A2D Architects<\/a>), is the renovation of the six Vinkenvelden residential towers in Hoboken (Belgium). These towers were built in the 1960s and needed a thorough renovation to meet modern safety and comfort standards. Any such renovation should, however, respect the unique architectural value of these slender cruciform towers. Also, the renovation needed to be carried out within the budgetary margins imposed by the authorities in charge of the building complex. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo keep a sufficiently high budget available to be invested in extra comfort for the residents, a renovation concept was chosen that required an absolute minimum of structural interventions. Originally, the residential towers were built against a central core, and that central core direly needed to be replaced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“At the request of the contractor,” says Jan Van Aelst, “we investigated whether it was possible to remove the existing central core. The question whether the remaining part of the tower would stay upright once the central core has been removed naturally arose during that analysis. That question was all the more pressing since previous studies had shown that the walls of the tower buildings had been designed as precast walls. Moreover, no stability plans were available at all, which only increased the uncertainty.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Innovations built on 3D analysis <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The residential towers were therefore modeled in Diamonds, subjected to wind loads and taking into account any other loads that are present. The structural analyses clearly showed that the towers would remain standing after the demolition of the central core, but that the displacements at the top of the tower would become too large to keep things safely under control. It was therefore suggested to the client to realize a concrete crown on top of each tower, before actually starting the demolition of the central core. Each crown was to have a large central opening, providing the contractor with permanent access to the central core. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crown\u2019s central opening guaranteed that vertical transport of materials and equipment would remain possible at all times, and provided the access that was needed to pull down the central core down to the level of the foundations. The existing foundations were reused, while adding new foundations at the same time, before starting to build the new central core and connecting it to the existing concrete walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This innovative, yet unseen, building method involves\u202fquite a few advantages\u202fcompared to a\u202fmore traditional approach in which the central core\u202fis broken down\u202fin\u202fseveral stages\u202fand\u202fis being rebuilt bit by bit.\u202fAccording to Jan\u202fVan Aelst\u202f\u201cthe contractor can work in a more cost-effective\u202fway to build a brand new central core within\u202fthe\u202fexisting building.\u202fThat adds significant value for\u202fthe client, and without\u202f3D\u202fstructural analysis it would have been impossible to assess the feasibility of this\u202funique construction method.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fulfilling towering expectations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
“3D structural design analysis has proven to be a crucial means to contribute to the architectural value of the buildings we are working on within each of the projects we are involved in” Jan Van Aelst concludes. “Since we started using 3D structural design analysis with the Maison du Savoir project, its use has steadily increased over the years. Right now, our team of 5 structural engineers uses Diamonds daily for all projects that our clients entrust to us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ease of use was a primary selection criterion when we started using BuildSoft\u2019s structural design analysis software about 20 years ago. Especially within a 3D analysis environment that features numerous possibilities and options, ease of use is more important than ever. In fact, it\u2019s Diamonds\u2019 right mix of state-of-the-art analysis capabilities and ease of use that helps us quickly identify structural bottlenecks within any new design and find effective solutions to solve them. It may sound like a clich\u00e9 in this context, but 3D structural design analysis helps us to fulfill the towering expectations of our clients and partners.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n