ABSTRACT
At Illinois Institute of Technology, there is a rich history of collaboration between architect and engineer exemplified by Mies van der Rohe and Frank Kornacker. The structural dominance of steel and glass in Crown Hall is a determinant of the building’s form. In such structurally determinant architecture, structure is a primary design component rather than a secondary building necessity. For Mies van der Rohe, structural principles are integral to the building’s conception. While, design ideas have advanced since 1956, the respect for integrated structural cohesion has remained. The effort to conceive of buildings as greater than the sum of the parts rethinks the role of structural education in the design process. In a six-year study of integrating structures in the first-year design studio, a faculty team of architects and engineers aligns structures learning with the architectural design process. A three-step sequence develops the students’ intuition for structural identity, expression and economy. A shared vocabulary and an appreciation of collaborative interchange dissolve the line between structure and architecture creating a space of opportunity.
