Structural design of the co-rotating enclosure for the Large Binocular Telescope

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) under construction on Mount Graham, Arizona is a unique instrument which supports two 8.4-meter primary mirrors on the same mount. This unique optical support structure configuration presented new challenges in the design and construction of the telescope enclosure building. The LBT is a project managed by Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona and Arcetri Observatory in Italy. This paper discusses the design and analysis of the steel structure that encloses the telescope, including solutions to the problems presented by the design criteria.