Other Possible Truss Shapes
OMA's Shenzhen Stock Exchange for truss-shape (only) reference
For clarification: the lobby/Center for Science and Math will be point-loaded dancing columns (as shown in the bottom-right image), the Research Towers will be some kind of column/slab-loaded structure, and the OMSI Extension/Expressway will be a spanning through Warren truss (similar in shape only to the truss used in Shengzen).
Here are two explorations of my project in vertical loading. One is based on a very regular columnar grid, while the other has a dynamic system of diagonal columns cutting through the space and the slabs. Is structural exploration in this manner extraneous? Given this will be a highly visible space (lobby glass), I’m proposing using the structure to promote visible interest, and draw the eye up through the space. Thoughts?
(co)emergence 
the dancing structure is attractive, particularly as it adds to the dynamism of your plan arrangement / outline. Keep in mind that structure is not only holding up the floor slabs and roofs, but will be used for tieing back enclosure to the structure (wind-loading). Could their be a hybrid? Larger dancing columns that pick-up the primary floor loads, especially as your floor plates do not always align – which affords large sectional spaces; while using a secondary dancing grid or columns to support enclosure? Lastly, don’t forget that part of the vertical load distribution – straight or dancing – also needs to be coordinated with floor framing. Not that you need to do a structural layout! – but is wise to consider primary floor structure that ties into vertical structure.
wait a minute….what does OMA’s Shenzen structure have to do with your proposal. Your question about columns assumes a point load, whereas the Shenzen approach understands structure as a rigid plane – a truss – to distribute loads and achieve cantilever. how can you approach structure in this away?
I’m sorry for the vagueness. The Shenzen structure was solely used to reference the proposed truss-shape of the OMSI Extension/Expressway (not shown in my renderings of the lobby/Center for Science and Math, as it has nothing to do with the ‘dancing columns’ part).
It was a poor example for a structural post, and I was using it purely to show the shape of a through Warren truss. The actual structure of Shenzen has nothing to do with my project, as I’m not proposing a cantilever for the OMSI portion, but rather a spanning truss.
For final clarification: the lobby/Center for Science and Math will be point-loaded dancing columns (as shown in the bottom-right image), the Research Towers will be some kind of column/slab-loaded structure, and the OMSI Extension/Expressway will be a spanning through Warren truss (similar in shape only to the truss used in Shengzen).
Does three different structural approaches serve to integrate or isolate these pieces of program? In the image with dancing columns, it still looks as if you have some serious spans, even if not a bridge or cantilever. What is your max span between columns?
The three structural approaches define the three program hubs; when one of these ‘hubs’ plugs into another (OMSI –> Research Towers; Research floors above the lobby –> center for Sci./Math), the structure of the plugin crosses over to be consistent. So in this sense, structure has been used as an insulating/isolating element. Should I reconsider?
Max span (as of the diagram) = 60′.
That’s probably a bit more than desired; more columns may need to be added.