The lower support ring.
This ring will transfer loads from the office and residences above to the column structure shown in the previous page.
It is massively structured with 14" members and an overall height of twenty-four feet. (This is likely overbuilt—further analysis would be needed for optimization.)
The structure is cross-braced throughout and the lower nodes connect with the tree branch column system to transfer loads to the ground.
The infill piece above is an interesting component that acts a bridge across the hole. It is built of heavier members with closer spacings because it will support column loads that do not land exactly on any axis of the ring. The curve shape mimics the shape of the slabs in the higher stories.
