1. “
USING POST -TENSIONING HAD
MASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS OVERTRADITIONAL
REINFORCED CONCRETE AND
STEEL STRUCTURES,WHICH
WAS IMPORTANT FOR SUCH A
LARGE PROJECT.”
The construction phase went smoothly, even
though there were areas of complexity
demanding a close interface between the
post-tensioning designers and the services
ST DAVID’S CENTRE CAR PARK, CARDIFF, UK engineer who required multiple penetrations
through the post-tensioned beams. Clear and
detailed communication was maintained with
Greener parking the contractor throughout the project, from
design to completion on site.
The quick erection of the formwork system,
in conjunction with the efficient pour
ichard Gaskill of Structural Systems – the BBR Network
R member in the UK – explains that significantly more
additional parking was required to service the St David’s 2
development in Cardiff which led to the construction of a five
sequence offered by the Structural Systems
team, enabled the contractor to complete
the frame in 27 weeks.
Using post-tensioning had massive
level, multi storey car park, totaling in excess of 50,000 m². This environmental benefits over traditional
gives the new centre a total of 3,000 parking spaces and the reinforced concrete and steel structures,
which was important for such a large
drama of the development is heightened by the particularly
project.The use of post-tensioning reduced
striking elliptical ramp access to the car park. slab depths significantly so that, overall, less
As part of the regeneration of Cardiff city deck slabs and a BBR CONA flat 0605 concrete and substantially less rebar was
centre, the new St David’s 2 scheme system for the 525 mm x 16 m span beams. used – which was extremely beneficial to the
represents a £675 million investment, totaling The car park sits on a transfer slab at level client in terms of program and budget. G
89,891 m² of retail-led mixed-use three and is tied to a stair core in the centre
development, with over 100 stores and 300 of the building. By introducing post-tensioning TEAM & TECHNOLOGY
luxury roof top apartments, built as seven techniques, the slab depth for the car park OWNER St David’s Partnership
towers above the shopping centre. was reduced to typically 150 mm – MAIN CONTRACTOR Skanska Construction
The size of the floor plate meant that each permissibly the thinnest depth for a car park CONCRETE FRAME CONTRACTOR
level was typically constructed as seven slab – with some areas at 175 mm and P.C. Harrington Contractors Limited
pours.The frame contractor elected to utilize nominally 300 mm thick.The beam tendons DESIGNER Arup / Structural Systems (UK) Ltd
a slab and beam configuration. Structural were mainly 36 m long, although in some TECHNOLOGY BBR CONA flat
Systems supplied the BBR CONA flat 0305 instances 56 m long double end stressed BBR NETWORK MEMBER
Structural Systems (UK) Ltd
post-tensioning system for the reinforced tendons were used.
42 CONNÆCT