The use of DELTABEAM® Composite Beams enabled the overall design of the structure to be optimized for several reasons:
Structural Lightening
The change from the originally considered monolithic slab to a floor system using prestressed hollow-core panels reduced the overall weight of the structure, thereby decreasing the load transferred to the columns. This load reduction allowed for more slender columns, enhancing the architectural appeal of the building.
Slim-floor Solution
Despite using prestressed hollow-core panels, there was no need to add downstand beams, thus avoiding an increase in the overall building height. A slim-floor solution with a total floor thickness of just 200 mm was maintained.
Transfer Beams
In the slab above the first floor, transfer DELTABEAM® Composite Beams were utilized to carry not only the floor loads but also the loads from columns on the second floor that were offset from the vertical axis of the columns below. These transfer beams, bearing loads from two floors, maintained a thickness of only 250 mm, merely 50 mm more than the standard floor thickness.
“Clear” Floor Layout
The use of transfer beams enabled the relocation of columns into walls, resulting in a clean and open floor layout with maximum design flexibility.
Lowered Floor Section
In the slab above the second floor, a section of the floor (at the location of the loggia) was lowered relative to the rest of the slab. This adjustment allowed for a uniform floor level between the interior and exterior spaces while providing insulation for the loggia. The lowering was achieved through a modified Gerber joint on one beam and a specially lowered bottom flange on another beam.
Skylight/Corridor in the Center of the Building
A skylight is positioned in the central part of the building, extending through two floors. Around this skylight, a corridor on the second floor is cantilevered from a structural perspective. The curved sections surrounding the skylight opening were constructed using curved permanent formwork integrated into the DELTABEAM® Composite Beams.
Beam Penetrations
Certain beams in the structure required penetrations for service routing. The largest opening in a DELTABEAM® Composite Beams measured 200 x 450 mm and was positioned near a column. This detail was resolved using a specially reinforced beam with a central opening.
Construction Speed
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, the use of DELTABEAM® Composite Beams accelerated the construction process, as the installation of beams on each floor was completed within a single day.
