Boh Visitor Centre

Building Structure

The choice to use metalwork was based strictly on the need to reduce on site construction activities. We were also contemplating to expedite erection of steel frames in order to mitigate delivery problems of the tea leaves to the currently operating factory nearby. The structural components were kept very simple, using mainly standard section sizes. No major welding were done, except for smaller components. The side windows and facade were fabricated off site and assembled quickly and put into place between posts on a span of 9m grid. The steelwork is limited strictly to the upper storey structure, this is then assembled in situ to sit atop a reinforced concrete frame consisting on 350×1000 deep beams spanning the 9m grid. The floor slabs are then finished in exposed but sealant treated cement render. These were applied a dark receding colour. The ramped concrete floor allows for a truck and general vehicles to pass under for the next phase of construction.

Roof Structure

Roof is constructed of a simple mild steeel edge capping assembled to terminate the open trussed metal beams. Such devices were used to reduce the weight of the structure overall and also to ease the distribution of services inside the voids between the trusses. A sligth slope towards the back allows draining of the rainwater of the roof towards only one side of the roof which simplifies building elevation treatment.