Klein & Hoffman is the structural engineer of record for the four-story Milwaukee County DHHS Building, with Engberg Anderson Architects acting as the prime consultant. The new steel-framed structure has unique architectural features such as the exposed “Trident Columns” that sprout up in the corner, putting the visitors at ease, as if with their open arms. Other features are the rooftop terrace that extends most of the roof and the cantilever canopies which provide a break in the steely look of the façade while functioning as sunshades.
 
The project involved many challenges, including a shorten design timeline and a challenging column grid to allow for open architectural spaces. Frequent coordination meetings were used to sync the architectural model updates with the structural design requirements. Overall, great teamwork through the design team made for a great final product.
 
The composite steel framing and various lateral systems which were utilized in the design allowed flexibility in laying out the non-uniform column grid, providing open spaces for building out the interior to suit the client’s needs. Revit Structure was utilized as a component of BIM to simplify coordination between disciplines and RAM was used for efficient design of the structural system. The project is currently still in-progress, with Klein and Hoffman providing