The footprint of the
building incorporates a
sloping site
NSC 17
Nov/Dec 19 building’s footprint.
Further highlighting steelwork’s
flexibility, BAM Assistant Site Manager
Lewis MacMillan says: “We got most of
the retaining wall constructed before the
steelwork erection started, as many of the
columns are founded on the wall.
“However, in some areas we had to leave
steel ground beams out, in order to complete
the groundworks. These beams did not affect
the overall stability of the frame, and so they
were installed later in the programme.”
As well as the retaining wall, the
groundworks also included the installation
of the frame’s foundations, which consist of
pad foundations and concrete mass-fill to
the rock below.
The sloping site also affects the
building’s floor levels, as along the main
northern elevation the structure reaches
the maximum four-storeys high and also
includes a small basement area. However,
along the east and west elevations, the
ground floor can only extend along onethird
of the structure’s length, before it
has to end at the slope’s retaining wall.
Consequently, this means the first floor
is at ground level along the back (south)
elevation of the building.
Adding some more variety into the
design, the north and most of the eastern
elevations both incorporate the maximum
four levels, while the other two sides of the
building are only two-storeys high. Because
of the slope and the lack of any ground floor
along the back elevation, the building only
needs to step down one floor level in this
area to incorporate the two storeys.
Commenting on the project’s challenging
ground conditions, Hescott Engineering
Director Chris Scott says: “The erection
of the steel frame was difficult due to the
sloping nature of the site. The difference
in level between the lowest base and
the highest base is quite significant and
consequently, steelwork loads had to be
scheduled to suit where the cranes and
MEWPs could be positioned.”
An access road behind the centre and
a large laydown area on the eastern side,
which will eventually form a car park,
provided Hescott its main positions for its
cranes during the erection programme.
The standout feature of the centre’s
steelwork is probably the first part of the
building most visitors will see. The entrance
features a propped cantilever that creates a
column-free way in with a glazed screen set
3m back from the column line.
This cantilever is formed by a transfer
structure comprising two 356 × 406 ×
634 UC beams that are positioned at first
floor level and support the three levels of
structure above.
Summing up, Caroline MacVey, Senior
Civil & Structural Engineer at BakerHicks
and Structural Engineering Lead for the
Greenock project, says the advantages of
using steel frames are numerous.
“Steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio and
versatility gives us as engineers so much
more freedom to achieve ambitious designs.
Through being both light and strong it
allows for long spans and open, column-free
spaces that just aren’t possible with a lot of
other materials.
“On top of this, it’s highly economical
and as its fabricated offsite it can be brought
in and rapidly erected, which helps speed
up the construction process. The majority of
our structural designs now are in steel as it
just offers so much more.”
The New Greenock Health and Care
Centre is due to be complete by August
2020.
Healthcare
FACT FILE
Greenock Health and
Care Centre
Client: Hub West
Scotland
Architect: Hoskins
Architects
Main contractor:
BAM Construction
Civil and structural
engineer: BakerHicks
Steelwork
contractor: Hescott
Engineering
Steel tonnage: 480t
Bracing is located
around the stairwells
The project will aid
the regeneration of
Greenock
“Steel's high
strength-toweight
ratio
and versatility
gives us as
engineers so
much more
freedom
to achieve
ambitious
designs.”
/Steel-supported_glazed_facades_and_roofs
/Concept_design#Structural_options_for_stability
/Design
/Construction#Mobile_cranes
/Construction#Steel_erection
/Steel_section_sizes
/The_case_for_steel
/The_case_for_steel
/The_case_for_steel#Offsite_fabrication_for_precision_parts