Oneida Ridge | Blackwell Structural Engineers

Program

This new all-season home sits within a 6 acre property on the Niagara Escarpment. The simple and modest house is split into two buildings, linked by a glazed entrance. One side features the garage/workshop and office/playroom, and the other side houses the dwelling spaces: bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen/dining/living. The ground floor views focus on the dramatic rock formations. The second floor accommodates the private spaces within the tree canopies.

The structural system is a hybrid steel and engineered lumber frame with wood I-joist infill framing. Steel beams were used over long spans, including the large cantilever at the second floor level, to achieve a slender profile while meeting strength and deflection criteria. Steel diagonal braced walls were used in combination with wood stud shear walls for the lateral system. The foundation is reinforced cast in place concrete walls.

Private Residential