SKyline sculpture

WITH SO MUCH of the building an expression of its structural design, the engineering consultants had the central task of marrying structural efficiency to innovative design solutions.

Qantec McWilliam provided structural and civil consulting engineering services to the Brisbane Square project. The tower's striking architectural design required more than a single dedicated structural engineering solution.

"At the city end of the tower, three slender feature columns rise 100 metres above plaza level to support a 10-storey cantilevered section of office space," says marketing co-ordinator for Qantec McWilliam Chrystal Courtice. "These columns were originally designed without additional input, but would not have had the strength to perform their required function over that height. Our solution was to tie the columns back to the core structure with a series of steel tube spider braces, occurring every four floor levels."

Another major structural innovation by the structural engineers is less visible to the naked eye. Building owner and end-user requirements meant the tower's lift core had to be positioned at the city end of the floor plate. This resulted in significant design and analysis challenges for the structural team.

"In response to the lift's positioning, an internal megabrace system was introduced at the other end of the tower to provide a balancing stiffness to the structure," says Courtice. "The system provides the necessary strength to minimise lateral building movement under wind loading a factor crucial to occupant working comfort. The bracing can be glimpsed behind the building facade from the riverside end of the building."

For further information on Qantec McWilliam, phone (07) 3007 8181, fax (07) 3007 8182. Website: www.qmcw.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas