Reading Viaduct Bridge

Visualized Energy

     “Visualized Energy” is an essential connection between the Reading Viaduct and Center City Philadelphia. The bridge functions as a transportation alternative, a museum, a pivot point between various neighborhoods, and a visually beautiful, steel structure integrated into Philadelphia.  “Visualized Energy” represents the growth of energy across the site by expressing its dynamic energy through structure. 
    The structure along with the skin reacts to views, circulation, and program requirements. From all angles of the bridge, experiential or viewed, it creates a sense of energetic growth. Both the structure and pathways grow from the viaduct and back down into the ground in front of the Philadelphia Convention Center. An energetic connection was discovered by using control points based on views to Center City and the Ben Franklin Bridge.  A series of curve tests was run to find the best fit path that optimizes views and circulation efficiency.  
    The structural skin that supports the pathway is a sheathed triangulated space frame and references the classic bridge truss. The skin of the bridge reacts to the energy of the site by curling open and closed as the temperature fluctuates. This process is made possible by utilizing a thermobimetal, which turns the building into a living and changing structure reacting to the unique sun conditions each day.  The skin is strategically placed around views and interior space planning. 
   The visitors center's organization reflects the energy on site by emphasizing views. The building structure mimics the structural skin and utilizes the skin to define space. 

Thermobimetal Skin

     Using sheet thermobimetals (TBM), a smart material that automatically curls when heated and Nitinol, a wire material that shrinks when heated, building surfaces can self-ventilate and reduce its dependency on mechanical air conditioning.  By laminating two metal alloys with different coefficients of expansion together, the result is a thermobimetal that curls when heated and flattens when cooled. As the temperature rises, this deformation will allow the building skin to breathe much like the pores in human skin.  The lightweight qualities of the material means a slim and lightweight structure to support it, maximizing the sun shading possibilities and creating a thermally comfortable environment.