Advanced Structural
Designs ACN 097 789 87
92 Vasey Cres CAMPBELL ACT 2612 Telephone
61612171
Facsimile 61612170 Email mal@structuraldesigns.com.au
What is the optimum column
layout for an office building?
We have
been asked this question a number of times and tend to have a little trouble
giving a simple answer because no two projects are the same.
The
constraints we need to consider are as follows;
Is there parking under?
How many office floors are over the parking?
What orientation do the external columns have?
How do the edge beams meet the columns?
What is the plan geometry of the building?
If there is parking under and say only three or four storeys over it is
often not economical to create transfers at ground level and the parking column
grid is carried up the building. There
will often be exceptions to this at the building entrance depending on how
grand the foyer is designed to be. The
parking grid is most economical at 8.4m by 10.2m or 8.4m by 8.4m.
Once the building’s height above ground is over say 6 or 7 storeys
ground floor transfers become more economical and you can start to look at
larger external spans of up to say 13 metres with a shorter internal span. The width across the building is generally
less than say 32 metres to ensure that people have access to natural light. In the longer direction of the building it is
generally more economical to have the column grid around 8.4 metres as slabs
are generally spanning in this direction.
If you are looking at a taller building with a relatively small plan
area you generally have framing from the core to external columns. For buildings up to 25 to 30 storeys the
service core alone can give the building lateral stability and the spans from
core to external columns may be up to 14m.
If you have a particular building in mind we suggest you obtain
structural advice early so that structural efficiency can be built in from the
outset. For expert structural advice
from an experienced structural engineer on framing office buildings in Canberra
ACT or surrounding districts contact Mal Wilson from Advanced Structural
Designs on 02 61612171.