Final Posters

Final Posters

concrete construction

This is just an image i took on the way to uni today of the concrete multi-store complex i went on a site visit to earlier in the month. (sorry about the blurriness, it was an action shot!) It is interesting to see how the construction has progressed since i last saw it, but im not sure if i'm a fan of the rock climbing wall extension (the little shed on top), its seems a little oddly placed.

The Globe Building, Torquay

Globe facade. This building is constructed using concrete slabs, with a timber cladding. The central columns are constructed of concrete, but most likely have steel running through the centre, due to their odd angle, and concrete's tendancy to weaken and buckle under tensile loads. They are connected to a steel beam. Window to wall connection
Corner Window Connection Concrete attached column and beam system to help disperse loads

These steel connections assist in transferring the loads from the concrete floor slab into the walls below

I really like this building due to its innovative use of timber as a facade to make it more appealing. Also, the unsupported window corners are aesthetically pleasing, but also are effective as they assist the function of the building- a retail store, as it allows an unobstructed view.

Article-Modern times, modern methods

Constructing the Future
Issue 23 February 2005

This article discusses the new developments being acheived through off-site, prefabricated manufacture of construction materials.

Methods on concrete construction techniques such as Tunnelform and Crosswall construction have become a more populare method of concrete construction.
Using these methods, producing structures are low on labour, and highly mechanised so that they perfom well and are durable

Tunnelform construction involves (using in-situ concrete) pouring the concrete into two half tunnel shapes that together form the walls and the ceilings of a space.

Also, new methods have sought to achieve a more energy efficient way of construction. One method is to make spaces heavily insulated and more air tight. However, this article disputes that there is a danger of overheating the space during hotter months. To prevent this, the article suggests maxamising a buildings thermal mass, using concrete as a practical way of introducing it into a building.

Contructing members off-site can improve the quality and the efficiency of building construction, by reducing the number of activities performed on site, and producing the members in a more isolated environment.
Also, methods have been developed so that the contractor can simply prepare the grounds for the building's componenets, and even the footings can been constructed off site.

All in all this promotes a more efficient, and (hopefully) more durable structural members. However, i wonder how many jobs of on site labourers will be lost to the machine?

Site Visit Three (20/05/07) -North East Wall

Here you can see 'C' purlins running along the face of the building, with bracing running perpendicular to it. You can also faintly see safety mesh running over the purlins. The large overhang is most probably there to provide shade, but also could be purely aesthetic.

Here you can see the diagonal cross bracing running at 45 degrees from one column to another, to provide resistance against lateral forces. Also the insulation is visible on the underside of the roof.

Site visit three (20/05/07)-Overall View

This is an overall view of the construction so far from the North East side. From this view you can clearly see the structural steel framing, and prefabricated concrete slab divides.

Multi-Store Complex, Warrnambool (site three-visited 20/05/07)

Located on Mortlake Road (on the Hopkins Highway) in Warrnambool, this multi store complex (expected to be completed early 2008) is being constructed buy South Melbourne based CE Contruction Engineering.
The total floor area will be 4680 square metres, with the floor and walls constructed of concrete, and the cladding and frame structure constructed of steel.
The complex is single storey, and expected to contain retail stores and a coles supermarket.

Site visit two (09/05/07)

Multi-Store Complex Princes Highway, Geelong

On Wednesday 9th I spoke to Chris of Polaris construction who explained that the building was to be a multi-store complex, with car-park underneath, and raised roof space in the centre for a rockclimbing wall. This was to be constructed in conjunction with Lyons construction.
The Structural sytem is a tilt-up portal frame construction. Before the panel props are moved, these must be checked with an engineer. As these are pre-fabricated they are cured before they arrive. The minimum curing time is four days.

Flooring System

The floor is constructed using a post tension slab, which requires less reinforcement and uses suspension cables. On the first day the concrete is poured, the next day, the cables are stressed to 20%, and then five days after that, they are fully stressed (quick curing).
If the slab is on the ground, hold down bolts are used, otherwise cast a footing in the ground then slab around.

Panel to Panel Connection

To achieve panel to panel connection the grout is poured through the liquid tube to seal the two panels together; otherwise ties can be made through cast-in cleats which are then welded to other panels
Each panel weighs approximately 18 tonne, and is 14 metres in length, with a two metre extension on the top.

Roofing System

Once the panels are securely in place, the roof is then loaded on top. Firstly wall ties are connected which are designed to take the beam load, and then are fixed back onto the panels.
Once this is all in place, the roof is loaded with purlins, followed by the fly girts which assist the main rafters in carrying the roof load affectively.
The spacing of the steel columns (which support the roof beams/rafters) across the floor space is eight metres in length, and 19 metres width.

