This project includes the design and construction of a shade structure over the serenity seating area at Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery. Growing Grounds is a part of TransitionsMental Health Association. It is a nonprofit wholesale nursery that provides horticulture, socialization opportunities, paid employment and soft job skills training for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The shade structure will serve as place where staff and volunteers can gather and sit

Radovan, Jack C

English

DigitalCommons@CalPoly

	California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			1	Growing	Grounds	Farm	&	Nursery	-	Serenity	Shade	Structure		Student:	Jack	Radovan	(Architectural	Engineering)		Faculty	Advisor:	Kevin	Dong	 Location:	3740	Orcutt	Road,	San	Luis	Obispo,	CA	94301		Overview		 This	project	includes	the	design	and	construction	of	a	shade	structure	over	the	serenity	seating	area	at	Growing	Grounds	Farm	&	Nursery.	Growing	Grounds	is	a	part	of	Transitions-Mental	Health	Association.	It	is	a	nonprofit	wholesale	nursery	that	provides	horticulture,	socialization	opportunities,	paid	employment	and	soft	job	skills	training	for	adults	with	severe	and	persistent	mental	illness.	The	shade	structure	will	serve	as	place	where	staff	and	volunteers	can	gather	and	sit.		Background		 Keenan	Brekke,	a	Cal	Poly	construction	management	alumni	(2018),	built	the	concrete	planters	and	benches	at	the	serenity	seating	area	where	the	shade	structure	was	built.	The	shade	structure	covers	this	area	and	is	a	continuation	of	Cal	Poly	CAED	involvement	at	Growing	Grounds.	The	shade	structure	consists	of	six	isolated	(pole)	footings	that	support	six	posts	which	support	the	main	beams	of	the	structure.	The	original	design	of	the	structure	utilized	prefabricated	panels	for	shade	constructed	out	of	angled	wooden	slats.	Due	to	unforeseen	increase	in	lumber	prices,	the	prefabricated	panels	were	substituted	with	three	canvas	shade	clothes.	This	ended	up	saving	money	during	construction.		The	Project		 After	meeting	with	the	staff	at	Growing	Grounds	in	winter	2021,	I	decided	on	a	design	for	the	structure.	One	goal	for	this	project	was	to	build	a	structure	that	was	very	low	maintenance	and	built	to	the	last.	Since	Growing	Grounds	is	a	nonprofit	organization,	I	wanted	to	leave	them	with	something	that	would	be	cost	free.	We	discussed	post	locations	to	optimize	the	flow	of	people	in	and	out	of	the	structure.	An	additional	design	consideration	was	creating	an	opening	for	a	tree	to	grow	through	at	the	corner	of	the	structure.	Once	the	framing	layout	was	determined,	I	started	sizing	the	members	and	designing	the	reinforced	concrete	pole	footings.	Simpson	Strong-Tie	post	bases	were	specified	so	that	6x6	posts	could	cantilever	from	the	ground	and	provide	support	for	both	gravity	and	lateral	loads.	The	6x8	beams	attach	to	the	posts	with	Simpson	post	buckets.	The	structure	was	designed	for	dead	load	along	with	a	service	live	load	of	200	pounds.	This	would	occur	in	the	event	of	someone	standing	on	structure	for	maintenance.		After	finalizing	the	design	with	my	advisor	during	winter,	I	began	construction	during	spring	2021.	First,	I	used	a	hand-held	post	hole	digger	to	make	6	holes	(18”	diameter	x	36”	deep)	(image	4-7).	Next,	I	utilized	the	CAED	shop	on	campus	to	bend	the	rebar	hoops	and	tie	the	cages	(image	8&9).	I	used	concrete	dobies	to	set	the	cages	in	the	holes	to	maintain	a	clear	distance	of	3”	from	all	dirt	to	rebar.	On	Saturday	May	22,	I	rented	a	concrete	mixer	and	towed	it	to	Growing	Grounds.	We	mixed	and	poured	50	90	pound	bags	of	concrete.	Each	pole		California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			2	footing	was	filled	with	concrete	until	3/4	full	and	then	the	post	base	was	set	into	the	hole	using	a	wood	form	and	stakes	(image	11).	Once	the	was	base	was	plum,	the	rest	of	the	concrete	was	filled	into	the	hole	using	a	shovel.	Stakes	and	a	string	line	were	used	to	make	sure	all	posts	were	aligned	properly.	A	square	form	was	placed	on	the	ground	surface	to	provide	a	finished	concrete	square	look	at	all	post	bases.	Once	the	concrete	cured	for	a	few	days,	the	forms	were	stripped	and	stakes	were	pulled.	This	is	how	I	left	the	project	for	summer	2021.		 Returning	to	SLO	for	fall	2021,	I	was	very	excited	to	start	framing.	I	ordered	the	wood	through	Big	Creek	Lumber	in	Paso	Robles	and	got	it	delivered.	First,	I	set	all	6	6x6	posts	into	their	bases.	I	then	went	at	night	and	set	up	my	laser	level	on	a	ladder	to	set	an	8’	height	for	all	posts.	Since	the	elevation	of	the	post	bases	varied,	the	laser	level	allowed	for	me	cut	all	post	tops	to	the	same	elevation.	Once	the	posts	were	cut	and	installed	into	their	bases	with	SDS	screws,	I	attached	the	post	buckets	(image	12).	Next	my	roommates/friends	helped	me	set	the	6x8	beams	into	place	(image	13/14).	After	the	main	level	of	6x8	beams	was	in,	I	began	framing	the	upper	level.	I	started	by	moving	the	4x8s	into	position	and	fastening	to	the	tops	of	6x8s	(image	19).	Then	2x8s	were	cut	and	framed	between	the	4x8s	(image	21).	Finally,	I	used	a	2x8	redwood	fascia	to	wrap	around	the	upper	level	of	framing.	The	last	step	was	installing	the	shade	cloth.		Reflection		 As	my	time	in	San	Luis	Obispo	draws	to	a	close,	I	could	not	be	happier	to	leave	Growing	Grounds	with	this	shade	structure.	Building	this	was	extremely	gratifying	for	me.	Throughout	the	entire	process,	the	staff	at	Growing	Grounds	was	very	supportive	and	always	motivating	me	to	do	my	best	work.	After	seeing	the	quality	of	Keenan’s	work	on	the	benches	and	planters,	my	goal	was	to	make	the	shade	structure	of	equal	caliber.	The	ARCE	program	at	Cal	Poly	gave	me	the	skills	to	design	the	structure	and	being	able	to	actually	build	something	and	see	the	process	go	full	circle	is	satisfying	to	say	the	least.	It	was	a	nice	end	to	my	time	at	Cal	Poly	and	I	am	grateful	that	I	could	leave	the	community	of	San	Luis	Obispo	with	something	that	will	last.				 I	want	to	thank	all	my	friends	for	helping	me	throughout	the	construction	process.	I	could	not	have	completed	the	project	without	them.	I	also	want	to	thank	everyone	at	Growing	Grounds	for	continuous	support	and	words	of	encouragement.	I	also	want	to	thank	Kevin	Dong	for	his	support	and	guidance	throughout	the	design	and	construction	process.	I	could	not	have	completed	this	project	without	him.	Lastly,	thank	you	to	my	parents,	Amy	and	Andy,	for	their	support	throughout	my	time	at	Cal	Poly.		Thank	you	to	the	project	sponsors:				California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			3	  Image	1	–	Site	before	construction	(Winter	2021)  Image	2	–	Initial	Design  	California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			4	 Image	3	–	Initial	Design  					Image	4	&	5	–	Digging	Post	Holes	and	Checking	Depth						California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			5			Image	6	&	7	–	18”	diameter	X	36”	deep				Image	8	&	9	–	Rebar	cages	ready	to	set	and	post	bases	going	in			California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			6		Image	10		-		50	90	lb.	bags	of	concrete	poured	in	one	day			Image	11	–	Post	base	installed	and	concrete	cured			California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			7		Image	12	–	6x6	posts	in	place,	ready	for	6x8	beams				California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			8			Image	13	&	14	–	Team	work	to	place	the	6x8	beams			Image	15	–	Hammering	the	beams	into	position				California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			9		Image	16	–	Post	to	beam	connection		Image	17	–	Growing	Grounds	employees	liked	the	long	cantilever	so	I	left	it				California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			10		Image	18	–	4x8s	moved	into	position	ready	to	be	aligned				Image	19	–	4x8s	fastened	to	6x8s	with	Simpson	ML24	angles.	One	on	each	side.			California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			11		Image	20	–	First	perpendicular	2x8	installed.					California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			12		Image	21	–	2x8	framing																	California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			13		Image	22	–	2x8	redwood	fascia	installed.	Ready	for	shade	cloth			California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			14		Image	23	–	Nearly	done			Image	24	–	Shade	cloth	on		California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			15							California	Polytechnic	State	University	-	San	Luis	Obispo	–	Architectural	Engineering			16		Image	25	–	Finished	structure			Image	26	–	The	structure	from	underneath	

Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery - Serenity Shade Structure

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Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery - Serenity Shade Structure

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