NSC 11
Apr 20
“Steel was the only
suitable material that
would allow the floors
to be column-free and
provide a suitable
elevation frame for the
curtain wall.”
and avoid disruption to the architectural
arrangement. The even distribution of the
cores provides good lateral stability to the
structure,” adds Mr Irvine.
“With three cores to construct and
considering the height of the building, a
concrete core would have increased the
programme and given us a less flexible
building.”
Main contractor BAM started on site last
August, once an existing building had been
demolished and a small reservoir drained.
Before the steel frame erection programme
could begin, BAM installed a concrete raft
foundation slab, which is up to 800mmthick.
Due to the building’s 18m-long spans
requiring a significant pad footprint, it
was decided that a raft solution integrating
the pads and ground floor slab would be
the most efficient foundation method to
minimise the overall concrete volume and
distribute the peak stresses under the main
steel columns.
As well as providing the structure’s
foundation solution, the completed raft also
supplied a solid base on which steelwork
contractor Billington Structures was able to
position its mobile cranes during its steel
erection programme.
Aside from the floor beams, some of
the longest steel elements are a series of
12m-high circular hollow section (CHS)
columns that form a covered architectural
entrance colonnade.
The main core was the first part of the
steel frame to be erected, and once complete
Billington Structures employed two erection
gangs to complete the structure.
“Each gang used a 90t-capacity mobile
crane, and erected the steelwork by starting
at the core and then gradually proceeding
towards one end of the building,” explains
Billington Structures’ Project Manager
Russell Davies.
As well as steel erection, Billington
Structures also installed precast stairs and
supplied easi-edge protection to all perimeter
beams.
The INOVYN offices are due to be
complete by September 2020.
Commercial
Steel was the only viable
option for the office
design
Alongside the offices, BAM is also constructing
a second smaller steel-framed wellbeing
building, which will measure approximately
45m-long x 12m-wide.
The building will house changing rooms and
drying rooms on the ground floor, alongside archive
space, and a gym, fitness studio and a plant area on
the upper floor.
This smaller building is founded on pad
foundations and has a series of 12m-long cellular
beams creating its column-free interior. As well as
offering an economical solution to form the structure’s
required spans, the beams accommodate services and
support the upper level’s metal decked flooring.
Ancillary building
Feature CHS columns
form an overhang along
the main elevation.
Steelwork erection
was completed using a
variety of mobile cranes.
/Concept_design#Structural_options_for_stability
/Construction#Mobile_cranes
/Steel_construction_products#Structural_hollow_sections
/Construction#Steel_erection
/Braced_frames
/Steel_construction_products#Cellular_beams
/Steel_construction_products#Cellular_beams
/Service_integration
/Steel_construction_products#Decking_for_floors