The Convention Centre Dublin project involved the construction of a large convention centre in Dublin, Ireland. Key details include: - The centre was designed to accommodate 2,000 people in its main auditorium and have additional meeting spaces and exhibition areas. - It was built between 2007-2010 through a public-private partnership on a site along the River Liffey in Dublin. - Structural elements included approximately 7,500 tons of steelwork, long span trusses up to 47m, and foundations of 600-1,050mm diameter piles. - Construction progressed from initial site works and ground improvement through erection of the complex steel structure and glazed facade.

1. The Convention Centre Dublin
Tuesday, 7th February 2012
Presentation to
The Institution of Structural
Engineers / Engineers Ireland
Cork Region
Presented by:
Ken Moriarty
Director
O’Connor Sutton Cronin
O’Connor Sutton Cronin & Associates Multidiscipline Consulting Engineers

2. Key Milestone Dates
Architect first appointed 1997
OPW (second) Tender issued Late December 2004
PPP Co. Tender submission May 2005
Preferred bidder appointment December 2005
Design Team Tender Documents December 2006
Formal Contract signing April 2007
Start on site (Enabling works) Late 2006
Programme duration 37 months (from Apr. 07 )

3. The Team
Client The Office of Public Works (OPW)
PPP Co. Spencer Dock International
Conference Centre Limited
Operator ‘The CCD’
D&C Co. CMPL (Sisk /Treasury JV)
Stakeholder Management Bruce Shaw Project Management
Architect Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo Assoc.
Structural Engineer O’Connor Sutton Cronin
Services Engineer MacArdle McSweeney Assoc
Theatre Consultant Theatre Projects
Geotechnical Consultant Byrne Looby Partners
Steel Fabricators Fisher Engineering

4. OCSC Team
11 fulltime Staff, 3 Part-time. Total 14

5. Client (OPW) Brief
Table 4-3 Schedule of Spaces
Functional Area Number or Indicative Space Proposed Minimum
No. of Persons Requirement m² Performance Standards per
(Min. anticipated) Person
Main Auditorium 2,000 4,400 1. m²
including stage area (flexible seating)
Multi-Purpose Meeting
Spaces (Boardroom Classroom layout) 16 No. 660 2.0-2.4 m²
Exhibition Space 2,000 2,000 1.0 m²
Banqueting Space and Kitchens 2,000 4,000 Kitchen: 0.2 m² per seat
Dedicated Conference Spaces 7 No. Class room layout
ranging from 1,000 1.8-2.4 m²
50-200 persons

6. Client (OPW) Brief
Specific Structural requirements:
100 Year design life for all structural elements
40 Year design life for all major replaceable components
Design Floor Loadings:
Table 6-4 Minimum Design Floor Loadings
Floor 6.0 kN/m² (including 1.0 kN/m² for light weight partitions).
Ceiling 2.0 kN/m² for temporary exhibitors’ suspended rigging.
Exhibition Hall Floor 12.5 kN/m² (this includes 1.0 kN/m² for light weight partitions).
Exhibition Hall Ceiling 2.0 kN/m² for temporary exhibitors’ suspended rigging.

7. Floor Loading Drawings

8. 100 Year Design Life

9. The Site
SPENCER
DOCK SITE
THE CCD
SITE

10. Architects Response to The Brief
3-D VIEW

11. Architects Response to The Brief
L8 ROOF
L7 ROOF
LEVEL 5
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
LEVEL B1
CROSS SECTION

12. Architects Response to The Brief
ELEVATIONS

13. Architects Response to The Brief
BASEMENT B1

14. Architects Response to The Brief
LEVEL 1 (GROUND FLOOR)

15. Architects Response to The Brief
LEVEL 2 (FIRST FLOOR)

16. Architects Response to The Brief
LEVEL 3 (SECOND FLOOR, AUDITORIUM)

17. SITE CONSTRAINTS
GROUND CONDITIONS
TEMPORARY WORKS
FOUNDATION SYSTEM

18. Site Constraints
JANUARY 2007

19. Ground Conditions
The ground conditions to the south of the site are summarized as follows:
Fill 0-4.0 m (metres below ground)
Soft black silt 4.0-5.5 m
Fine sandy gravel 5.5-7.0 m
Soft clayey peaty silt 7.0-13.0 m
Medium dense coarse gravel 13.0-15.5 m
Very stiff boulder clay 15.5-21.6 m
Strong limestone rock 21.6 m
The ground conditions to the north of the site are summarized as follows:
Fill 0-4.2 m (metres below ground)
Soft grey silt 4.2-4.7 m
Medium dense coarse gravel 4.7-7.1 m
Hard boulder clay 7.1-8.2 m
Medium dense coarse gravel 8.2-8.5 m
Very hard boulder clay 8.5-20.8 m
Strong limestone rock 20.8 m

20. Ground Conditions

21. Temporary Works
Contractor requirements for temporary works:
1.0 Limit water ingress to site
2.0 Ground retention with minimal deflection
3.0 No obstruction to site operation
Chosen Solution:- 900 dia Secant Wall with RC
capping beam and lateral restraint anchors where
required

