entire design and construction
that the school is composed of simple blocks team, including the two architecture firms, the
effortlessly stacked and rotated. Contributing to this contractor, and the engineering firms, was remarkably
sense is the thin-brick rain screen cladding that covers smooth. “It was a very collaborative relationship,” he
much of the exterior. Fastened mechanically without said, adding with a chuckle, “It had to be.”
mortar, the lightweight glazed bricks wrap not just

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