David Haid
"An Arts Center" (MS 1953)
Advisor: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Ludwig Hilberseimer
Others acknowledged: E. Bluestein, D. Brenner and R. Malcolmson
Material: Steel
Structural system: Seven (7) transverse external Pratt truss girders with columns and suspended roof system
Maximum span: 260 ft.
David Haid explains that his thesis project is also an outgrowth of work under Mies on the State Theatre for the city of Mannheim. In this case, Haid proposed a building for an Arts Center that contained two major elements: an auditorium for the presentation of concerts, opera, ballet and drama; and a museum that provided for display of many types of art. As a theatre should be adaptable to various productions and the museum should allow different arrangements of exhibitions, Haid came to the conclusion that the best solution was to propose a large flexible space.
“Wide span structures allow a space within which the open play may be used to its full advantage. The use of flat trusses as spanning members permits variations in proportioning the space since the height of the interior space is not influenced by the span.
The solution for the building with two levels is the most suitable to provide for the different types of spaces needed for the Arts Center. Secondary elements may be placed on the lower level without interfering with the main space used for the major elements.
The flexibility achieved in the solution for the auditorium and museum allows the most possibilities for their use.”
The final solution is formed by trusses spanning the full width of the building as the major structural elements, from which the roof and main enclosure is hung. “There are seven Pratt type trusses 24 feet deep spanning 260 feet and spaced in 80-foot bays. They are supported on columns and the lower chord is 60 feet above ground level.”
