Project description
The building designed by NL Architects contains a GFA of 34,000 m² of which 10 storys are above ground level and 5 storys underground. With a height of 45 meters, the building will provide space for e.g. a library and a cinema. On behalf of Staalbouw Nagelhout BV and of V.O.F. Groninger Forum (BAM Utiliteitsbouw BV Noord, BAM Civiel BV and BAM Techniek BV), we engineered the complete steel construction (construction design by ABT Velp).
Special challenges
The steel construction consists of 8 steel “volumes” made of 3D trusses which are fixed onto two concrete stability cores which are connected at the top level by a bridge structure. Both stability cores have a design deflection in opposite directions which the steel volumes must follow. Engineering of these skew structures with respect to fabrication, assembly, tolerances and logistics with all their complexities and high forces was a great challenge.
The complete steel construction (2,600 tons) is completely modeled in TEKLA (both the main steel construction as well as the adjustable steel support structure for the natural stone façade in three directions).
What made the project successful
With the use of TEKLA, the model and drawings for approval by the authorities, workshop drawings, lists and machine files were made for fabrication (in total, more than 28,000 drawings were made).
Additional support structures for each installation phase were modeled and worked out for fabrication. The design, modeling, workshop drawings, fabrication and installation were all made in a fixed schedule and produced at two production facilities. This was achieved by working with a multi-user model with a team of technical engineers. Installation of the pre-fabricated parts (all designed to fit through the narrow city center and with installation from the trailer) succeeded with a 100% fit.
Our company also provided all of the detailed calculations for this project (both static and seismic).
Local Jury decision Groninger Forum
Ingenieursgroep Romkes designed the complete steel construction by using Tekla. The engineering of the skew structures with respect to fabrication, assembly, tolerances and logistics with all its complexities and high forces was a great challenge, but with the use of Tekla everything worked out perfectly. It is also amazing to see how everything could be made in a fixed schedule and produced at two production facilities by working with a multi-user model and a team of technical engineers.
