Early in the semester I decided the Melbourne Exhibition Centre would be ideal for exploring long-span construction techniques, as the building itself offers 30,000sqm of clear span floor space. I was disappointed to discover that, upon arrival, I would not be granted permission to take internal photographs, so apologies for only providing external view. I hope that through the following photographs and text the long-span construction techniques of this building can still be appreciated.
Thin steel columns, closely spaced, support the external roof structure
This photo was taken from the internal concourse. It shows what appears to be steel rafters projecting into the internal exhibition space. 
These external views show the underside of the overhanging roof. From these photos an appreciation is developed toward the construction processes employed in this project. It is interesting to note that regardless of scale, the same basic structure prevails, with steel rafters, purlins and safety mesh shown here.
Typical of most public architecture I have visited, the aesthetics are so refined that it is difficult to locate evidence of construction techniques. This connection detail between the glass facade and steel columns was included because it was one of the few construction joints that remained exposed.
No comments:
Post a Comment