Hmm, anything different. If you don't need the center post support in the middle/front, skip it. When I first conceived the design, I was sure single tier was for me but after brewing 20 batches on it, I'm seriously thinking a 2-tier would have been the better way to go. Pumping out of an MLT directly is sort of a pain in the ass. I know many people have no problems with it but it stinks when the tun runs dry and you have to reprime the pump. The answer is to stop the pump before it happens, but you can't see inside to know when it's about to happen. The other shortcoming is the need for a second pump if you want to play with fly sparging. This $150 expense can be sidestepped with a little gravity.
If I were building one right now, it would be ---___--- with the HLT, BK, MLT. The center BK position would be as low as you could get it with still having enough room for the burner (assuming gas, not electric). The other two tiers would just be high enough so that the MLT can drain to the BK. It still shouldn't be too high to dough in easily without a ladder. Now you can gravity drain the MLT and pump the sparge water. You can batch or fly anytime you want. You'd further use the pump to push the post boil wort to the fermenter (and through the chiller if you have a cfc/plate).
BTW, the reason the HLT stays separated from the MLT in position is so that I can blast the flame under the HLT while I still have heat-sensitive insulation wrapped around the mashtun.
I know the options are limitless and everyone has an opinion. I'll probably change my mind in a month.
