Newcastle City Library case study part 2

Newcastle City Library Part 2

|Student ID: 14002245 |Tutor: Kevin Elliott | Module Number: BE1340

Introduction This part of the report aims to analyse Newcastle City Library building current provision in four important construction points. The report will include the ground floor, curtain-wall, sill junction, entrances doors (West and South East), finishes and the passenger lifts. The analysis is critically basses upon the as-built performance and by surveying some points, as well as stating to the building drawing provided.

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION

2

TABLE OF FIGURES

4

GROUND FLOOR

5

INTERNAL ENTRANCE LOBBY: ENTRANCE AIR CURTAIN SYSTEM: ENTRANCE RECEPTION: ATRIUM HALL: ENQUIRIES POINTS: STUDY SPACES: INTERVIEW ROOMS: RETAILS SHELVES: STAIRCASE: EXTERNAL DOORS THE MAIN ENTRANCE (BLUE BOX): MAIN ENTRANCE SIGNS: THE WEST ENTRANCE SIGN: EMERGENCY EXIT: STAFF DOOR MAIN DOOR SILL JUNCTION:

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8

CLADDING

9

GLASSING CLADDING: METAL CLADDING: MASONRY CLADDING:

9 10 11

SERVICES

12

PASSENGER LIFTS: STAFF LIFTS:

12 12

FINISHING

13

FLOORING: PAINTING: SOCKET BOX: LIFT HOUSING:

13 13 13 13

APPENDIX

14

BIBLIOGRAPHY

20

Table of Figures Figure 1 Main entrance lobby ___________________________________________________________________ 5 Figure 2 Main entrance elevation _______________________________________________________________ 5 Figure 3 Main entrance plan ____________________________________________________________________ 5 Figure 4 Entrance system ________________________________________________________________________ 6 Figure 5 Atrium _________________________________________________________________________________ 6 Figure 6 Staircase _______________________________________________________________________________ 6 Figure 7 Entrance sign __________________________________________________________________________ 7 Figure 8 Main entrance _________________________________________________________________________ 7 Figure 9 West entrance _________________________________________________________________________ 7 Figure 10 Emergency exit _______________________________________________________________________ 8 Figure 11 draining point _________________________________________________________________________ 8 Figure 12 Sill details _____________________________________________________________________________ 8 Figure 13 West entrance ________________________________________________________________________ 8 Figure 15 Curtain wall grid _______________________________________________________________________ 9 Figure 17 Cladding floors junction details_________________________________________________________ 9 Figure 14 Curtain wall 3D section ________________________________________________________________ 9 Figure 16 cladding ground floor junction detail ___________________________________________________ 9 Figure 18 Curtain wall section ___________________________________________________________________ 9 Figure 19 West elevation metal cladding________________________________________________________ 10 Figure 20 Metal cladding section details ________________________________________________________ 10 Figure 22 West elevation _______________________________________________________________________ 10 Figure 21 West entrance details ________________________________________________________________ 10 Figure 23 Masonry cladding ____________________________________________________________________ 11 Figure 24 Black masonry brick __________________________________________________________________ 11 Figure 25 Passenger lift door ____________________________________________________________________ 12 Figure 26 Lift core ______________________________________________________________________________ 12 Figure 27 Floor _________________________________________________________________________________ 13 Figure 28 Socket box ___________________________________________________________________________ 13 Figure 29 Celling _______________________________________________________________________________ 13 Figure 30 Self-services device __________________________________________________________________ 13

Ground floor Internal The ground floor of the Newcastle library occupies 60% of the floor area 855m2 with an atrium extended up to level 4.

Entrance lobby: The entrance lobby have been designed as a protection to the building against bad weather events with. The entrance lobby constructed independently from steel frame with 3.3*4.2m and 3.6m height.

Entrance air curtain system: The both West and South East entrances lobby have an air curtain system located in the vertically at the centre of the lobby to stop air circulation and reduce the affection of the wind and bad weather between external and internal of the building. Also, the entrance system is reducing temperature differentiations by blowing warm air to the lobby box to stop cold from coming through the building as well as warm air from skipping out. Also, air curtain stops bugs, dust and fumes from passing through.

Figure 1 Main entrance lobby

Entrance reception: The City Library has no main reception desk but, there are 3 enquiry points.

Atrium Hall: The atrium is 15.5m high and made of four floors with white painted walls and ceiling with spot lighting system.

Figure 2 Main entrance elevation

Enquiries points: There are 3 enquiry points to accommodate to up to 6 staff members where the staff walk around the floor to provide help. Also, there are 4 self-issue units and returns.

Study spaces: The library locates very good amount of spaces for studying at the ground floor. however, currently, that space is under renovations for an unknown purpose which might reduce the number of studying.

