Theoretical Basis: Structural Strategy for a Vertically Integrated R&D Facility

The structural strategy for this vertically oriented research and development (R&D) building is grounded in the principles of flexibility, modularity, and integration of prefabricated components within a mixed-use, high-performance envelope. Located in a temperate climate and situated between industrial and residential urban zones, the building is required to accommodate evolving prototyping technologies, office-based work, and collaborative design in a single volumetric form. The structure supports a spatially complex program while addressing key environmental, constructional, and future-proofing challenges.

Modular Steel Frame and Flexibility

A primary driver of the structural strategy is modularity. The chosen 6.0 x 9.0 metre steel frame grid supports a high level of flexibility for current and future reconfiguration of internal spaces, particularly in prototyping zones where processes may change as product technologies evolve. Modularity in steel-framed buildings has long been associated with adaptive reuse and changeability (Brand, 1994; Kendall and Teicher, 2000), allowing internal partitions and mechanical services to be easily re-routed or modified over time. Steel composite deck construction is used to create floor plates that are both lightweight and rapidly installable, enabling speedier site construction and the ability to integrate openings for services or vertical connections (Engel, 2007; Watts, 2010). Composite slabs provide high performance under load with reduced overall slab depth, improving both structural efficiency and floor-to-floor height control—key considerations in urban, vertically stacked programs (Schueller, 1996).

Volumetric Arrangement and Prefabricated Modules

A second major aspect of the design is the use of prefabricated volumetric office and studio modules, dimensioned to the scale of shipping containers for transport and ease of onsite placement. These modules, inserted into the steel frame, support both speed of installation and spatial flexibility. The concept aligns with recent advances in modular integrated construction (MiC), particularly in urban contexts where space is constrained and just-in-time delivery reduces disruption (Lawson, Ogden and Goodier, 2014). The spatial interlocking of these prefabricated office modules around more open, steel-framed prototyping zones enables the creation of ‘nested’ building systems, where zones of activity can evolve independently of one another. This separation of structure and enclosure supports the architectural idea of programmable flexibility, wherein spaces can respond dynamically to organisational change (Kolarevic, 2003).

Core and Stability Strategy

Structural stability is primarily achieved through reinforced concrete cores, which house services and vertical circulation. These are arranged either centrally (Option 1) or symmetrically (Option 2), anchoring the structure and enabling slender steel columns elsewhere. The use of rigid concrete cores in conjunction with flexible steel framing is a well-established hybrid approach in mid- to high-rise buildings, providing both lateral stiffness and torsional resistance (Taranath, 2010). In Option 3, perimeter structural walls and shear elements are incorporated around the indented façades to achieve stability through distributed structural planes rather than a single core, enhancing resistance to lateral forces and enabling more complex circulation paths. This strategy enables open interior layouts for prototyping while using the vertical planes of cores and indents for shear resistance and stiffness—a method supported by both seismic and wind performance design theory in temperate climate zones (Chong and Pham, 2012).

Hybrid Structural Systems and Speed of Construction

The structural system combines concrete and steel, optimising material use and allowing for phased, parallel construction. While the core and stability elements are cast-in-place concrete, the surrounding structural grid—including secondary steelwork and composite decks—is rapidly erected. This hybrid system maximises construction speed, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, taking advantage of steel’s lighter weight and concrete’s robustness and thermal mass (Addis, 2007; Yeomans, 2001). The outer envelope is not load-bearing. Instead, it is composed of cladding panels fixed back to the steel columns and concrete walls, spanning floor to floor. These non-structural panels are lightweight and improve the thermal performance of the building envelope, critical for temperate climates with seasonal variability. This separation of skin and structure enables independent upgrading of cladding systems over time, in line with sustainable lifecycle design principles (Leatherbarrow and Mostafavi, 2005).

Response to Environmental Context and Facade Design

The façade strategy integrates glazed and opaque elements that reflect the internal program while mediating between urban and climatic demands. Structural elements at the perimeter transition from concrete shear walls in indents to steel mullions and transoms supporting window assemblies in more open areas. These structural transitions are managed through steel-to-concrete interface design, using embedded plates and connectors to resolve differential movement and thermal bridging (Schlaich and Bergermann, 1992). This layered façade system enables daylight control, thermal regulation, and contributes to the urban legibility of the building, presenting a mixed-use identity that challenges the conventional imagery of single-use industrial buildings in urban centres (Frampton, 1995).

Roof Strategy and Structural Efficiency

Initially conceived as a column-free span from the central spine to the façade, the roof structure was revised to include mid-span columns, introducing support at strategic points without compromising functional access. This decision illustrates a pragmatic structural refinement: reducing roof beam depths and steel tonnage while improving construction time and material economy. It reflects a broader trend toward performance-optimised structure, where elegance is achieved not through excess but through targeted intervention (Foster and Happold, 1975).

Overview

The structural strategy for this R&D facility balances the competing demands of flexibility, efficiency, rapid construction, and environmental responsiveness. By combining steel and concrete in a modular system, embedding prefabricated components, and using varied stability strategies across the three design options, the building becomes not only a site of innovation but a prototype in itself—a flexible, high-performance structure tailored to the evolving needs of urban manufacturing.

References

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