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Firstsite Colchester.

The ‘golden crescent’ of Firstsite Colchester, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, might look effortless, but the arts centre posed major engineering challenges, from building on a Scheduled Ancient Monument to designing a façade double-curved on plan and in section.

Cresecent-shaped arts centre build directly over Roman archaeological remains

 

Location
Colchester, UK
Client
Colchester Borough Council
Architect
Rafael Viñoly Architects
Project Value
£28 million
Floor Area
3,800 m²
Status
completed 2011
Expertise
Structures

A key requirement was to avoid disturbing Roman archaeological remains located just 150 mm under the site. We studied various foundation options, risk assessing their archaeological impact.

A concrete raft was selected as the best option, designed for negligible settlement. The raft bears directly onto the ground, only requiring minimal excavations accompanied by up to a metre of fill. In certain zones reinforcement further reduces its depth, avoiding excavation while maintaining the required levels. These vary, creating gentle slopes to draw people through the building.

Above ground, our complex geometry team was involved in refining the single-storey structure, which features curved canted walls. A major challenge was delivering column-free, flexible space for exhibitions as well as a 190-seat auditorium, meeting rooms and teaching spaces.

We designed the superstructure as a series of portal frames, spaced at 13 m intervals along the 200 m-long building. Steel was selected for its buildability, particularly because each portal varies in size.

Because of the complex geometry, CAD-integrated structural analysis was undertaken. This allowed us to devise a system of curved horizontal tubes that span between the portals and carry the cladding.

Another challenge was designing the cantilevered canopy that projects from the end portal and forms a monumental entrance portico. The triangular projection is supported along one side by an inclined elevational truss. Meanwhile, the triangle’s leading edge is formed by a steel section, which supports further beams spanning back to the end portal.

This complex structure was analysed to ensure that deflections along the leading edge were strictly controlled, maintaining a crisp, linear appearance.

Two
Manhattan
West
Lobby
'Radiant Lines'
installation
 
 
A Brick for Venice thumbnailA Brick
for Venice.
 
 
One
Gosvenor
Square
 
Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities thumbnailThe Stephen A. Schwarzman
Centre for the Humanities
 
 
Albert Bridge House thumbnailAlbert Bridge House.
 
 
 
Edgar's Sheds thumbnailEdgar's
Sheds.
 
 
Luton     Power Court
Stadium.
 
 
Wide shot of St Pancras Campus on site with facade installation complete.St Pancras
Campus.
 
 
Wind Sculpture
(TG) I
 
 
Sentosa
Sensoryscape.
 
 
The
Beacon.
 
 
Liverpool
School of
Architecture.
 
Georges Malaika
Foundation School.
 
 
Cherry
Groce
Memorial.
 
Khudi
Bari.
 
 
Haus Gables thumbnailHaus
Gables.
 
 
10   Lewis
Cubitt
Square.
 
'Drift'
footbridge.
 
 
The Gaumont ThumbnailThe
Gaumont.
 
 
5448_N8_hdSeratech
 
 
 
4926_HiRes_rendering_N7_hdApex
1.
 
 
5008_highRes_image_N3_hdUCB
Headquarters
Campus.
 
Manor    Road
Quarter.
 
 
17 Charterhouse
Street.
 
 
Brent Cross
Plot 15.
 
 
100-West-Cromwell-Road-thumbnail100
West Cromwell
Road.
 
Brent Cross
Plot 25.
 
 
Chapter
London
Bridge.
 
Roatan
Prospera.