Sheffield Stadium - Project specific, automated design techniques

This 'pillow' shaped football roof structure features 512 conceptually similar hexagonal assemblies, which subtly vary in curvature as they travel across the structures length.

A single, fully detailed hexagonal assembly, containing 8 identical nodal joints (cut to varying lengths) and 12 unique wood elements, was value engineered and digitally modelled. By developing custom techniques, the design of subsequent hexagons was automated as each dynamically 'morphed' to adapt to the new geometric constraints applied to them in their new location.

Employing this methodology, new hexagons effectively 'detail designed themselves' enabling a small and dedicated team to rapidly design and output manufacturing details in record time.

Click here, or on the projector icon below, to view an illustrative animation.