A new communal hub that connects diverse spaces and people

Engineering a resilient long-span structure

In an earthquake-prone area, it is essential that the building adheres to seismic standards and can be used as an emergency shelter for citizens in case of a future disaster. However, ensuring earthquake resistance while creating a pillar-free space in a long series of buildings is not an easy task.

Making the top-heavy structure safe

Located on the east side of the building, the main hall reaches a height of nearly 30m and is topped by a fly tower – a 16.4m-wide floorless section that contains lights, curtains and other performance equipment, adding to the load at the top.
To ensure the safety of this top-heavy structure, we used SRC walls with a thickness of 500mm to reduce the frame weight. We also added seismic-resistant walls and steel floor beams to the temporary and permanent exhibition buildings on the other side of the complex to distribute the load more evenly and ensure the small hall in the centre of the building did not take too much stress. In contrast, the backstage building is sandwiched between the main and small halls – two earthquake-resistant elements – so additional reinforcement was not needed for this part of the structure.

Creating an open and welcoming lobby

The façade, with a maximum height of 30m, is mainly separated from the main structure frame except the roof and part of the mezzanine slab. There are nominal columns and divisions to maximise the interior space and allow natural light to flood into the lobby. By constructing a plate with concrete on the steel plate, we ensured the strength and rigidity of the façade.
A large canopy on the lower part of the façade provides horizontal support, while eccentric braces and hat trusses above the canopy create an open lobby space. In addition, we provided a novel solution by designing a new pin joint at the centre of the façade to connect the main structure with bracing along the façade’s mullions.

In the theatre, back-seat air-conditioning is used to ensure occupant comfort and we worked closely with the architect to adjust the shapes of the seat backs to create an optimum airflow. For the exhibition and storage rooms, to effectively preserve the precious exhibits, chemical filters and steam humidifiers are installed in the air handling units to strictly control the temperature, humidity and air quality.
We used Autodesk Revit modelling to precisely integrate air conditioning and electrical systems into the triangular roof design, making the equipment, pipes and ducts go unnoticed.

Fully prepared

A range of measures have been taken to ensure business continuity and provide a comfortable shelter for people nearby in case of a disaster. 
The lobby area adopts the floor radiant cooling and heating system to provide equal comfort to people who gather here when a disaster occurs. Fresh air to the lobby passes through the pit for exchanging heat with the ground. By harvesting energy from using the cool and warm pit and rainwater reuse system, we helped realise a comfortable and energy-efficient space.
The water tank capacity is adequate for washing hands and draining toilets in the event of an evacuation, and there is an emergency drainage tank in case of a break in the pipe connection to the outside. Additionally, we reserved a 72-hour backup electricity supply for air conditioning and lighting.