MAS ARCHITECTURE - WINNER
504 BRISTOL ROAD LOCATED IN SELLY OAK, BIRMINGHAM IS A NEW BUILD MIXED-USE SCHEME INVOLVING COMMERCIAL UNITS ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND PRESTIGIOUS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SET ACROSS FOUR FLOORS ABOVE, TOPPED BY A LARGELY GLAZED AND SETBACK FIFTH FLOOR.
Only a stone's throw from the University of Birmingham, the student accommodation comprises 70 self-contained luxury studios with various internal and external communal spaces including study pods and a large courtyard.
The challenge MAS Architecture faced was to provide a building of architectural merit that was equal to that of the existing Victorian building which occupied the site. The building was designed with references to its historic setting and the shipbuilding industry with the shape making it unique and innovative but equally challenging to construct.
Considering the highly restricted access, lack of site storage space and time constraints, the design team concluded that the best construction solution would be hot rolled steel frame on the ground floor supporting a Comflor Transfer Deck to take four floors of cold rolled structural loadbearing steel above.
A lightweight steel solution by Hadley Steel Framing was a perfect fit for this project. As a manufacturer they wanted to demonstrate that the conical form could be built utilising their light steel frame system and offsite construction techniques. As steel is such a versatile construction material, MAS Architecture were able to produce the innovative design as well as creating a structure that is both durable and safe.
Calculations were made ensuring all structural components for the whole building frame (composite floor slabs and structural steels) were designed efficiently working within the project's financial constraints. A highly cost-effective digital approach produced steel framing systems that could be 'virtually tested'. Due to Hadley Steel Frames' advanced cold roll forming manufacturing methods, the steel frames could also be rapidly and cost-effectively produced, reducing design and manufacturing time whilst simultaneously ensuring outstanding quality and accuracy.
Using a lightweight steel frame structure meant the project was delivered on time and on budget whilst maintaining the highest quality standards. Costs were easier to predict, as design specifications were met thereby reducing the cost of snagging and remedial works. Offsite prefabrication meant the frames were delivered when necessary. This quick turnaround meant that project timelines were decreased and ultimately costs such as plant hire and management costs reduced. Also using steel frame internal partitions makes it easier to convert the functionality of the building. Making the project a more 'long-term' and versatile scheme.
The client and contractor were provided with a watertight building within three weeks, which allowed them to commence internal building work and the installation of the cladding system simultaneously.
Light steel frame structures can be significantly lighter than concrete equivalents and require less extensive foundations, reducing the environmental impact of the build. Disruption to local residents and businesses were minimised as onsite construction time was reduced, transport to site and dust produced was much lower when compared to traditional building methods.
PROJECT TEAM
Client: Avaro Midlands Limited
Architects: MAS Architecture Building
Contractors: Hive Developments Limited
Structural Engineers: Howard Ward Associates
Consulting Engineers: PRP Ltd
M&E Engineers: SVM Building Services
Chartered Surveyors: Edward Cooper Young
Building Compliance: Salus
EOS - HIGHLY COMMENDED
The former Co-operative building in Huddersfield town centre stood derelict for almost two decades. It has now been refurbished, expanded and reborn as Renaissance Works. With a mix of one and two-bedroom studios, with communal kitchens and lounge areas, along with one-bedroom self-contained apartments – the project delivers a total of 138 student bedrooms through 75 apartments.
Situated in a prime location in one of London's most recent creative neighbourhoods, Brent House at Wembley Place has become a recognisable asset to the community, providing much needed affordable housing, opening up access to surrounding streets and connecting communities. Brent House was constructed in partnership with Henley Homes and Notting Hill Genesis Housing Association. Intelligent Steel were The innovative transformation uses EOS Framing's loadbearing Thrubuild® system range to best effect to maximise space via a three-storey extension on top of the existing building. EOS designed, engineered and offsite manufactured a non-combustible Thrubuild® loadbearing solution for the three-storey roof extension together with a hot rolled steel staircase for the top three floors.
In collaboration with Etex group partners, EOS developed the loadbearing Thrubuild® systems range with Siniat, Promat and FSi. These fast-track systems make use of the latest products, technical know-how and manufacturing excellence of the combined team. Thrubuild® delivered 'all in one' certified solutions providing crucial safety, time and cost benefits for the Renaissance Works project.
