Activity: Week 3
CASE STUDY SITE VISIT Ormond Theology Centre Reception Behind the building there is a box gutter, which is the only drainage system that could be observed from the exterior. There are no gutters that can be seen; therefore its drainage system occurs within the system.
This week, we went on our first site visits. We made observations of a site that is still currently in construction. We also went out to four other buildings:
The columns externally were bigger than the ones internally. This may be because much more support is required.
- Eastern Precinct Student Centre - MSLE Building - Queens College Extension - Ormond Theology Centre Reception
The walls are made from glass boxes that give it an interesting appearance. The columns help the glass boxes to stay in place. There were also some cantilevering beams outside of the building that were perpendicular to the beams at the front. Glass, cement and metal are the main materials used and could be seen. The ground pathway was a brick pavement where a layer of cement covers the natural colour of the bricks. Other materials: - stainless steel - rusting steel - nuts - glass
The building had many different finishes that gave the design factor of architecture an interesting look. The four finishes on each wall that could be observed had a different texture and appearance, but all had cement cast in situ. Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 1: Had a glossy finish to the layer of cement over the column Figure 2: Timber boards here have been used to create the rectangular shapes Figure 3: The rigid pattern also has a coat of cement. It contrasts with the smooth texture that can be found on the wall next to it. Figure 4: A matte finish is used on this side of the wall where the concrete is in situ. It is smooth which contrasts the rigid patterns next to it.
Figure 3
Figure 4
Queens College Extension Behind Queens College was an area under construction. We went out to observe its current condition and its progress. In the observations, it was noticed that the exterior drainage system was using eaves gutters. A drain gutter head was also spotted, where the excess water from rainfall can be removed from the roof. The structural elements found was mass construction with the timber framing .
Timber framing was evident inside the building. Posts can be seen in the image on the left at an entrance of the building in construction. The walls are most likely delivered to the site where the cement was not in situ. These concrete panels are usually not structured, but fixed to a frame. Materials: - ash felt - steel - concrete - timber - glass
MSLE Building
Rainwater head
Ventilation (either takes air in or out) The many pipes inside are inserted for the extraction of exhausts. This is very important as there are chemistry labs within the building that may require frequent ventilation. The second floor is partially cantilevering with the support of the steel beams that are attached to hold and balance it. The steel beams are projected and only supported on one end of the brick wall.
Electrical distribution board
The thick, horizontal beam joining the two buildings together are vital because it needs to counteract movement so that the building is moving at the same pace. This supports the buildings on either side and becomes a rigid frame only if the columns and beam are capable of forces and moments (Ching, 2008). When forces are applied, axial, bending and shear forces are produced in the frame because the joints restrain any rotation (Ching, 2008). Materials: - steel - cement - plastic pipes - bricks
Eastern Precinct Student Centre The roof is made from glass and steel beams. Steel bars of different thicknesses and rotations support it and also focus on the architectural design by displaying an interesting and eyecatching design. There are cantilevering beams that help support the roof on the side. Therefore the level of the ceiling and roof are different. The ceiling is made from timber boards, and supporting them, there are steel poles.
The concrete floor of this building had a steel line in order to control the joints where cracking can be occur. This is because cement undergoes expansion and contraction in various temperatures.
Strip footing - "A strip footing is any continuous footing underneath a REFERECNE: Ching, F. 2008, Building construction illustrated / Francis D.K. Ching, Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2008; 4th ed.
foundation wall, commonly found around the perimeter of a building, and is one of the most commonly used foundations of them all. A strip footing is usually reinforced, both horizontally and vertically.� Architectionary. 2013. Strip Footing. [online] Available at: http://www.architectionary.com/StripFooting [Accessed: 21 Aug 2013].
Oval Pavilion - Redevelopment
D
C
B A
Location A A strip of the ground has been extracted where concrete is filled inside it. This is where spread footings occur. The two main types are strip footings and isolated footings (Ching, 2008). This is most likely strip footing because there is a continuous flow of concrete. There is a possibility where a retaining wall can be formed form this. There are steel bars coming out of the strip footings with plastic yellow caps. These are used for safety reasons where construction workers on site, could easily trip onto the sharp vertical bars and injure themselves.
Location B This looked like a mat or raft foundation, where thick, heavily reinforced slabs of concrete act as a solid footing for a number of columns (Ching, 2008). Oh site, this looks like the use of mat foundations that are stiffened by a grid of ribs and beams. Mat foundations are usually used when “the allowable bearing capacity of a foundation solid is low relative to building loads� (Ching, 2008).
Location C Standing from this position, we could see that there has been a lot of digging occurring and partial demolition of specific parts of the building. Mass compression structure is evident with the framing. The materials that can be observed are weatherboards, aluminium and glass that come form the building. It is likely that this entire building is ready for demolition. The structural element is mass compression with its framing.
Location D Strip footings have been used on this construction site. Concrete slab has also been laid out which is covered by the black material in the image on the right. The purpose of this black material covering the concrete slab is to stop water from penetrating through. It is waterproof and protects the slab being exposed to water and stops moisture; keeping the concrete dry.