Article-Building with Glass

Constructin the Future
Issue 24 2005

I found this article helpful with my major project as i was considering having an entirely glass front for my warehouse. After reading this however (and teamed with the fact that glass is probably not appropriate when storing things away from direct sunlight) i have considered changing my ideas.

the article stated that issues such as- daylighting standards, energy efficiency, safety, durability, and weahtertightness needed to be assesed when installing a glazed sytem. Also, an important factor that needs to be assessed is the loading on the glass through other structural systems.

Although it did state how creating the glazing in factories improved its quality and minimised potential failure, it also stated that it was in its use that extensive glazing in an inappropriate area became a danger, as the natural properties of glass do not support excessive loading or diverse climatic changes.

Also, the abnormal loading of such elements as explosions, fires, wind driven debris and human impact was investigated to see how a glazed system could cope until failure.
This test was also performed with annealed, toughened, laminated wired and filmed safety glass. With these innovations, the potential risk of life has been lowered, but the article states that building standards must remain the same to minimise the risk of injury or glazing failure.

Major Project-initial designs

East Elevation

West Elevation

Sorry about the poor quality of the images, will try and get better ones posted soon

Article review

Steel Construction vs. Tilt-up construction

The article stated that steel construction was becoming a more widespread system of construction, to to prefabricated steel members now being available, and its attraction due to reasonably efficient construction. Relative to efficiency, the cost of steel can also be less (even than tilt-up construction) if a prefabricated system is used.
Also, one major drawcard in steel construction (especially in commercial construction), is its ability to span greater lengths unsupported than traditional materials.

The arguement for tilt-up concrete construction in preference to steel construction was that in a building over 50,000 square feet, concrete becomes cheaper in construction than steel. Another argument was that the fire protection of concrete tilt-up panels is greater than steel so (applied into an industrial area) more concrete constructed buildings could be place lesser distances to each other than steel.

Also, the prefabricated nature of the tilt-up panel means that once it arrives on site, construction is very efficient, the drawback to this is the expense of large machinery needed to erect the large panels.

Another reason concrete would be more advisable is that over its life span it generally has lower maintenance costs.

My opinion is that they are both effective techniques in building construction due to their strength, and efficiency in construction. However, both must be applied to the right scenario to maxamise the materials capabilities, if safe and efficient construction is wanting to be acheived.

Richard Rogers-INMOS microprocessor factory

The INMOS microprocessor was designed by Richard Rogers and built in Newport, Wales in 1982. What made this design flexible was that it was potentially suitable for construction in a variety of locations. The fact that this factory needed to be constructed quickly meant that Rogers had to incorporate a great deal of prefabricated material into the design. Like the Reliance Controls factory, Rogers brings the structural elements to the exterior, but this time to the roof, and the loads are dispersed across the building using tensile supports.

Sources-

Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London

courses.arch.hku.hk

Richard Rogers-Reliance Controls Factory

Richard Rogers designed the Reliance Controls Factory as part of Team 4 in Swindon, England- 1967.
The factory was deisgned to be economic, efficient in construction, and a 'democratic building' in which the factory was not exclusively divided into labourer and manager components.
making use of cheap and easily accessible material, Rogers, optmised the floor space by pushing the main structural elements to the exterior. However, the natural repitition of the steel columns, bracing and metal cladding give the building an architectural quality.
Also, with exploration into glass walling, Rogers imporved the quality of work conditions-allowing sunlight into the building.

sources-
Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London, 1994

Richard Rogers, Centre Pompidou

One of Rogers' most famous works was the Centre Pompidou (Paris, 1971-77) in collaboration with Renzo Piano. By placing the structural system of the exterior of the building, Piano and Rogers designed an exposed steel superstructure with reinforced concrete floors, creating a checkerboard effect, which was then diagonally braced. This type of design allowed for long span unobstructed spaces, and high ceilings.
Image One- West Corner
Image Two- North West Wall

sources-
Pizzi, Emilio, Renzo Piano, Birkhauser, Basel, 2003
Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London, 1994
Images found at-greatbuildingsonline.com/buildings/centre_pompidou.html

Completed site visit (Bunnings)

here you can see the 'c' purlins resting on the outer steel beam
This box gutter is connected to a concrete slab on the exterior of the wall. The services have been hidden by the steel column. Also above this you can see safety mesh.
At the central apex, a rigid frame has been added to maxamise the span of the steel rafters


Here's a knee joint of a portal frame. The thicker area attached is the haunching to assist in bearing the loads of the building

Gutter Detail

Parapet Detail

Roof Junction Detail

South Wall Section

Article-Fire Engineering Design of Steel Structures

Constructing the Future
Issue 29 2006

The article dicusses how, in recent years, alternative-based fire engineering methods have been developed. This is good for both architects and construction managers as it gives the designer more architectural options while complying with requirements (and for the construction manager so he doesnt have to get cranky with the architect for not thinking about fire specifications!)

