Washington, DC Metro

By:

Megan Coe

Allison Reilly

Source: Wikipedia.com

Social

• Daily ridership approximately 690,000

• Prior to construction start, a subway project of this scale considered unfeasible

• Construction governed by Fine Arts Commission

• All subsurface stations have same appearanceSource: WMATA

Scientific• Structure must resist

tremendous loads over wide spans

• Structural coffered cast-in-place concrete arch– Adds stiffness– See Maillart’s Cement Hall,

Nervi’s Gatti Wool Mill Slabs

• Modern tunneling techniques

• Floating concrete slabs to reduce noise and vibration

Source: Billington Slide Library Source: Billington Slide Library

NTS

Loads:

Symbolic

• Model of a modern transportation system

• Model of modern construction project

• DC as a symbol of cultural modernitySource: Langley Creations

Comparison

• Moscow– Series of structural arches– Tend to have more

architectural details

• New York– Hidden structure which

requires columns to resist loads, reducing span lengths

– More confining