The Barbarian

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rocknanchor

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Yeah-yeah. Already considered after seeing the intricacies strewn about. Agreed, those are high-end. But the decision may have been made by trading architectural competence for the glitzy approach. For instance, I would venture that by placing the cables on a span as this would require 4-times the strength of the stairs, upper floor and their contacts as opposed to vertical supports that would share, not add to each of their load. Aside from that, there is an interruption to the otherwise harmonious design by going that route.
 
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The Barbarian

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Yeah-yeah. Already considered after seeing the intricacies strewn about. Agreed, those are high-end. But the decision may have been made by trading architectural competence for the glitzy approach. For instance, I would venture that by placing the cables on a span as this would require 4-times the strength of the stairs, upper floor and their contacts as opposed to vertical supports that would share, not add to each of their load. Aside from that, there is an interruption to the otherwise harmonious design by going that route.

That's neoclassical beaux arts for you. Building is about 115 years old, I think.
 
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SkyWriting

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Yeah-yeah. Already considered after seeing the intricacies strewn about. Agreed, those are high-end. But the decision may have been made by trading architectural competence for the glitzy approach. For instance, I would venture that by placing the cables on a span as this would require 4-times the strength of the stairs, upper floor and their contacts as opposed to vertical supports that would share, not add to each of their load. Aside from that, there is an interruption to the otherwise harmonious design by going that route.
I wonder if the intent was to add tension to the cross beams to partly compensate for the opening created by the stairs. The design would add tension to the left and right cross beams.
 
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rocknanchor

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I wonder if the intent was to add tension to the cross beams to partly compensate for the opening created by the stairs. The design would add tension to the left and right cross beams.
You may be on to something there. I would need an isometric view to aid in that. But one other thing, lest we're being subject to faux wood treatment to hide what might be I-beam stringers, if the s-case was a much later retro project, where 115-yr old desks etc. weighing hundreds might test wooden stringers, makes one wonder was the effort to impress with bare-minimum material really worth it?
 
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The Barbarian

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The building was constructed to replace Old Main, which burned down. The idea was to build as fire-resistant a structure as possible. I believe that there is a steel frame under the faux-marble pillars.
 
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