The Museum Bridge For Shinji Shumeikai - A Post-Tensioned Steel Space-Frame

The Shinji Shumeikai Museum is now under construction in Shiga-raki, a rugged and mountainous area near Kyoto, Japan. The approach to the museum is via a processional bridge spanning 120 m from the mouth of a tunnel to the museum entrance, which is located on an adjacent ridge line. This steel bridge uses an innovative combination of elements from post-tensioned, cable-stayed, and cantilever bridges to produce an elegant form and a highly efficient structural system. This paper discusses some of the key elements of the bridge's structural design. Additionally, special attention is given to the self-draining steel and ceramic bridge deck, believed to be the first use of its kind.