PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
oslo, norway
JAMES WILSON
structural option
   
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

BUILDING STATISTICS

Building Data:

  Building name: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Location & Site: Bjørvika B10A,
Oslo, Norway
Building Occupant Name: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Occupancy: Office building
Size: 14 000 m2
Number of stories: 12 stories above grade
2 stories below grade
Cost: 300 mill NOK
Date of completion: November 2008
Project delivery method: Design bid build with construction manager as agent

 
 
 

 Project Team Directory:

Role

Firm

Website

Owner

Oslo S Utvikling AS
Dronning Eufemias gt. 8
N-0051 Oslo

www.osu.no

Architect

Arkitekturlaboratoriet AS
Drammensveien 130
0277 Oslo

www.a-lab.no

Structural Engineer

Multiconsult AS
Nedre Skøyen vei 2
0276 Oslo

www.multiconsult.no

Construction Manager

Vedal Prosjekt AS
Postboks 58, Lilleaker
0216 Oslo

www.vedal.no

Interior Architect

Beate Ellingsen AS
Fredensborgveien 11
0177 Oslo

www.beate-ellingsen.no

Interior Architect

Arkitektene AS
Bogstadveien 7 a2,
n-0355 Oslo

www.arkitekteneas.no

Electrical Engineer

Ingeniør Per Rasmussen
Skuiveien 147
1339 Vøyenenga

www.ipras.no

Mechanical Engineer

Erichsen  & Horgen AS
Nydalsveien 36
N-0483 Oslo

www.erichsen-horgen.no

Fire Safety Consultant

NEAS brannconsult AS
Vollsveien 13 H
1325 Lysaker

www.nbc.no

Geotechnical Consultant

Geovita AS
Lilleakerveien 4
0283 Oslo

www.geovita.no 

Ecconomics Consultant

Bygganalyse AS
Drammensveien 147 B
0277 Oslo

www.bygganalyse.no

 

 

 

 

Architecture:

In 2003 Oslo S Utvikling hosted an international architecture competition for the lot located south of the Oslo S train lines - between the outrun of Akerselven and Middeladerparken. The competition was jointly won by MVRDV, Dark Arkitekter, and A-lab with their proposal for the Barcode development. The new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) building is the first building to be completed in the Barcode strip and will be “the face” of the Barcode towards the west.

The Barcode concept is based on a series of parallel building strips aligned in a formation that will ensure a lot of air between buildings and provide good views onto and out of the site, says A-lab architect Mathias Eckman. The strip will contain a row of eight to ten buildings, each with their own individual form and character. They will however abide by certain formulas and guidelines set forth by the zoning plan that regulates shape, size, function, material use, public spaces, roofing, and entrances. There is a volume guide with specific principle forms that the buildings may take on. Each building must adhere to one of the principle forms and must be completely different from the adjacent buildings. The intention is to provide unique multifunctional architecture with a lot of light, variation and accessibility.

 
A-Lab models showing Barcode concept
 
Excavated Barcode site


The exterior shape of the PwC building is simple and defined. The east side runs perpendicular to Nydalen Alle and the west side follows the property line, creating a rhombus like shape in plan. There are of two stories below grade and twelve above grade with a five story opening in the center of the façade indicating the main entrance.

The program inside mainly conforms to the needs of the professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Technical rooms and parking are located on sub grade floors. The first three floors above grade contain an auditorium, a reception area, meeting rooms, and towards Nydalen Alle, shops and restaurants. The forth through the eleventh floors hold conference rooms and office spaces. A grand cafeteria with spectacular views and outdoor dining options is located on the top floor. The core consists of a permanent technical zone that contains communication, technical installations and wet services, in addition to zones that can be designed differently depending on the need of the different departments. The story height is 3,65 meters which will be similar to all buildings in the Barcode development.

Cafeteria

Rooftop patio

The building envelope consists of curtainwall glazing, metal paneling and tar paper roof, intended to give off an impression of lightness, openness and technological sophistication. The attachment of the curtainwall to the building is made using steel brackets welded to the outside edges of the deck. The glass type chosen is Glaverbels Stopray Carat, and there are 8 different variations of this glass on the building. Determining which glass to use was challenging says A-Lab architect Mathias Eckman, as criteria for fire, sound, solar shading and safety had to be considered.

 

Major Model Codes:

+ Life Safety Code
+ Byggforsk
+ Norske Standarder
- Still determening others

Zoning:

+ Oslo Kommune S-4187, 16.11.2005, Regulerings bestemmelser for felt B10 i bjørvika
+ Oslo Kommune S-4099, 15.06.2004, Regulerings bestemmelser for Bjørvika - Bispevika -  Lohaven

Construction

The project delivery method chosen for the PwC building was design bid build with construction manager as agent. The developer, Oslo S Utvikling, was responsible for design engineers and sub contractors. This delivery method was chosen opposed to a general contractor because the market was strained during initial stages.

