But after careful research upon the soils near the Columbia River, a range was determined: anywhere within the next 50 years. When I heard that, I knew I had to act fast.
Any architect will tell you his foremost passion is his home. In many regards, vernacular architecture is the peak artform for a building because it is architecture in it's natural state. And there is no nature I like more than that of the Pacific Northwest - from the lush green and purple flower valleys to the overcast and yet ever-changing skies. It's somber but beautiful, just like a Raymond Carver short story or a Ken Kesey novel.
So when this information was put before me while I was watching a video at Portland State University, since I knew I was going to apply elsewhere (I was paying for classes while not enrolled at PSU) I looked for projects with a NEES affiliation that could bolster my engineering credentials while improving my architectural acumen for this kind of disaster. Over the course of a year, I looked at Rensselaer Polytech, SUNY at Buffalo, Virginia Polytech and Lehigh. I ended up at Lehigh before I could view either SUNY or Rensselaer.
So I am here, in Bethlehem, PA, blogging for the school and working on a shear wall which will not deform even when confronted by the sudden impact of a tsunami. We call it "elastic architecture" - it bounces back - but it is only in a primitive state of design. What I can say is that rather than simple longitudinal reinforcing at the base, it uses more lateral reinforcing throughout a concrete member with a singular steel rod (thicker than rebar) post-tensioned through the wall on a certain interval. Because of the singular rod, the unloading phase along the stress-strain curve acts in the exact opposite direction of the loading curve, allowing the concrete to move without permanent strain/deformation.
When the design comes further toward completion, I shall blog again. But until now, it is just a dream. And fortunately, it looks like I've finally got the tools for the job.