As steel loses both strength and stiffness with an incerasing temperature, its inclusion in construction must be carefully assessed to determine whether it ha been placed appropriately.

Recent tests have shown that at a temperature of 550 degrees celcius, a structural steel member will still retian 60% of its room temperature strength, which is higher than first thought.

Protection of the steel member may be gone about through different methods.
In a number of cases, traditional materials such as concrete or brickwork have been used, however, this creates additional costs and can alter the architects design in a negative way, if fire protection has only been an afterthought.

In more recent times, insulation of the steel has been provided by spray or fire board, or a combination of both, and intumescent coatings.
Sprayed steel has proven to be popular where the steel is not visible. Where the steel is unprotected the design methods can be justified if the fire resistance requirement is low.

Overall this article states how there is ongoing methods to improve the strength of steel under high temperatures, and researching construction collapse of such buildings as the world trade centers, and how this could have been avoided with proper steel protection.

Completed Site VIsit_KD Stewart Centre

The KD Steward Centre is the sports centre located at the Waurn Ponds campus of Deakin University. It has tried to move away from the conventional image of a sports centre or gymnasium through its curved roof and (as you'll see) some structural differences inside.

The curved rafters support the roof loads, and are assited by purlins which are embedded into the roof cladding above. Vertical bracing helps resist forces and the rafters tendancy to buckle or sag.

As well as the roof purlins, diagonal steel beam bracing is positioned between the rafters.
Also, as seen in this image and above, brickwork is installed to a height of 2.5 metres to protect the steelwork from any damage (ie. people, basketballs).


The steel haunching has been used two for two different functions in the KD Stewart Centre. It adds needed depth to the rafter to assist the transferal of loads from the roof, down the vertical beams and into the footings. Its secondary function is to contain the large mechanical ducts.

Warehouse/Office Section

Portal Frame Detail (section) 2

Portal Frame Detail

Alukabond Detail

Project name: Pakington Central
Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong
Client: Rob Kuebler
Date: 07/03/07
Photo No.: 6
Name: Laura Berg
I.D: 500183796

The red lines are an adhesive which will permanently fix an Alukabond cladding to the existing construction.

Steel 1*1m Detail

Project name: Pakington Central
Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong
Client: Rob Kuebler
Date: 07/03/07
Photo No.: 5
Name: Laura Berg
I.D: 500183796

This is a more detailed view of a steel window frame (as seen in photo four), taken from the upper floor. The frame is suspended out onto the street using the support of steel lugs and welding.

Steel 3*3m Detail

Project name: Pakington Central
Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong
Client: Rob Kuebler
Date: 07/03/07
Photo No.: 4
Name: Laura Berg
I.D: 500183796

This is a view from the lower floor looking towards the upper floor. I thought this may have been constructed to be a balcony, but was told that this was designed purely for visual purposes.

Concrete 3*3m Detail

Project name: Pakington Central
Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong
Client: Rob Kuebler
Date: 07/03/07
Photo No.: 3
Name: Laura Berg
I.D: 500183796

The upper flooring (as seen here) is acheived by using precast hollow core planks (supplied by West Con Precast) of 20 MPa, and is pre-stressed using metal reinforcement. A 75mm layer of concrete is then poured over this on site, to create a single, smooth surface.

The walls are also made of concrete (30-35 Mpa) and are supplied by Gary Simpson and partners.

Overall View (Back entrance)

Project name: Pakington Central
Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong
Client: Rob Kuebler
Date: 07/03/07
Photo No.: 2
Name: Laura Berg
I.D: 500183796

Overall View (street front)

Project name: Pakington Central

Address: Pakington Street, West Geelong

Client: Rob Kuebler

Date: 07/03/07

Photo No.: 1

Name: Laura Berg

I.D: 500183796

It is apparent from this overall photo that timber, steel and concrete are all used in construction, and these will be explored further in more detailed photographs.

Pakington Central

Pakington Central is a new development being constructed in West Geelong, and i believe is a excellent example of commercial building as it uses all three elements of timber, steel and concrete in its contruction.
Once completed, this two-storey establishment will house 10 retail shops on the ground floor, and offices on the upper floor, with lift access between the two floors.
The project is being managed by Lyons Construction, who commenced construction in November 2006, and expect to have it completed within the next three months (June 2007).
Located on the popular Pakington Street, this building will be in full view to the public and so its architectural design has been done so to be eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing.