Download Kursaal Cultural Center

Building Systems 2
Team: BACT
Assignment 2: Structural Systems
Architect: Raphael Moneo
Kursaal Cultural Center
San Sebastian, Spain
Introduction: Each cube of the Kursaal consists of two independent structural systems, situated upon a
concrete plinth, supported by concrete columns and piers. The exterior is a steel framing system with
glass enclosure, and the interior volumes of the auditorium and chamber music hall are reinforced
concrete frames poured in place with concrete infill.
Order: The Kursaal’s exterior shell structural system consists of a series of steel bents or frames. These
frames are composed, essentially, of double Vierendeel columns, cantilevered from a concrete base and
spanned by Pratt trusses. The members of the columns are tubular steel, shop welded to their full height,
then joined with field welds to the lateral bracing systems and trusses. The trusses are fabricated of Hbeam sections. A concrete diaphragm is poured across the bottom cords of the trusses, bracing the
frames.
Scale: The glass enclosure allows a visual connection to the steel framing system, which is proportioned
in such a way as to break the overall building scale down to human proportions.
Hierarchy:
Gravity Loads: Dead loads are the only relevant gravity loads in the exterior shells. The
mechanical equipment is situated on the diaphragm. The loads are transferred through the frames to the
concrete plinth, then into the ground through concrete columns. The two interior structures have
differing transfers of their gravity loads, due to positioning of the concrete column grid beneath the
chamber music hall. While the auditorium transfers its loads through the plinth to the columns, the
chamber music hall has an enormous lateral beam system to pass its loads to the column grid.
Lateral Loads: Wind and earthquake loads are transferred through the two independent exterior
shells with different hierarchies. For the main auditorium, the lateral loads hit the exterior wall, are then
transferred through the diaphragm to the bents, between which the loads are passed through the lateral
bracing. Finally they pass then down through the double columns to the base. For the chamber music
hall, the lateral loads are passed from the exterior wall to the bents, through the lateral bracing to the
diaphragm.
Materials:
Steel: The steel provides the tensile strength and the concrete provides for compressive strength.
The tubular steel members of the columns provides for superior protection against bending as well as
performing its compressive functions. The choice of tubular steel may also be attributed to increased
performance when field welding, as it reduces brittle fracture cracking. Associated shipping costs and
reduction of dead loads also contributed to the material choice.
Concrete: Concrete was chosen for the foundation structure due to the sandy soil content. For
the interior boxes, the relatively flexible rigid concrete frames function well in structures free from
lateral wind loads.
Relationship of Technology to Context: According to BOCA/Basic National Building Codes, Moneo’s
Kursaal would be classified as Type 2A Protected Non-Combustible. Its Use Group would be A3Assembly. This allows for a building height between 40 and 85 feet, using concrete and steel protected
by intumescent paint.