SRT 251 Construction and Structures 2 2006

Major ProjectWarehouse and Office Complex

TaskUndertake design development of the warehouse and office complex based on the given plan.

In consultation with group members, select an area of the warehouse or showroom complex to develop in full detail. As a guide this should be an area of 5m x 5m and be inclusive of the footings, flooring, roofing and envelope system.

The major element of this project requires you to develop the construction technology for this area of the building to a highly detailed level in a way that relates to an architectural firm who are recognized internationally for their excellence in design (and construction as a means of realizing this design) .

ArchitectThe detail of the warehouse was designed with the influence of internationally renowned Australian architect Harry Seidler. After hearing of his death earlier this year I was inspired research Harry Seidler’s work and develop an understanding of his influence and contribution to Australian architecture.

Harry Seidler’s continuous exploration of the skyscraper is certainly his principal contribution to architecture.

“Harry’s buildings have changed the Sydney skyline in particular - Australia Square, the MLC Centre, Grosvenor Place, the 43-storey Horizon Apartments, the Cove apartments, the Capita Centre, and the controversial Blues Point Tower. Love them or hate them, they are an intrinsic part of the Sydney that we all know and appreciate.”

He has collected more than 40 architecture awards, including five RAIA Sir John Sulman Medals and four RAIA Wilkinson Awards in Australia, the Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects, and Australia’s top architecture prize – the RAIA Gold Medal in 1976. His influence in shaping the architects and the architecture of Australia, through his role as a pioneer and advocate of the modernist movement, has been hugely significant.

Harry Seidler’s projects

Hong Kong Club and Office Building

Hong Kong, 1980-1984

Harry Seidler Offices

Milsons Point, 1971-1973

Australia Square

Sydney, 1961-1967

Site Plan

I chose a section of the warehouse to develop in full detail in relation to the architecture of Harry Seidler. I chose to develop this particular section because I felt that I could truly challenge and explore Seidler’s designs and ideas via warehouse

construction.

Initial Ideas

Through my research and exploration of Harry Seidler’s designs and projects, I came up with this initial idea. The design is greatly influenced by Seidler’s commercial projects especially Australia Square (1961-1967) and the Hong Kong Club and Office Building (1980-1984). The design simply consists of pre-cast panel walls. The front of the structure contains concrete columns with windows in-between.

In the beginning the design seemed more suitable for the office/showroom, however I have altered it slightly to make it more realistic for warehouse construction.

Final Design

Final Design

Detail: Footings

Reinforced concrete pad footing 1000 x 1000. Pad footings or piers need careful consideration as they must carry the loads from the pre-cast panels.

Typical concrete raft slab, strengthened with reinforcement.

1000mm edge strip to be cast later. Pour strip gives the panel additional stability and is a means of building some redundancy into the structure.

Starter bars

Detail: Envelope System

Pre-cast panels were selected for the envelope system because of the quality control associated with their production. This was a major consideration as the panel design included built-in feature beams and columns.

The pre-cast panels are load-bearing and carry the load straight from the rafters.

Detail: Roofing

Rafter/beam, mild steel UB

MS plate cleats welded to rafter. Bolted to purlins and provide the 10mm clearance between the purlins and rafter.

Safety mesh in order for the builders to work on roofSarking and insulation

Zed purlins – cold formed.

Lysaght Klip-Lok®

Box gutter with spandeck support

Rafter connects to panel through strut or tie (angle to suit roof pitch) (See previous slide)

Construction Process

Footings and slab Pre-cast concrete panels

Construction Process

Rafters and cleats are connected to panel Addition of zed purlins and safety mesh

Construction Process

Addition of roof sarking/insulation and Klip-Lok®

and finally the installation of box-gutter.

3D Model

Name: Melanie Fenech

Student ID: 500183105

Lecturer: Jeremy Ham

Tutor: Robert Kuebler

References

Frampton. K & Drew. P. Four Decades of Architecture: Harry Seidler, Thames and Hudson, london, 1992.

Construction and Structures 2, Readings, Deakin University, Geelong, 2006.

www.seidler.net.au

www.bluescopesteel.com.au

Lecture notes/slides from SRT251.