Interview rooms: The City Library provides helps and assistant to the public when needed by arranging appointments and meeting with

Figure 3 Main entrance plan

authorised organisations that could help and support.

Retails shelves: The retail shelves located in the middle of the ground floor which is the middle of the atrium hall. The retail shelves can be seen from level 2 up to level 4.the selves display a selective collection of books with some bestselling collections to increase visitors and raise income.

Staircase: The staircase accesses the whole building from ground floor to approaches all levels.

The staircase is white marble finished with clear glass and stainless steel railing to promote a modern and clear view to the surrounding atrium.

Also, it allows applies a unique view to the entire building externally which it can be seen clearly through the external envelope.

Figure 4 Entrance system

Figure 5 Atrium

Figure 6 Staircase

External doors The main entrance (blue box): The Southeast main entrance is an automatic sliding door 2.1m height 1.8 width with dark blue glass finish which designed to apply deference to the elevation and let the entrance stand out and appears from distance. However, the dark blue finish is not performing as it designed, where the entrance still cannot be realised by the visitors from a distance as well as the passer can only notice it when they come so close. The blue glass is blocking the visibility and let the entrance lobby so dark even in sunny days and with lights systems is on. The automatic door seems is not the right type of doors in the very busy pathway as New Bridge St. It opens every time a passer come across where that keep it open all the time.

Figure 7 Entrance sign

Main entrance signs: The main entrance sign made of reflective stainless steel attached to black masonry on the far opposite side of the Southeast door to navigate the visitors to the entrance. The sign is small to be read from distance with its contrast with the background also it has no illuminated elements or projected spotlight to make it stand out and glow.

Figure 8 Main entrance

The West entrance sign: The West entrance is an automatic sliding door with transparent glass matches the elevation. The entrance has a small clear signage that shows the door from distance, it just has a stickered sign on the glass with a transparent background which is difficult to be read from distance. The automatic door keeps opening every time when passer cross by where that leave it to slide open most of the time.

Figure 9 West entrance

Emergency exit: The emergency exit has been designed and manufactured to a high standard for its right purpose, but the bottom of the door has rusted and that made it extremely hard to be open in the case of emergency. The rust that has been caused by water that runs on the external landing and trying to skip in has affected the functionality of the emergency exit which becomes useless and hard to open. In the case of emergency, this nonfunctional door could cause serious injury to people and let them stuck inside.

Figure 10 Emergency exit

Staff door: The library staff door located on the back side of the City library from the tiny corridor on John Dobson St. The door is grey colour finish probably made of steel and have fire resistant.

Main door sill junction: The external Southeast door landing meets the main entrance door sill within down slope point with drainage pipe extended along the elevation. The sill slot has designed to prevent water from coming over the building and drain it into the draining system.

However, in the case or rain, the above glass elevation spills down a big amount of water as well as the rainfall on the landing area of the entrance which well be collected in the slot that located in the entrance sill. However, the entrance is the lower level in the surrounding area which makes it the only place that collects water from the landing space into the slot. The slot is about 4.5 Inch pipe where is not the appropriate size to maintain all the amount of water at the time, which causes flood precisely in front of the entrance. And because of the internal landing is an extended lowest point, water comes through the doors and wet the internal floor and causes a flood in the case of heavy rainfalls.

Figure 11 draining point

Figure 13 West entrance

Figure 12 Sill details

Cladding Glassing cladding: The east faรงade is 1,050 m2 faces John Dobson Street, the glazing designed to allow the sun brightening the interior and to provide warmth to the entire building. Also, allows passer to see the facilities and activities inside the building. The glaze decorated with some beautiful public art. (Ryder,2009) However, at some periods of the year the interior space gets over bright and block the screens visibility where there is no shading elements or blinds to controls the amount of daylight when it needed.

The curtain wall is structural glazing system, manufactured by Schueco. The manafcturaer claims that in their website, FW60+.HI the system material manufactured from aluminium transommullion and a high level of thermal insulation with 1.0 Uf-value and 60mm of face width. Also, the manufacturer benefits the faรงade system as burglar resistance to RC3. (Schueco, no date) The curtain wall system is 60*20mm structure frame aluminium internal frame with a double glassed screen 30mm thickness fitted in rubber seal to avoid leakage and high standard of weather proof bolted from outside to fit in place and covered with aluminium panel to apply fine finish.

Figure 15 Cladding floors junction details

Figure 18 Curtain wall section

Figure 14 Curtain wall grid

Figure 16 Curtain wall 3D section

Figure 17 cladding ground floor junction detail

Metal cladding: The northern and western facade is a repetitive elevation. The elevation is metal rain screen system with matt silver appearance with other dividing elements on the western faรงade are installed on the small windows.

The windows are protected by vertical blades to apply a controlled amount of daylight and sun gain to the interior and preventing overheating, which distract attention away from the repetitive materials. The shading elements have bright colours to apply a lively appearance to the building.

