BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Building Construction

Building Construction

Options for the Structural Form of This New Building

This section provides with the various options for the structural form of this new building. Additionally this section of the paper is based on the proposed design of building that must consider adaptability of the building, flexibility of internal space and an overall sustainable approach in design/construction. This section also provide with the best and the most suitable structural form for this project. These options are based on the scenario that the site is situated on the south west corner of the reservoir. The site is in open countryside and it is important that the building fits in with the surrounding area. There are currently no mains services to the site and although it will be relatively simple to supply mains water to the site, the cost of supplying mains electricity and gas are prohibitively expensive and the college is keen to consider alternative sources of heat and power.

Beam-and-Column Construction

This is often called as “skeleton construction”. The floor slabs, partitions, exterior walls etc. are all supported by a framework of steel beams and columns. This type of skeleton structure can be erected easily leading to very tall buildings. In such a beam and column construction, the frame usually consists of columns spaced 6 -10 m apart, with beams and girders framed into them from both directions at each floor level. An example of skeleton construction is shown below:

Solid Structures

Solid Structures where the walls act both to enclose and support. This means that the walls will have to be of sufficient thickness in order to accept the loads applied and transfer them to the foundations. (Giddins, 2008: 132)

Skeletal Structures

It consists of a framework which supports all loads and resists any imposed loads and transmits these to the foundations. This type of structure consists of a system of beams and columns which create a framework. (Clayton, 1999: 49)The frame itself does not provide the enclosing of the building so an additional system is needed, thus panels can be placed over this framework or between the external structural members in order to enclose it.

Surface Structures

These are either made of thin structure of solid material which are curved to provide stiffness, such as reinforced concrete shell where it acts as both the supporting and enclosing element; or a thin flexible membrane structure stretched across supporting members. We will not be looking at these in this unit. (Everett, 1994: 33)

Conclusion: Most Suitable Structural

The most suitable structure based on the factors that will help achieve flexibility of internal space, adaptability for future change of use, buildability and sustainability criteria is as follows: (Longman , 1998: 166)

The proposed buildingis a particularly specialised type of public/institutional buildings. They are designed to make use of space as an educational tool regarding both the transmission of (sociocultural- scientific-technical) knowledge and the promotion of the learning capacity.

A well-designed school building involves a two phase-process:

1. The planning or schematic ...