Mechanical Systems

The mechanical systems are intended to provide high quality indoor climate, while maintaining efficient energy use. The building contains many office and conference rooms under varied use that require premium indoor climate. Therefore flexible and adaptable control systems are implemented. The building developer also requested a solution that would be sustainable and keep energy consumption to a minimum. Some of the systems used to accommodate these criteria are district heating and cooling, a balanced ventilation system and a building automation system.

The building is heated along the perimeter with thin tube, hot water radiators. The radiators mainly account for the heat losses through the envelope of the building. Floors 5 through 11 contain approximately 70 radiators per floor, each radiator with a heating capacity of 600W/h. Further individual temperature adjustment is provided by variable air valve (VAV) with reheat air systems. Each office and conference room controls their own VAV with reheat air system. There are two main air handling units on each floor which supply air to the various spaces. The building is cooled using water provided from Akerselva.  During the colder seasons, freecooling is used, which utilizes air directly from outside. All the buildings technical installations are zone controlled by a web-based building atomization system (BAS). This system regulates HVAC, lighting, electrical, safety and security systems.

Conference room ceiling
Perimeter Radiators
Control Display

The heating and cooling central is currently located in the basement of the building and is intended to be a temporary solution, but it can also be permanent if need be. There are plans to build a central supply for the entire Barcode district, which the PwC building could eventually take use of.

Electrical

The buildings electrical system runs on a on a 230/400V 3 phase 4 wire system. If power were to be lost during an emergency, power will be provided by a diesel generator located in the basement. Keeping energy consumption to a minimum was one of the architects and developers design goals; however with the clients wishes for an all glass façade and high quality indoor climate their goal was achieved only to a certain degree. The buildings overall energy consumption is estimated to be 156 kWh/m2/year. With the growing focus on sustainable design, there will be made greater efforts to reduce energy consumption in the following Barcode buildings.

Lighting

Lighting fixtures were chosen on a basis of providing the desired amount of light for intended use, energy consumption, aesthetics, flexibility and economy. Office and hallways are typically lit with suspended direct/indirect compact florescent lighting fixtures. Conference rooms typically use a combination of wallwashers and recessed direct compact florescent lighting. Public areas mainly use recessed circular compact florescent down lights.

Direct/indirect
wall washers
Down lights

Structural

The superstructure of the building consists of precast concrete plank decking on steel frame with cast in place concrete cores. The hollow core concrete planks are Hollow Core 265’s and have typical sections of 120cmx30cm, with spans ranging from 10 to 20 meters. Along the interior of the building, planks typically rest on steel angles fastened to the concrete core. Along the exterior, planks typically rest on the bottom flange of a special steel beam. These beams are fabricated by precast engineer and integrate the beams into deck height, creating extremely low floor to floor height. The steel beams are supported by circular hollow structrual steel columns filled with reinforced concrete. The opening in the center of the front facade created by using three steel trusses that transfer the loads either side of the building. During construction, the structure was supported by two temporary columns that were removed after the integrity of the truss was intact. Lateral resistance is provided by reinforced concrete shear walls located within the building. The lateral system is integrated into the sub grade floors, which are comprised of cast in place concrete. They act as a base to distribute overturning moments into the foundation. The foundation uses steel piles driven between 100ft and 130ft to bedrock.

Steel truss over opening in facade
Steel truss over opening in facade

Fire protection

The building is fully sprinkled and exposed steel members are painted to provide a fireclass rating of A60 and A90. The designation A60 is a fire rating in accordance with NS 3919 and is equivalent to R60 of the Eurocodes.
Eurocode rating description:
R – indicates the construction is bearing.
60 – indicates the number of minuets material is rated.      

Transportation

There are three stair towers and four elevators that account for vertical transportation through the building. Although still under development, service routes will be directed through sub grade roads that connect with buildings to the West. Service routes from sub grade levels to the cafeteria will happen through a key-card accessed elevator, which goes directly to the top floor. Zoning regulates the maximum number of parking spaces allowed in order to minimize use of cars in the city. Oslo has one of the best public transportation networks in the world, says A-Lab architect Mathias Eckman, and we would like to encourage the use of it.

         

 

 

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While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of James Wilson. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

This page was last updated on January 15, 2009, by James Wilson and is hosted by the The Pennsylvania State Universiry Architectural Engineering Department ©2008