College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Architectural Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Architectural Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 2
Architectural Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Architectural Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 3
Architectural Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Architectural Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 4
Architectural Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Architectural Engineering
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor
Craig Baltimore, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Architectural Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Morgan White, College of Liberal Arts, English Department
Abstract/Summary
Tettoia Iperbolica (Hyperbolic Canopy) is a multidisciplinary senior project created to revitalize an underutilized outdoor space next to the Architectural Engineering Building 21 at Cal Poly. The project responds to needs identified by faculty and staff, including limited gathering space, inadequate shading for the adjacent conference room, poor drainage, and a lack of ADA accessibility. Building on two previous senior project efforts, the 2025 team advanced the concept into a fully designed, structurally stamped, permitted redwood canopy supported by existing concrete columns and one new steel column.
The work included extensive site investigation to verify subsurface conditions, concrete strength testing, and a lengthy iterative design process. The team refined design flaws through several mockups that proved connection details and confirmed the constructibility of the angled canopy. Structural analyses carried out by the team verified the capacity of the existing columns, validated the canopy design, and addressed unexpected issues such as the discovery of an unmarked underground pipe that required an eccentric footing redesign.
The project required coordination with Cal Poly Facilities for permitting, collaboration with LPA Design Studios to obtain a structural stamp, and the acquisition of funding and materials through grants and donations. The partial construction during the last phase of the project included concrete curb and column removal, excavations, and placement of the new footing, preparing the site for future teams to finish the build.
The project produced a complete, ready-to-build design package and will transform the site into an accessible, inviting space. The work reflects Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy by providing direct experience in engineering design, project coordination, and construction. Dedicated to ARCE student Sean Hillman, the Tettoia Iperbolica project establishes a functional and lasting gathering space to be used by the ARCE community.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/arcesp/235
Structural Calculations
TI DRAWINGS PRINT V23_stamped.pdf (31908 kB)
Structural Drawings