2: Architectural Design

2.8: Net area

2.8.1: Offices There are 2 types of offices rooms that will be built, a shown in the figure above.

Figure: Types of offices rooms and dimensions Type A: with dimensions 5x5 = 25m2, with one window and one door that leads to the corridor. This room has a capacity of 2 administrators (12.5m2 each) or 1 senior administrator (25m2). Type B: with dimensions 5x10 = 50m2, with three windows, as this type is always on corners, and with one door. This room has a capacity of 2 senior administrators (25m2 each) or 4 administrators (12.5m2 each). If there is a space problem in the future this room could fit 5 administrators (10m2 each). Because of the 3 windows, these offices would be more suitable for workers who need lots of light.

2.8.2: Windows Every room has at least one window and a maximum of three. The ideal design for offices is as shown in the figure, with 1m height from the floor and long enough to allow the maximum of the sunlight to come in the room. We choose three-leaved, horizontally sliding windows, with dimensions 4400x1500mm. There will be installed 126 windows in the whole building.

Figure: Typical window, position and dimensions

2.8.3: Doors The following table shows the number and the dimensions of each type of door that will be installed in the building. shape specificatio n office door dimensions (mm) 2100x830 pieces

113

double door

2100x1730

automatic glass entrance door

2500x3000

WC door

2100x630

48

fire escape door

1900x1000

10

Table: types of doors to be installed

2.9: Core area

The core area is the key factor of the building. It provides contact with the outside world. People like being near a window with clear glass. We designed a core area of about 300 m2 for each floor, where are the cafeterias, the WCs, the crossover of the corridors, the 2 main entrances, the stairs and the lifts.

Figure: Core area Especially in the top floor there is a big open space in front of the glass which would be perfect for the tables of the cafeteria. The circular area has no walls on its two sides, only glass, so we have natural lighting for the corridors, the stairs, the glass elevators, the entrance area and the lobby.

2.9.1: Toilets Requirements and proposal for sanitary ware: sanitary per floor water closets men urinals water closets women wash basins min required 3 2 4 9 proposal 4 3 6 12 Total (x4) 20* 12 28* 48

(* +1 per floor for disabled)

Table: requirements and proposal for sanitary ware, per floor and total We designed the space for the toilets, as shown above in detail, with cohesive estimation of the sanitary required, the spaces needed and the disabled people service and ability to pass through areas. The toilets occupy about 65m2 per floor and a total of 260m2 and are placed such that can service people with a maximum of 40m walk inside the building.

Figure: Detailed layout of the toilets and dimensions in mm.

2.9.2: Cafeterias The 2 cafeterias, 1 on the ground floor and 1 on the top floor, have a total area of about 100m2 and are connected with east side of the core area with a wide double door achieving a maximum sunlight incoming which will provide a perfect place for relaxing, coffee and dining for the workers. There is also a back door for the stuff entrance and the distance from the exits is 5m, 15m and 20m, what comes to terms with the safety regulations.

2.9.3: Conference rooms We will have 2 conference rooms of about 50m2 each, one in the ground floor and one in the top floor. Each room has a capacity of more than 25 people for conference meeting. In the top floor the conference room could be used for the meetings of the senior status administrators.

Figure: Conference room The position is in the east side of the building, the side with the maximum natural light in the morning. In addition, each room has three windows. Other benefits of the position are the distances from the toilets and from the fire escape stairs, which are less than 5m. The cafeterias are in the same floors with a distance of 25m.

2.10: Inter story height The storey height related to floor depth and floor plate size has a major effect on air conditioning, cable distraction, and ability to use natural ventilation, light and on visual comfort. We choose an inter story height of 3.80m. Specification: 25 cm space between the slab and the floor 285 cm main height of the room 50 cm space between the slab and the fake ceiling. 20 cm thickness of the slab

With these dimensions we have a lot of space for the electrical and mechanical machinery and for the ventilation. In the floor the space we have is perfect for the heating and the insulation. The main room height of 2.85m is perfect for people to work and for the sun light to come inside.

2.11: Primary circulation

The minimum corridor width for an ideal design is 1.7m, but we choose to have a width of 2.4m so we can have an easy access for 2 or 3 persons at the same time, so that the offices are easily accessible from disabled people, and so that the moving of furniture (a typical situation for office buildings) will be easy and quick.

2.12: Stairs

2.13: Lifts

2.14: Safety We have 2 fire exits, and 2 fire escape stairs, so that comes to term with the safety regulations for buildings with 500 people or less. The distance from every place inside the building to the stairs is less than 30m. The dimensions of the fire escape stairs, as shown above, are also acceptable. In the ground floor there will be a fire exit at the end of the stairs.

Figure: Fire escape stairs There will be installed fire detectors in each office, corridor and other area, and also fire alarms in each floor.

2.15: Details

2.16: Alternative proposal