Innovative Steel Structures for Museo Del Acero in Mexico

The former industrial site "Parque Fundidora" in Monterrey, Mexico has been converted to a museum site with entertainment facilities in recent years. A disused steel mill has now been converted to a steel museum, involving refurbishment of the existing structure to expose existing historic steelwork and open-air walkways as well as adding a new contemporary museum to illustrate past and present of the local steelwork industry, which includes two structurally and aesthetically unique steel features that are described in the following article. A unique load-carrying three-dimensional "folded roof" has been constructed of relatively thin steel plate (max t = 13 mm), spanning over the steel gallery space (max span L = ∼ 13 m from roof edge to column, with roof diameter 30 m), where triangular "chevron-like" steel columns support this roof as well as a concrete terrace on top. Inside the gallery, a helical staircase connects the two levels, where a triangular steel stringer is free-spanning all the way up from the ground with no further support. The triangular stringer and cantilevering treads are solely welded out of steel plates. The curving handrail profile is supported by means of thin prestressed vertical cables only, creating the light-construction appearance of a free-floating tube without any uprights.