Since a fire in the 60s, the steel structure of the George Arnold building in downtown Providence has been concerning for its wonkiness. Yet, the 12 ft building stood on its wonky structure for more than half of a century.

This project aims to celebrate the building’s long standing wonkiness with a deliberately wonky grid structure.

The addition mirrors the original’s simple post+beam grid systems while slightly offsetting at each pinwheel joint. The pinwheel joint offsets each beam and column, creating a gradual level rise in the structure. Through repetition of the pinwheel join, the new extension gradually derailed from its original and became “wonky the grid”.

The proposal utilizes this gradual level changes produced by the new grid for ada slopes and bracing. Circulation stairs, and elevator shafts are also sloped to enhance lateral strength.