construction
University of Southampton’s Centenary Building benefits from post-tensioning first
C
CL has provided the post-tensioning expertise and consumables required to deliver a complex wide-
span slab installation at the University of Southampton’s new Centenary Building for Learning & Teaching. Located on the Highfield Campus, the
new Centenary building has added a 250- seat lecture theatre to the university’s facilities, along with a range of seminar and teaching rooms, independent study spaces, a computer suite and a café. Designed by Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, the development has a mix of nine- and six-storey accommodation, all with extended spans and fair-faced concrete floor soffits. The original project engineer consulted
CCL on the post-tensioning requirements for the floors at the preliminary design stage and CCL was brought in again by the final project engineers and frame contractor to deliver the 5293 sqm slab solution, which includes 1896 sqm of void formers. This hybrid solution has enabled the
project team to achieve a lightweight slab, with the void formers reducing the self-weight of the concrete by 30% at each void former location. Meanwhile, post-tensioning the slab has provided the strength, reduced deflection and
minimised slab thickness to enable single spans of up to 15m on every level. Matthew Gilliver, technical director at
CCL set the project in its context, saying: “We believe that the Centenary Building is a UK first in using both void formers and post-tensioning in a single slab solution and our involvement not only included supply of the void formers but also required the site expertise of our teams in pouring the slab and delivering the post- tensioning element of the scheme. “Post-tensioning was critical in
deflection control in this application, providing the engineered solution to support buildability of the architect’s open plan aesthetic vision.” Each level features a 450mm slab, with
the exception of the roof level slab which is 650mm to provide for the additional loading requirements of rooftop plant. The void formers and post-tensioning tendons for each level were put in place for the entirety of the pour. In order to form each slab while concealing the outline of the void formers on the fair-faced concrete soffit below, the frame contractor’s team poured an initial 70-80mm layer of concrete at the void former locations and allowed this to partially cure to avoid floatation of the void formers. Once this initial layer
was sufficiently cured the remaining concrete was placed to full depth. When each slab had fully cured to the required strength, the CCL team carried out post- tensioning of the strands. John Wells from Gallagher, the
concrete frame contractor on the project, said: “The slab design was an unusual solution that needed precision installation on site to ensure that both the technical and aesthetic requirements of the design were successfully achieved. “CCL’s capabilities made them the
ideal partner for supplying the void formers and the post-tensioning know- how required to install the slabs and their attention to detail has ensured the key requirements of deflection control and smooth floors and soffits have been realised.” The Centenary Building opened to
students in the first term of 2018-19 academic year.
www.cclint.com
www.gallagher-group.co.uk/ready-mix- concrete
www.fcbstudios.com
highereducationestates 19
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