The project brief is part of the Structural Concrete competition organized by the Concrete Centre for UK universities.

Task

The task this year is to design a new office building with basement car parking in a city centre in the North West of England. A report is to be produced summarising the proposed solution.

The project brief is part of the Structural Concrete competition organized by the Concrete Centre for UK universities. The brief and design data used in the coursework is identical so that students can extend their work and participate in this competition if they wish 

The client, a property developer, has commissioned an initial structural design for the development, to be known as Beeby House, from a firm of consulting engineers. The building includes a basement with office car parking and six floors of open plan office space. Students must respond as though they are the structural engineer responsible within the consultant’s team.

The proposed building is in the shape of a wide ellipse. This comprises office spaces, plantrooms, stairs and lifts. The client requires an open office space and has requested that the columns be at a minimum spacing.

Access from the basement to the upper floors will be via lift or stairs located in the main core(s) of the building, which will occupy  of the total floor area on each floor. The minimum floor to soffit of structure height is The maximum floor to floor height is The intended ground floor layout is shown in Figure. The basement will provid car parking spaces including five disabled car parking spaces. Space for bicycles should also be included in the basement. Vehicle access to the basement car park will be via a ramp at the west end and egress will be via a ramp on the east end of the building. The ramps are external to the footprint of the building. Retaining walls will be required around the perimeter of the basement and the ramps. Columns should be located in the basement to suit the parking layout. No columns are allowed in the aisles. A floor to soffit height of is required throughout the basement.

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