Canam U.S. engineering teams in Point of Rocks, MD, and Chesterfield, MO designed 13 triangular trusses for the Marywood University School of Architecture in Scranton, PA, which opened in fall 2009.

The unique trusses, which were put in place this spring, are approximately 9’ deep and 28’ long, and composed of 4” round pipe and 1” plate. NCR Design, one of two customers for this project, also tasked Canam to size all the members and connections for the specified geometry.

Architect Dave Hemmler and founding dean Gregory K. Hunt preferred the truss design over beams, columns or sloped joists in order to obtain a vast, open environment that will be complemented by multiple skylights. In keeping with its tradition of educating students to live responsibly in an interdependent world, the university is pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the new facility.

• Customer: Rise Construction, Lake Ariel, PA
• Architect: Hemmler and Camayd Architects, Scranton PA (www.hc-architects.com)
• Engineer: NCR Design, Dunmore, PA.