We provided two design alternatives for Gateshead car park that were aligned with the architect's original intent.
The original design
An important part of our pre-construction service is the exploration of value-engineered options. This is why early collaboration with contractors and architects is so vital to us, it enables us to maximise a project's overall value by optimising performance and cost-effectiveness without sacrificing quality, safety, or functionality.
In 2021, our team were able to provide two designs based on Ryder Architecture’s architectural concept, the first design followed the specifications exactly whereas the second provided a more cost-effective alternative. The second design retained the original vision of creating a 3D diamond effect using an arrangement of solid and perforated aluminium panels, however, experimented with using 2mm thick panels rather than 3mm.
how we overcame the challenges
To be confident in the structural integrity of the new design, we used FEA simulations which calculated how the panels would respond to different wind loads. The results showed that the 2mm panels performed brilliantly under various conditions and therefore would have provided a viable cost-effective option. In the end, when presented with these two options, the architect and client went for the enhanced façade option that uses 3mm aluminium sheets.
Once the design had been chosen, our pre-construction team's next step was to ensure that the panels allowed the required free area. Allowing free area within a façade is vital, especially for car parks as it helps ventilate exhaust fumes. To overcome this, our team used a ‘detailed decision-making engine’ to calculate the maximum free area whilst also taking into consideration the size of the perforations to avoid whistling, ventilation requirements and structural rigidity.
THE RESULT
Maple's Head of Pre-Construction and Design, Adam Jones, described the project as "A successful blend of architectural imagination and engineering excellence." To learn more about the development and see the finished result, click here.
