Steel Portal Frame Design for Community Campus, UK

Project Overview At Yas Tech services, we have contributed in delivering robust structural solutions for community-focused projects. Our team designed the steel portal frame structure for the Community Campus in Scotland, completed in 2017. This project replaced an outdated school, integrating an 800-place secondary school with community facilities, including a library, council office, police base, and public sports facilities like an all-weather rugby pitch. The ground floor houses community spaces, while the school occupies the upper floors, with a central atrium hosting the dining area. The steel-framed structure, built by leading Construction company, supports the hub Scotland initiative, fostering community engagement. Design Challenges The project presented several challenges that required innovative engineering solutions: • Dynamic Response Assessment: The double-height drama hall, equipped with retractable tiered seating, demanded a detailed analysis of the floor plate’s dynamic response to rhythmic synchronized movements, ensuring occupant safety and comfort. • Functional Integration: Balancing the needs of educational and community spaces required careful spatial planning, with the atrium and ground-floor community areas needing seamless integration with the school’s upper levels. • Budget Constraints: Value engineering was critical to align the design with the project budget, streamlining structural elements without compromising safety or functionality (Steel Report). • Coastal Environment: Coastal location necessitated enhanced corrosion protection for the steelwork to withstand atmospheric exposure during construction and long-term use. Technical Challenges The technical complexity of the project included: • Bracing Placement: Vertical and roof bracing were essential for longitudinal stability and gable post support. Positioning bracing around curtain walls, windows, and service penetrations was challenging, leading to the use of square and rectangular hollow sections (SHS/RHS) concealed behind finishes for aesthetic and functional integration. • Corrosion Protection: The coastal environment required an enhanced protective paint specification for the steelwork to prevent atmospheric corrosion during erection and throughout the building’s lifespan. • Dynamic Floor Plate Analysis: The drama hall’s floor, acting compositely with steelwork, needed strategic column placement to enhance stiffness and mitigate dynamic loads from rhythmic activities, ensuring structural integrity and user comfort. • Frame Stability: The steel frame, with columns spaced at 7.5m intervals, relied on precast floors in the teaching wings for diaphragm action, transferring lateral forces to bracing within perimeter and internal walls. Regulatory and Industry Norms The design adhered to UK building regulations and Eurocodes, specifically BS EN 1993-1-1 for steel structures, ensuring compliance with: • Structural Stability: The frame was designed as a Category 2B structure, with robust columns (12m lengths) providing effective load-bearing capacity. • Fire Safety: Fire-resistant materials and compartmentation were incorporated, with no additional fire protection needed for the steelwork except where boundary conditions applied (Portal Frames). • Accessibility: The building met inclusivity standards, ensuring access for all users, including those with disabilities. • Environmental Standards: The design accounted for wind loads and corrosion risks specific to the coastal location, aligning with BS EN 1991-1-4 for wind actions. Regulatory Aspect Details Structural Standards BS EN 1993-1-1, Category 2B structure Fire Safety Fire-resistant materials, compartmentation Accessibility Inclusive design for all users Environmental Wind loads (BS EN 1991-1-4), corrosion protection Safety Requirements Safety was a priority, with measures including: • Wind Load Resistance: The structure was designed to withstand coastal wind loads, ensuring stability under extreme weather conditions. • Fire Safety: Fire-resistant cladding and compartmentation ensured compliance with UK regulations, facilitating safe evacuation. • Dynamic Load Safety: The drama hall’s floor plate was engineered to handle dynamic loads, preventing structural failure during high-occupancy events. • Robustness: The frame’s design met BS EN 1990 robustness requirements, preventing disproportionate collapse under accidental loads (Portal Frames). Software and Tools Used Our team leveraged industry-standard software to ensure precision and efficiency: • Tekla Structures: Used for 3D modelling and detailing of the steel frame, enabling accurate fabrication and erection. • Quikport: Facilitated Eurocode-compliant portal frame design, optimizing geometry, loading, and section sizing. • AutoCAD: Supported 2D drafting and coordination with architectural and mechanical disciplines, ensuring seamless integration. Project Impact The Community Campus has transformed, providing a modern, sustainable facility that serves both educational and community needs. The steel portal frame enabled large, open spaces, such as the atrium and drama hall, enhancing functionality and flexibility. The project’s success is evident in its ability to meet diverse stakeholder needs while maintaining structural integrity and cost-efficiency. Conclusion The Community Campus project underscores our expertise in designing steel portal frame structures for complex community buildings. By addressing dynamic load challenges, coastal environmental factors, and stringent regulatory requirements, we delivered a safe, durable, and functional structure. Our use of advanced software and adherence to Eurocodes ensured precision and compliance, making this project a testament to our commitment to engineering excellence.