During our CEE 463 class trip in Germany we had a chance to see many structures built during different epochs, ranging from the 19th century to present day. These structures varied widely in the construction materials used (masonry, steel, concrete, timber, technical textiles, and glass), in structural elements (beams, laths, plates, spokes, shells, hinged bars, anchors), and in overall design concept (from heritage masonry buildings to contemporary grid shell structures). Isn't it impressive how structural connections, those "macro-micro" nodes, undergird the beauty of our built environment?