Post Fracture Design of the NGI Sculpture Court Structural Glass Roof

<p>The Sculpture Court glass roof is the central feature of the recent extensive refurbishment of the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, completed in 2017. Its principal structure is composed of 23 structural glass fins that span the 7m to 9m meter gap between two historic wings of the building. These triple laminated toughened glass beams minimise the visual impact of the structure and achieve a more “external” and open feel to the space below. The principal challenge for the structure was to ensure that its post fracture behaviour remained satisfactory, minimizing the risk of progressive collapse.</p><p>The paper sets out the design process for the development of the glazed structure and focuses on the research for robust alternative load paths, and its interaction with the historical existing structure. It explores the balance required between the transparency of the roof, the reliability of the system, and the capacity of an existing masonry.</p>