22. Foundation System
The foundation solution for The CCD is achieved using 600mm, 900mm and 1050mm
diameter Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles.
The safe working load capacity of the individual piles is as follows.
600mm diameter pile:
Compression capacity 1800kN
Tension capacity 650kN
900mm diameter pile:
Compression capacity 3500kN
Tension capacity 650kN (900 kN under crane bases)
1050mm diameter pile:
Compression capacity 6000kN
Tension capacity 650kN

23. Foundation System
JULY 2007

24. Foundation System
JULY 2007

25. Foundation System

26. Material Data / Specifications
Steelwork
All structural steelwork is to be grade S275 or S355 to BS EN 10025 as noted
on the drawings.
Concrete
Concrete below (and in contact with) ground:
The grade of concrete is 35N/Sq mm (at 28 days), class DC-4 concrete in
accordance with table D1 of BRE SD 1 2005.
Concrete generally
The grade of concrete is to be 35N/Sq mm (at 28 days), in accordance with
IS EN 206-1 2002.

27. Steelwork: Key Facts
Approximately 7500 Tonnes of primary steel
Typical truss span at level 2 & 3 = 20m, with a structural
depth of 2.3m overall
Eight primary columns in the main exhibition spaces,
with a maximum column load of 40,000 Kn.
Roof truss over the auditorium spans 47m
Werner truss to glass drum spans 37m horizontally
Design of floor plates is governed by dynamics (natural
frequency)
Stability achieved through combined action of sway
frames and southern concrete cores.
Fire protection 90/60 minutes achieved primarily
through shop applied intumescent paint.

28. Steelwork Challenges
Long spans with limited depth
Indirect load path, i.e. Transfer trusses supported by
transfer trusses
Limited number of columns allowed
Significant M&E ventilation duct distribution, with M&E
design behind OCSC design
Design of floor plates governed by natural frequency +
floor response factors

29. Steelwork Model

30. Part-Basement Floor Plan

31. Part-Ground Floor Plan

32. 3-D Rendered Model: Entrance Slab

33. Level 1M showing Level 1 below

34. Typical Truss Sections at Level 2

35. Level 2M showing Level 2 below

36. Level 3 Floor Plate (Auditorium)

37. Level 4 Floor Plate (Auditorium)

38. Auditorium Seating Frames

39. Level 5 Floor Plate (Auditorium)

40. Roof Plan (over Auditorium)

41. Section Through South Stair Core

42. Frame Sections: Frame at Grid L.2

43. Frame Sections: Frame at Grid J.4

44. Frame Sections: Frame at Grid G.3

45. Frame Sections: Frame at Grid E.2

46. Fire resistance drawing: Level 3

47. IMAGES FROM
STRAP/ROBOT/X-STEEL

48. Images from Strap/Robot/X-Steel

49. Images from Strap/Robot/X-Steel

50. Images from Strap/Robot/X-Steel

51. Images from Strap/Robot/X-Steel

52. Images from Strap/Robot/X-Steel
UPPER AUDITORIUM FRAME MODEL
UPPER AUDITORIUM SEATING FRAME TRUSS 7.1 GRIDLINE G.3 (ROOF)

53. TEMPORARY WORKS

54. Temporary Works
MAY 2008

55. Temporary Works
MAY 2008

56. GLASS DRUM

57. Glass Drum

58. Glass Drum

59. Glass Drum

60. Glass Drum

61. Glass Drum

62. Glass Drum

63. Glass Drum

64. Glass Drum

65. Wind Tunnel Test Images

66. SELECTION OF
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS

67. Selection of Site Photographs
NOVEMBER 2006

68. Selection of Site Photographs
JANUARY 2007

69. Selection of Site Photographs
JULY 2007

70. Selection of Site Photographs
JULY 2007

71. Selection of Site Photographs
SEPTEMBER 2007

72. Selection of Site Photographs
DECEMBER 2007

73. Selection of Site Photographs
DECEMBER 2007

74. Selection of Site Photographs
JANUARY 2008

75. Selection of Site Photographs
JUNE 2008 JUNE 2008

76. Selection of Site Photographs
JUNE 2008

77. Selection of Site Photographs
JULY 2008

78. Selection of Site Photographs
AUGUST 2008

79. Selection of Site Photographs
AUGUST 2008

80. Selection of Site Photographs
DECEMBER 2008

81. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2009

82. Selection of Site Photographs
NOVEMBER 2009

83. Selection of Site Photographs
NOVEMBER 2009 NOVEMBER 2009

84. Selection of Site Photographs
NOVEMBER 2009

85. Selection of Site Photographs
NOVEMBER 2009

86. Selection of Site Photographs
MARCH 2010

87. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2010

88. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2010

89. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2010

90. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2010

91. Selection of Site Photographs
MAY 2010

92. Key Facts
Approximately 1000 piles
Total Steel (Incl. secondary steel) 9500 Tonnes
Heaviest Steel Truss 160 Tonnes, at roof level over the
auditorium
Total volume of concrete 40,000 cubic metres
Number of glass panes in the Drum: 475
Largest single concrete pour in Ireland 2375 cubic
metres in 17 hours
700 people employed on site at the peak
The CCD currently has over 200,000 delegate days
confirmed

93. Artists impression
ARTISTS IMPRESSION 2005

94. The finished product……
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PETER
BARROW PHOTOGRAPHY