How to build a cheap icon

By Don Weberg
Summer Forty-Niner

Man fears time, the old Egyptian saying goes, but time fears the pyramids.

Considering the stamina ancient pyramids have displayed over the centuries of sand storms and blazing, the construction of these original superstructures seem almost supernatural.

Although the idea and design behind a pyramid are by no means new, the technology behind its construction rages on. And design is one of the interesting points behind The Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach, separating it from most other pyramids in the world.

Unlike the pyramids of Egypt and South America or more contemporary versions in Las Vegas and Memphis, The Pyramid is constructed of a space-frame design, similar to the framework of a Lamborghini sports car. Unlike an exotic car, however, the frame of The Pyramid can be seen from outside.

Looking at the very bottom of the structure there are several white, tube-like devices that make up "V" patterns separating the blue steel from the concrete walk. Those are parts of the frame. The space-frame design is an inexpensive and strong way to build a structure, according to Scott Charmack, associate vice president of physical planning and facilities management.

"Our Pyramid is possibly the only one with the space-frame design," he said.

Space frame construction resembles a park jungle gym and offers even weight distribution all around the foundation. This is important when considering the high water table at CSULB, which is prone to floods.

An alternative method of construction, the I-beam design, uses about four steel beams making up the frame, but places weight at four specific locations like pressure points, Charmack said.

Because of the jungle gym-like structure, there are 66,000 connections throughout the frame of The Pyramid, Charmack said.

"It's a good design," he said. "We built an icon for $10 million."

A high ceiling, landmark design and low cost were three of the priorities when considering the design concept for the structure, Charmack said.

"Under President Curt McCray we needed to come up with a design that would be buildable and act as a landmark," Charmack said. "The Pyramid does both.We wanted a building that could be expanded and The Pyramid was the best choice."

The design of The Pyramid is also inexpensive when comparing numbers to a standard "box" design gym facility, which ultimately would require more material to build. "We would have had to build a bigger structure all the way around," Charmack said.

When CSULB built The Pyramid, neighbors complained that The Pyramid was a symbol of the devil, Charmack said. It is also slightly off-center from everything else on campus. Looking at it from the sidewalk on Atherton Street, The Pyramid's left corner is closer to the street than the right. The architect thought this placement would add a visual edge, Charmack said.

Pilots like the placement, too. The Pyramid helps them figure out exactly how close they are to the Long Beach Airport, especially in inclement weather, according to Armando Luen, pilot for Benbow Aviation.

"I've spotted it through the haze and known where I was," he said. "It lines up with runway approach three-zero," he said.

Though the shape is the same, the size and means of construction are totally different when comparing The Pyramid to those in Egypt.

The Pyramid at CSULB stands at 179 feet tall, from ground level to the top. The base is 347 feet long. In comparison, the largest true pyramid stands at Giza, the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The Giza pyramid originally stood at 481 feet tall and has a base of 756 feet long.

According to historian estimates, 2,300,000 stone blocks were used to build Giza, most weighing a little over two tons each. Some weighed as much as 30 tons, the equivalent of three fully loaded 18-wheel trucks.

"We didn't use slave labor to build The Pyramid either," Charmack said.