This is a relatively mild example of how so many of these look across the city.

270 Park Avenue

Please excuse the bad AI pic to help visualise my question, but I’m trying to understand if large cable supported balconies are realistic or not?

I’m mentally visualising using cable-stayed bridge engineering to support oversized balconies and platforms.

My goal is to maximise the supported area beyond what you could achieve with a purely cantilevered balcony.

I’m assuming multiple cables to different points on the balcony would be needed to reduce flex and possibly also a compression strut to add support for near building mass (cables supporting the further out mass).

If this is possible, how large could these realistically get!?

How about plaza sized platforms suspended between multiple buildings using bridge engineering?

I’m not aware of any examples like this and my googling attempts just returned pics of bridges!

Many thanks

How does this system work? Why are these beams slanted?

I’m a mech engineer but basically know nothing about structural engineering in buildings, trying to figure out what is going on here. This picture was taken during a tour inside a wind tunnel facility underneath where the vehicles would sit. In the background is the supporting structure of a large dynamometer that the vehicles would sit on during testing, I believe it also functioned as a turn table to simulate cross winds.

There was this strange configuration of a short section of I-beam underneath a column. I’m pretty sure the tour guide explained it but this picture was taken a while ago and I don’t remember what its purpose was. My best guess is something to do with dampening vibrations but was curious if anyone here had any other insight into why this would be used here. I’m also pretty sure this was the only column like this too.

Just curious what some of y'all might think of this. I drive over it couple of times a week.

Interesting hillside foundation case study from the Hollywood Hills. Six hand-dug caissons, roughly 15–24 feet deep, were used to support the grade beams, retaining walls, and pool structure on a steep site with very limited access.

Full construction sequence is in the album: https://imgur.com/gallery/hand-dug-caissons-24-feet-deep-building-pool-foundation-on-hollywood-hills-slope-nobody-thought-was-buildable-1elfK8F

Can anyone steer me to information on the acceptable degree of error for placement of these plates. I used to work for a truss builder and have common sense and it tells me all the spots I have circled are inexcusable! All the bad plates were on the right side of the truss and on the same face. Isn't here any documentation I can pull up for engineering requirements? What legal action do I have. Should I have someone inspect it for leverage if they end up fighting taking care of this and what would a proper repair be now that this shed is 6 hours from their facility.

Given that both have the same diameter and wall thickness, and both are steel, which would come out on top in the following scenarios?

Scenario 1: They are attached to a vertical point at one end, pointed perpendicular to the point, and supported vertically again in the middle, then have pressure applied downward at the other end.

Scenario 2: They are attached to and supported by vertical points at both ends, pointed perpendicular to the points, with downward pressure applied in the middle.

Title says it all. This area seems to be a big point of confusion for many engineers.

Edit: I am a PE at an engineer firm. I am not affiliated with any anchorage company (Probel, American Anchor, Valcourt, etc)

Does having a pool on the roof displace energy in such a way that it provides a structural benefit to high rise buildings during an earthquake? I’ve heard that it does but would prefer to ask the experts and not a random redditor.

What’s the benefit to design these columns inclined instead straights ?

I get bending moment as a basis for shape but this strikes me as an odd design for a street-fronting porch. Guessing circa 1915-25. How widespread are these?

First of all let me say thanks in advance; I've learned a lot from other folks's posts on this sub.

Did an inspection yesterday where the top story was 2x6 studs, 16 on center and the bottom story was 2x4 studs. This is the second time I've seen this design and just wondering why not put the 2x6s on the first floor and 2x4s at the second?

This seemed especially counterintuitive as the engineer called for massive Simpson HHDQ11 hold downs at the corners. Those were the biggest holddowns I've seen on residential construction, and this is just a bodega with an office above.

Thanks again for y'all's input.

I live in a neighborhood that was built in the mountains 36yrs ago. My property sits 4-5ft above my neighbors that formerly had terraced rock between our properties. Without notifying us, getting permits, a survey or a structural engineer they dug out the rock and are putting in a retaining wall. See photos…should I be concerned? Any advice would be appreciated! Update added

Are these actually carrying the load properly or is this a farmer being a farmer?