Precision engineering Novotel Auckland - structural work by George Grant Engineering

The slender profile of the Novotel Auckland Airport hotel created its own challenges for the company contracted to manufacture the structural steel. Scott DeLacey, general manager of George Grant Engineering (GGE), says there was absolutely no allowable tolerance for the V-shaped circular hollow sections that provided the backbone of the building. The company consequently undertook trial assemblies in its workshop to ensure critical dimensions were exact, and any welding distortion was mitigated.

"There were several complicated sections of welding, notably on the corners of Level 3, where the I beams joined the circular hollow sections," DeLacey says. "This was a particularly critical part of the project, with the entire structure dependent on temporary bracing that we erected. Once the concrete for the core and ComFlor steel decking was in place, the floor steel was able to interact with these elements, which incorporated cast-in steel plates to which the steel beams were welded. A unique feature of this structure was the use of 100mm VSL tension rods to suspend the entire Level 2 structure from the supporting steel above in order to provide the clear span required to fit the design intention.

GGE also manufactured and installed the steel for the 40-tonne main entrance canopy. A special jig was built to ensure critical tolerances were maintained throughout manufacture and erection.

GEORGE GRANT ENGINEERING LTD

PO Box 142, Takanini, South Auckland 2245Phone (09) 295 0550 Fax (09) 298 9909www.gge.co.nz tenders@gge.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas