AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.04.2002, Síða 98

ices and other technical aspects of the building. Already
during the first stages of the design of the building the
structural- and services engineers took part in the
design process. This method of working was quite suc-
cessful and resulted in all the main aspects of the build-
ing remaining unaltered from the competition entry.
During the design of the services network maximum
flexibility was emphasised to enable walls to be moved
and spaces altered without interruption to other activi-
ties.
The building is formed of three main parts, an office
building and a research building connected with a glass
roofed central space housing e.g. the reception, lecture
hall and employee cloakrooms. The central space acts
as the heart of the building where employees and visi-
tors mingle, meet and communicate. The main stair-
case of the building and lift are situated in this central
space. This space along with the office building forms a
pedestrian mall connecting this building to the
University Campus and proposed adjacent buildings
with entry to the mall. Access to the mall is over bridges
to the lobbies. The main entry to the building is from the
south-east but opposite is a pedestrian link from the
University Campus. From the reception in the central
space there is access to the research- and office build-
ings. The reception overlooks the main entry, lecture
hall and cafeteria. The “University Entrance” and the
main door to the lecture hall are next to the reception.
The main staircase and lift are within the security zone
and closed to the public. The computer centre is above
the lecture hall with service area and technology below,
entered by a staircase next to the “University
Entrance”. Cloak rooms on all floors are next to the
main entrance and entered from the security zone. The
office building contains reception areas, administration
and the greater part of the information technology
department.
The glass covered pedestrian mall runs the whole
length of the research building and divides it into two
main parts which are again divided into two units. In
each unit there is a staircase with a lift, toilets and
cleaning room. Great emphasis is put on flexibility of
the interior and partitions and suspended ceilings were
chosen with this in mind. The pedestrian mall is a wel-
come relief from the busy atmosphere of the company.
Dining area and kitchen are on the mall and because of
its size it is well suited for large meetings within the
company without requiring additional space. It is also
intended for smaller informal meetings. Bridges on the
second and third floor of the central space link the var-
ious parts of the laboratories and give the pedestrian
mall an unusual and dynamic feeling. Service access is
on the south-west end of the research building.
The research- and office buildings are insulated on
the outside and clad with aluminium sheets. The lec-
ture hall and cloak rooms are insulated on the outside
and clad with cedar wood. The coordinated look of the
research- and office building along with the glass roof
over the pedestrian mall and central area ties the build-
ing together and the timber clad areas in the central
space soften it and add to the diversity. Roofs of con-
crete are insulated from above, clad with sheet materi-
al and weighted.
The structure of the research- and office buildings,
lecture hall and cioak rooms is made of concrete. This
structure is stiffened by central staircases of concrete.
Concrete floors are coffered with a 25 cm slab and 20
cm ribs to avoid beams and load bearing walls which
would hinder service routes. Concrete columns are in
external walls. In the central space of the building 20
cm slabs rest on concrete walls and concrete beams
over the lecture hall. The load bearing structure of the
glass roof over the pedestrian mall is made of steel and
rests on the external wall columns of the adjacent build-
ings. The window mullion which also are load bearing
are made of aluminium. The bridges in the central
space are made of steel.
The site in front of the building is paved; the basket-
ball court by the “University Entrance” enjoys the after-
noon sun but other parts of the site are left in its origi-
nal state as much as possible.
The electric system of the building is divided into four
separate routes from a transformer station in one of the
parking areas. Vertical routes are e.g. in shafts by the
pedestrian mall. Horizontal routes are suspended from
the ceiling, exposed or behind suspended ceilings.
Vertical ventilation routes are in shafts by the staircas-
es and horizontal ventilation routes are suspended
from ceilings. The service systems of the building form
a spine along the length of the building with smaller
service ribs through which services in the main spine
can be accessed without disturbing other activities. ■
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