The swooping roof of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh hangs from a series of 15 enormous cables tied to tall masts.
Designed by architect Rafael Viñoly, the structure mimics the curves of Pittsburgh's many suspension bridges.
The cable-suspended roof owes its graceful shape to the natural curve formed by a flexible cable or chain hanging between its fixed ends—a catenary.
The cables end in exposed anchors (above) inside and on the roof, visible to passersby.
Photos by I. Peterson
Basically, suspension roofs are mostly used for sporting stadiums and pavilions, which usually hold large and grand events. Personally, I think the best thing it has is its capability to hold the roof basically through the cables. Well, what technology cannot do nowadays?
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