Yes, it was a poor detail. There are a lot of perils involved in welding reinforcing steel as anchorages. Welding of >500 MPa reinforcing of unknown properties is asking for trouble. And the designer didn't understand that forces around curves need to be resolved.
The original detail didn't look too good, either.
The haunches which were eventually used probably wouldn't have gotten the architect's approval the first time around.
hokie66, I agree with your last statement. Architects have to be "educated" when it comes to details like trying to connect a concrete slab to a continuous steel column. Most acceptable details would not be considered aesthetic enough....
