Truss Bridge

Don't know who might be able to give you any sensible ideas from the information you have supplied.

Building, shipping containers, three stories, incorporating a bridge?

72 foot wide, 100 foot long... Roof?... What is the bridge to carry? Trucks, pedestrians, elephants, squirrels?

You're asking for some ribbing from this crowd.

I'm confused... please provide more pictures or better description.

Excuse me but I hope that you are joking. You intend on constructing a three story building and instead of hiring an architect you want us describe a truss bridge so you can do this out of scrap material.

Now there are several firms you can hire that do use shipping containers for architectural building blocks. A quick Google search will give you a list of firms who do this. They have the expertise to know if your foundation can take the load of a three story stack of shipping containers. They will also know how to inspect the integrity of the containers. They will even know if this is legal to do in Birmingham Alabama. But this is clearly one of the times that you should spend some money by hiring a reputable firm that has done this before. If you don't you may become the recipient of a 2010 Darwin Award.

Well, i have spent quite a bit of time on this site in the last couple of days. There is some incredible insight out there and have thoroughly enjoyed reading for the last 48 hours. I have noted that there are all kinds on here from browsers to people who think they have a clue and then those that do. some are ready and interested to help and others are, well, waiting to pounce.

This is no BS. I have been planning this for two years and have a reputable architect and engineer on board. I am well qualified in the trades and own and operate a metal fab/machine shop, so lay off the scoffing!

I was actually serious. I am thinking of using an obsolete (AL has closed most of them on major thoroughfares and built concrete spans to replace) truss bridge to serve as roof structure and third floor deck. the ground floor will be my shop with ~16' clear height. The third floor will be 1/3 show room for my business (architectural metal work and high end furniture/art) and 2/3 private residence. There are actually quite a few truss bridges out of service, closed and ...... I guess waiting for a fool like me. I have spoken with aldot and found some inroads with bridge building companies in state but no luck yet. As for the shipping containers, they are well suited to carry this kind of load and the engineer agrees, the foundation, is being designed for the building and intended load. Maybe not so ridiculous after all! As far as hiring a reputable qualified firm to do this, I am, I just happen to own and run it.

I started running the numbers on different roof and third floor deck scenarios and the cost were not out of the ball park but, hey if i can find a truss bridge (like the one over shoal creek on hiway 75 just east of florence alabama, if you wanted to google map it) and knock both of those birds off the wire in one shot for the same cost........ why not. It might just look cool and be photographed as the first shipping container building in Birmingham that will happen to have a healthy list of LEED credits.

I have seen some very interesting posts on this site and some hooha too. I cant blame you for thinking this might be the latter but, alas, I am serious.

Sooo, if anyone has any constructive thoughts or questions, I would love to hear them.

I'm not sure of the states in your locale, but Pa. sells old bridges. I think the site is PENNDOT.

That's what I'm talking about!!! Constructive! Yes, I realize the initial post was kinda asking for it.

Thanks Jerry. I will check with PENNDOT and all of the other dots' and see what they have. I tried that with ALDOT and they subcontract everything so the bridge becomes the property of the subcontractor. I havent had any luck there yet but really just started thinking about the bridge thing in the last month or so.

We ask this sometimes if the project seems interesting and a little off beat, and I think this qualifies.

SEND PICTURES! Please. This has all the makings of a great blog. I can't contribute to the project, but I'd follow your progress with great interest!

Lyn

G'day STOLISMA

I've seen them stacked to scary heights. I think with a good welder and cutter on site I could build this in a week. I have just made a quick sketch and only have two doors and no windows or decking nor guard rails. I'll have the pent house if you don't mind. I'll take care of the insulation as well. all in a weeks work. I would need some strong blokes to lift them around though.

Good stacking, Ky.

Great sketch Ky!

now that I know that you have this technology.... I'll be expecting more. :)

Chris

Yeah, the Legos are out of reach at the moment. My 5 year old grandson is building container buildings with them. I will not let him touch the oxy torch yet, maybe next year. How did you like the insulation bit?

Good to have you back on board Chris, Ky.

Living, Working & Show Space,(Store).

Loading dock, elevator.

Imagine the salvaged Bridge truss on the bottom.

Glass that.

One elevator to top stacked containers.

Parking?

Access road?

Water, wind?

i'LL PUT DRAWINGS UP TOMORROW OR MONDAY.

I AM WORKING ON A SNOW MAKER RIGHT NOW WHILE THE WEATHER PERMITS. THE KIDS ARE WAITING.

AND NO, I GET THE PENTHOUSE! BUT YOU CAN DO THE INSULATION!

Just add bridge and Bob's part of the extended family.

You are not very far out in left field at all. I made a quick business trip to Afghanistan in September and the US Army is stacking CONEX boxes two high for living quarters. They have installed a concrete slab for the units to set on, put in a metal deck between the second stack as a breezeway and put a roof over the whole construction. I also saw a similiar construction in Iraq in November. Using containers is a great idea as there are litterally thousands of them available for use. They are very well built and are resold pretty cheap. Have fun with your project.

I'm sort of into the form follows function concepts as Frank Loyd Wright wrote of at least in his book Sand and Stone.

The use of containers is fairly tested and practical. Seems I've seen some photos of living spaces made from them in the Netherlands going back at least 5 years now.

Now you indicate that the end result is to have a structure that is a living space, a work space, and a show space.

You seem to be saying that the Show Space is to be on the top floor that is to be made from the reclaimed bridge trusses, and are interested in doing that from what I can tell, partly for looks, over any particular functionality.

From where I sit I'd nearly suggest you consider turning your concept over and putting the bridge trusses on the first floor and the containers on the second and third, along with the incorporation of at least one dual use elevator especially if the workspace is to be located above ground level.

Up to a point people move themselves, whereas materials have to be moved by people, and I am a strong proponent of working with gravity, instead of against it.

Typically bridge trusses are designed to hold up quite a bit of weight, and typically showrooms and stores are on the ground levels of buildings. Certainly this is the case in Manhattan.

There are multiples of reasons for putting stores and workspaces on the ground level. I know of few people who shop by helicopter for anything other than real estate for instance.

Of course as I tell my daughter, what is practical for others, may not be practical for you. Do what works for you.

Great idea. I like both the notions of using recycled materials and the use of non-standard construction materials. We have too many cookie-cutter houses and commercial structures. A bridge may be very costly to move in one piece, and if disassembled, would be effectively the same sort of scrap iron you could get from old industrial building demolitions... so maybe consider industrial building demolition sites as sources too?

A truss bridge of suitable dimension was removed atYankton, SD recently by a local demo firm. I'll try to get some info...

THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TH BRIDGE INSULATED! SORRY I YELL BUT YOU ARE SO FAR AWAY, KY.

the simplest bridge is a railroad flatcar.. (82 feet long)

we had a discussion about this before...

in addition to that, perhaps you might be interested in the old military Bailey Bridge style.

Chris

How about this?

Stolisma,

Builders use the stacked container layout all the time for their staff and their acommodation at major sites in the UK and in many, many other places.

Obviously a practicable and inexpensive way to go.

Schools in the UK also use stacked containers as temporary classrooms.

I have seen them in all sorts of places, middle East, - I have even seen them in The USA - Washington, Dallas, San Diego spring to mind.

I am not into bridges but go for it!

Sleepy