NSC
October 18
FACT FILE
Architect: Todd
Architects
Structural engineer:
Doran Consulting Ltd
Steelwork contractor:
Walter Watson Ltd
Main contractor:
McLaughlin &
Harvey Ltd
Client:
Belfast City Council
Belfast Waterfront
Conference & Exhibition Centre
Flexibility is at the heart of the
design for Belfast Waterfront
extension as it includes a 1,800m2
main hall, together with a 700m2
minor hall, both of which can be subdivided
to allow more flexible layouts
These large clear span spaces were most
cost-effectively achieved through the use
of a steel frame, particularly given the site
constraints.
The conference halls and breakout
rooms are also flexible spaces allowing the
client to offer tailored events and compete
with other UK cities for major conferences
and exhibitions. The new banqueting
facilities can accommodate 1,000 people
making the venue one of the biggest in
Northern Ireland.
The use of steel meant the construction
works could be accelerated given the
opportunity to pre-fabricate the frame
offsite in advance.
“Steel allowed the designers to achieve
the clear spans and complex layout
required for this building to achieve its
purpose,” says Walter Watson General
Manager Structural Division Trevor Irvine.
The project’s primary structure
was influenced by several factors.
Firstly, the spatial requirements for the
extension involved column-free spaces, a
combination of single/double-height spaces
and partial intermediate floors, and the
need to build over and around retained
structure.
Secondly, the whole extension was
to wrap around and tie into the existing
Waterfront at various points and levels.
Lastly, there were complex load paths
involved in the structure, with offset
columns and transfer beams. This led
to a number of framing solutions being
employed, using 1,400t of steel.
Extra levels were squeezed in as the
building’s footprint gave very limited
floor space. To give this intermediate
floor sufficient ceiling height Slimflor
construction was adopted using plated UC
sections within the floor depth.
The main hall and the plant on the roof
are directly above these intermediate floors.
Cellular beams were used to form the
hall roof, as this allowed services to pass
through the beams and so maximise ceiling
heights.
The cellular beams had a tapered
section to provide integral roof falls, as well
as a level soffit for rigging steelwork. These
dual function beams saved structural depth
and reduced the dead load of the roof
structure, while also supporting the heavy
loads imposed by the large plant equipment
on the roof.
In addition, in some areas the lower
floors and façade elements were hung
from the hall ceiling cantilever beams
through tension in the façade columns.
These cantilevered beams extended out
by approximately 3m over the public
space along the river side of the building,
allowing the main hall floor space to be
increased. This tension design could only
have been achieved in steel construction.
Summing up, the judges say new
conference halls, banqueting and breakout
spaces extend the Belfast Waterfront
Conference Centre right up to the quay
of the River Lagan. The resulting multiple
challenges, both physical and financial,
were met by a sequence of appropriate and
pragmatic structural steel and architectural
solutions.
28
SSDA 2018 C O M M E N D A T I O N
The new steel-framed extension to
the Belfast Waterfront provides an
additional 7,000m2 of floor space,
which can facilitate up to 5,000 guests.
All images on this page © GOC Photography
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/Floor_systems#Shallow_floors
/Floor_systems#Shallow_floors
/Steel_construction_products#Standard_open_sections
/Steel_construction_products#Standard_open_sections
/Steel_construction_products#Cellular_beams
/Facades_and_interfaces