How do you engineer a structure that seems to float rather than stand?
That question is at the heart of a recent article by SK&A Associate Monika Crandall, PE, published in the October 2025 edition of STRUCTURE magazine. In her piece, “Getting the Hang of It,” Monika explores the technical ingenuity and layered complexities behind suspended structural systems, an approach that challenges conventional design thinking and demands precision at every stage.
The article focuses on The Langston, a nine-story mixed-use residential project in Washington, D.C., where “engineers had to quite literally hang part of the building above WMATA’s active Green Line Metro tunnels. The solution involved suspending the northeast portion of the building using hanging concrete columns supported from the roof, with a temporary cantilevered steel truss system enabling safe construction above the tunnels.”
In her own words:
“While it may seem counterintuitive, suspending a portion of a structure can open opportunities for efficiency, aesthetics, and performance that conventional framing may not achieve.”
From resolving load paths to coordinating across disciplines, the article details how suspended design requires a mastery of both engineering fundamentals and creative problem-solving. These are the kinds of challenges SK&A thrives on—turning structural puzzles into elegant, buildable realities.
We invite you to read Monika’s full article for a deeper look at the ingenuity behind suspended design: https://www.structuremag.org/article/getting-the-hang-of-it/