The certain wall which divides the faรงade drawing attention to the entrances. The entrance onto princess square glazed from 1st to 5th floor illuminates the upper hall allowing flow throughout the building making it simple for users to map out their journey.

Figure 19 West elevation metal cladding

The cladding made of metal panel is 2235mm long 310mm width clashed installation to fit together hanged from behind by 400mm hanger out of the brick wall filled with about 200mm air barrier, and 100mm insulation.

Figure 21 West elevation

Figure 20 Metal cladding section details

Figure 22 West entrance details

Masonry Cladding: The contemporary masonry black cladding is less of a statement than the rest of the building which allows the glazing and aluminium cladding to draw attention during day and night. The aluminium cladding on the northern and west and south facades reflect light giving the building a healthy glow which seems to illuminate the before dull princess square courtyard. The gentle colour on the vertical blades breaks up the repetitive colour of the facade giving the building more character and individuality. (Project, 2015) With a combination with the glass external envelope, the library back faรงade has covered by black structural polished masonry.

Forticrete the masonry manufacturer climes that, Medici is a structural masonry 440 * 215 * 90mm size made from a controlled mixture of aggregates and cement which offers weather resistance to provide a high standard of durability and can be fitted internally and internally. The manufacturer also notes that the polishing face should be indicated on drawing and cut on-site should not be done, where they supply factory pre-cut and polished by order. (Forticrete, 2017)

Figure 23 Masonry cladding

Figure 24 Black masonry brick

Services Passenger lifts: The Passenger lifts are located in the middle of the floor plan, the building has only two lifts allowed for public. The core of the left is a steel frame structure covered with glass on the ground floor and lifted open core at the rest of the void which shows all the mechanical particles.

The left cars are glass finish cabin 1100*2100mm with dual side central slide doors made of glass as well with single control panel with stainless steel finish and black tiled flooring.

Passengers can load only from ground floor from one side to travel up and get out through the other door at floor 2 - 6.

Calling lift can take an average off 80 seconds at the off-peak period.

The left manufacturer claims that the car is capable of loading 16 passenger maximum or an average of 1000KG in 1.0 – 1.6 m/s. (KONE, 2016)

Figure 25 Passenger lift door

Staff lifts: The two staff lifts are located in the Northwest and the South are not allowed for public use but it can be used in the event of firefighting. The lifts are made of metal with pull mechanism system.

Figure 26 Lift core

Finishing Flooring: The City Library ground floor has lightly polished marble floor to apply the maximum brightness to the internal environment as well as level one.

The rest of the library from level 2 to level 6 are carpet covered with some colour differences. The carpet applies cosy feeling and visual guide to navigating people naturally around the floor. Also, carpet has its benefits on reducing the walking noise at quiet and reading areas.

The marble floor at the ground floor have some cracks and defects at some points where it might be caused by low-quality finishing.

Painting: The City Library generally painted white to apply bright atmosphere.

However, some areas the paint has effected from the upper level where it might have water leaking also some cracks started to appear where it need to be maintained at an early stage before issues get bigger.

Figure 27 Floor

Socket box: The library has a floor sockets box with lids that match the floor finishes to supply power to the visitors everywhere. However, in some points, the socket box has connected to regular cables that let the lid open with tangled cables webbing around which it should be more organised for a better appearance also, to avoid electrical issues as well as the public safety proposes.

Lift housing: the glass panels of the left housing are not fitted together perfectly.

Figure 29 Celling

Figure 30 Self-services device

Figure 28 Socket box

Appendix

West elevation First floor curtain wall junction

West elevation section

Main entrance elevation

Main entrance plan

South east main entrance sill junction

Cladding floors junction details

cladding ground floor junction detail

Curtain wall section

West entrance details

Metal cladding section details

Bibliography •

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Forticrete (2017) Concrete blocks. Available at: http://www.forticrete.co.uk (Accessed: 20 February 2017).

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KONE (2016) Available at: http://www.kone.co.uk (Accessed: 20 February 2017).

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Limited, E.P., 7880758, C. number, England, address, R., Group, T.R.O., Prow, T. and Walk, W. 1 (2013) AJBL - Ryder architecture. Available at: http://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/3550 (Accessed: 2 February 2017).

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News & knowledge (2013) Available at: http://www.buildingcentre.co.uk/news/dorma-opens-the-door-on-uniquemovable-wall-installation-at-newcastle-city-library (Accessed: 21 February 2017).

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Project, Z. (2015) Category: BE1380. Available at: https://ziggyproject.wordpress.com/category/be1380/ (Accessed: 3 February 2017).

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Schueco (no date) Available at: https://www.schueco.com/web2/uk (Accessed: 20 February 2017).