Gilman Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Client: Gilman Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Architect Kliment Halsband Architects
Type of works: engineering, furnishing and installation of a glazed barrel vault grid shell roof.

Built in 1915, Gilman Hall was the first building on the Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University. For the 2010 renovation, Novum was contracted to engineer, furnish and install a glazed barrel vault grid shell roof over a central common area that was formerly an exterior light well. To eliminate the costly field painting and welding of the original design concept, Novum proposed a grid shell structure featuring mechanically fastened optimized members stiffened by nominally post tensioned cables. This approach brought the pricing within the client’s budget, enabling them to upgrade their glazing from clear to low iron, greatly enhancing roof transparency.

Structurally it features AES, BK, DC and TC systems. The overhead steel grid structure consists of hot-dip galvanized, powder coated rectangular sections with semi-rigid connections and hidden fasteners. Beneath the grid structure, stainless steel tension cables run through stainless steel disc clamps to stiffen the roof plane. At each end wall, architecturally exposed steel, painted to match the grid structure, supports vertical glass panels.

Glazing features CCG and PSG systems. Overhead, stainless steel corner clamps support fully tempered, low-iron, laminated, insulating glass with a low-E coating. At each end wall, stainless steel countersunk rotational bolts and glazing arms attach the glass panels.