With 60, 90 and 120-minute fire resistance options, Thrubuild® has been used for multiple loadbearing applications within the project to form external and internal walls together with internal and separating floors. To offer total peace of mind for specifiers and the client, after having completed rigorous fire, acoustic, weathering, airtightness and mechanical testing, all Thrubuild® systems are supported by a 30-year warranty.
PROJECT TEAM
Client: SKA Developments
Main Contractor: Spring & Company
Local Contractor: Big Red Construction
Light Steel Frame Design, Engineering and Manufacture: EOS Framing
INTELLIGENT STEEL SOLUTIONS - FINALIST
Situated in a prime location in one of London's most recent creative neighbourhoods, Brent House at Wembley Place has become a recognisable asset to the community, providing much needed affordable housing, opening up access to surrounding streets and connecting communities.
Brent House was constructed in partnership with Henley Homes and Notting Hill Genesis Housing Association. Intelligent Steel were appointed to deliver a full structural light steel frame solution for the £76million project. The 26,546m2 impressive mixed-used scheme includes two linear buildings of five principle blocks ranging from seven to 10 storeys high delivering 248 apartments and retail space together with a new landscaped public plaza.
Despite the usual challenges associated with large projects, Intelligent Steel's holistic and collaborative approach was invaluable in mitigating any emerging problems. 3D modelling and BIM enabled early clash detection and ensured a right-first-time installation.
The light steel frame solution offers excellent durability and also has numerous advantages in terms of energy and carbon reductions over traditionally built schemes. The lightweight construction decreases concrete foundation requirements to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building. Utilising steel cassette floors further assisted with the weight of the structure which allowed for significant savings in the ground. The Brent House building is estimated to be 70% lighter than an equivalent reinforced concrete frame scheme.
PROJECT TEAM
Client: Notting Hill Genesis Housing Association
Developer: Henley Construct
Engineer: Fairhurst
Light Steel Frame Design and Manufacture: Intelligent Steel Solutions
SIKLA UK | EIRE | ANZ SOLUTIONS - FINALIST
Sikla's modular steel frames and height adjustable primary pipe supports are widely used in Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plants for both water steam cycle and general piping elements. Collaborating with Hitachi-Zosen Inova, this was again within their scope of works for the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility.
For the Rookery project Sikla were asked to support with the design and supply of solutions for 12 frames for pump skids (feed water, condensates, demi water) and heat exchanger skids together with piping and primary supports for water steam cycle, balance of plant and the turbine area.
Over 6,000 Sikla pipe supports were installed achieving numerous benefits as the modular steel solutions were planned from an early stage of the project. Firstly, from a design perspective Sikla's engineering team were dedicated to the task and equipped with software to collaborate and engage with their client to meet their specific requirements. Sikla also has a software solution to streamline the design process and take into consideration BIM (Building Information Modelling), assisting project planning, execution and handover. Also, when compared to conventional welded piping supports and skid frames, there is a 50% material weight saving on average with Sikla's modular steel frames and 60% time saving when compared to conventional welded piping supports.
ZED PODS - FINALIST
ZED PODs are highly innovative modular providers with in-house architectural, design and project expertise to manage the entire build process. Having developed a modular construction system based on a steel primary structure they are now delivering 25 affordable Zero Carbon homes for the local council in Bromley.
The site is situated on an existing car park where ZED PODs are creating steel podium structures to develop the airspace above to meet local housing demand, whilst retaining the car parking capacity beneath. The modules utilise the benefits of steel as a primary structural material as its lightweight properties help to reduce the material usage of supporting structures and concrete foundations enabling a cost-effective solution for creating habitable spaces in otherwise undevelopable sites.
Steel ITFCs and PFCs are used to create rigid floor and ceiling decks with loads distributed down through the centre and corner posts which frees the structures of loadbearing walls increasing design flexibility. The higher strength to weight ratio of steel has also permitted adaptability in fixings and attachments allowing a bolt together modular system to be developed for rapid on-site assembly. This has been a key component in reducing build times to less than 50% of a conventional construction system. Using steel as a primary structure has been instrumental in ZED PODs achieving a fabric first approach to reduce operational carbon emissions.
Stay in touch:
