Buro Happold - #3 - Facade Innovation: Performance, Optimization, & Integration

2/15/2012

KING ABDULAZIZ CENTER FOR WORLD CULTURE Erik Verboon Buro Happold Façade Engineering

Façade Design and Construction Team

Designer

Engineers

building services engineering structural engineering ground engineering facade engineering fire engineering infrastructure acoustics lighting computational simulation and analysis sustainability and alternative technologies

Façade Contractor image by snøhetta

COLLABORATION

METALS IN CONSTRUCTION FACADES CONFERENCE

image by google earth

Gift to the Saudi kingdom from the Saudi Aramco oil company to celebrate its 75th Anniversary.

Saudi Aramco, orginally Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the state owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia

Started in 2007

Headquartered in Dahra

Created to inspire a passion for leaning, creativity, volunteerism, and cross -cultural engagement throughout the Arab community

Known to have the world's largest oil reservers

Center is a result of an initiative by Saudi Aramco to honor Arab tradition, connecting Saudis to their culture while also attracting other world cultures to the Kingdom through authentic, personal encounters with science, history and culture.

Worlds most valuable non-publically listed company.

Project budget of $400 millon USD is 4.5 days revenue.

Site chosen due to its proximity to Prosperity Well #7, the first location where oil was successfully sourced

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image by snøhetta

The origins of the building form originated around the concept of cultural interdependency in space, time and context, manifesting itself in the form of a series of pebble shapes that are discrete and individually recognizable, but that are organized in a way that every singular form is dependant on the next through the way they are supported.

image by snøhetta

Building elements elevated out of the desert landscape Surrounded by a rammed earth ring that defines the extent of the plaza.

image by snøhetta

Great Hall: large assembly area Library: Historical and contemporary texts Tower: office and flex space, and penthouse bar restaurant.

Auditorium Keystone: conference, projection and performance space.

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free form

sand proof

try most materials

bird proof

reflectivity

self cleaning

vibrant light

durability

uniformity vs joints

cultural reference

openings and stripes

budget

uniqueness image by snøhetta

polished s/s

nat. aluminum

zinc

metal mesh

black titanium

carbon fiber

dull black rubber

tensile fabric

copper

shiny black rubber

polychromic car paint

glass

ceramic

stone

gfrc

uhpc

grp

concrete

acrylic

etfe

schedule

image by snøhetta

image by snøhetta

So began exploration of material types.

Counterpoint to desert landscape building was envisaged as a glossy, reflective skin.

Process of design: Multiple and often conflicting criteria.

Architect: delivering vision and architectural statement Client: pragmatic criteria driven by experience.

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concept models

images by snøhetta

image by snøhetta

RON ARAD ”THUMBPRINT”, CHATSWORTH

Started with metal mesh, then moved to tube veil.

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Sun screen

View out

image by snøhetta

Models confirmation of design concept.

image by snøhetta

Inspired again by veins seen in pebbles.

Architect liked unique seams building forms were imprinted with stripes that defined windows.

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TUBE SECTION

TUBE SECTION

TRANSITION ZONE h = 12 mm d = 76.1 88% Closed

73mm Gaps 84% Open

image by snøhetta

Together with Architects developed strategy for all facades from concept through construction docs.

All but tower were a faceted , triangulated skin of metal decking spanning triangulated purlins with insulation and membrane.

Tower utilized a faceted unitized system.

Meanwhile...

Architects process time consuming and error prone. Building forms changing.

Tried in CATIA, known to have offseting ability.

Error prone due to input surface (irrational sub-division surface)

Tubes supported by a subframe that penetrated the inner skin and was structured to primary structure.

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King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge & Culture

Tried to automate offsetting in Rhino but its tool was not successful in creating the seams.

Crated a custom tool in Rhino based on first principles

Developed process for automating the detection and fixing the cusps.

This also yielded errors.

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Smart Peel

Automated the process of subframe generation. input: base building surface, base structural model, and subframe grid lines.

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Meanwhile, early prototyping began.

Challenge was recognized early: HOW TO BEND THE TUBES?

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Initial mockup: Utilized facade concept developed by the team.

Prefab panelized system Preferred initially by the team due to its assumed quick installation and high quality controlled within factory controlled fab.

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Snøhetta Buro Happold

Snøhetta Buro Happold

Came to conclusion that this type of system would prove difficult to hide the joints between panels or the panels and tubes would not align to desired tolerance.

Additionally it proved difficult to address movements and tolerances at a larger scale.

Seele wins bid Chosen because of their idea to have independent tubes attached to a continuous standing seam alum primary skin.

No penetrations to weather line.

Panels allowed more movement while tubes would only tolerate small movements.

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Inner facade is a doubly curved standing seam system. this is biggest departure from the tender design..

Duplex SS was chosen due to its env resistance. and need for minimal maintenance critical for hidden components such as anchors.

double curvature needed because the system required an inner skin to be a perfect offset from tubes.

Tubes 5m continuous lenths Pre-curved

Standing seam roofing installed on site for all conditions except tower

Laid so joints are staggered

Tower needed single story high panels to allow for differential movements at stack joint.

Joints are sealed on site with insulation membrane and tapes.

Panel frames comprised of heavy steal frames that are hung similar to a curtain wall.

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Each tube has three fixing points Thermal expansion and contraction happens in direction of tube.

2 of the fixing holes are slotted and 1 is fixed

Movement in the other direction, normal to facade is take through bracket stress.

Stresses, temps and limited access resulted in the use of titanium.

Male/Female movement joints provided with ring gasket to prevent water and air ingress.

This also allows for ease of removal

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Thank You

http://www.doyleandassociates.com

COLLABORATION METALS IN CONSTRUCTION image by snøhetta

FACADES CONFERENCE

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