A local architect contacted us to conduct a field survey and draft code-compliant construction documentation for state submission for the existing structures at The Loft At Walnut Hill Farm wedding event venue in Bedford, Indiana. The existing barn structure, formerly a cattle barn, contained a dairy section at the ground level and hay storage in the loft, with the connecting structure added later. During the survey, we found remnants of hay debris in the existing hay loft. Although not crucial to the job, attention to detail in documenting existing structures is important.

We drew and detailed cross-sections of all the different areas of the connected structures. The conforming roof purlins in the existing barn roof at The Loft at Walnut Hill presented a challenging exercise in geometric calculations. This type of conformed purlin, similar to what the limestone mill industry refers to as a ‘ramp and twist’, maintains the same profile of board along the radial ramp, creating a twist along the way.