Strategically located in Eastside Vancouver is a new 7 Storey Key Self Storage Building using DELTABEAM® as the structural support assembly. The developer, Ed Bulley, wanted a self-storage building specifically designed for earthquake protection. Also, he wanted ample headroom with large open spaces between columns. To enable this, Ed required the following project attributes:
- An accelerated construction schedule that allows sub-trades to work on floors below as hollow-core panels installation continued on the structure above.
- Maximum indoor cubic space so no drop beams could obstruct full storage potential with an FSR 5 (Floor Space Ratio), based on some 30-foot DELTABEAM® spans with 11-foot clear headroom.
- He required a 2-hour fire rated floor with a live load capacity of 100psf (4.8kPa) plus to resist the worst earthquakes, which offer maximum storage with possible alternate building use potential.
Mr. Bulley commissioned structural engineer Sal Tabet to create a hybrid structure composed of the cast-in-place concrete over the first floor parkade with a hollow core concrete slab supported by DELTABEAM® for the above levels. The architect Chip Barrett worked in conjunction with Con Force Structures to design the cladding system.
After tendering the project, Mr. Bulley determined that the only way to achieve the FSR 5 to make this project viable was to use DELTABEAM® to enlarge the headroom space above storage lockers. The engineers at Peikko Canada, led by Dominic Colpron with Antanas Urbonas, facilitated the design to use DELTABEAM® coupled with PCs® corbels and HPKM® column shoes for the structure.
The connections with the cast-in-place walls rely on these corbels for gravity load, and threaded inserts through the concrete topping provide lateral resistance. A 3 in (75 mm), thick reinforced concrete overlay over these hollow-core units enables designers to achieve the diaphragm action required for the hollow-core slab. This unique design assembly made the system more cost-competitive compared to cast-in-place concrete. Also, it exceeded any earthquake requirements for the British Columbia earthquake corridor.
Key project individuals at a glance
Owner/developer of project; Ed Bulley Key Self Storage
- Project manager; Derek Bulley
- Peikko Engineers; Dominic Colpron / Antanas Urbonas, Ash Sharma
- Structural; designer/supplier Con Force Precast Ebrahim Moradi
- Architect Chip Wilson
- Structural engineer Tabet Engineering Sale Tabet
Now Key Self Storage Franklin's client will have a safe storage facility for their valuables in a solid, secure storage building explicitly designed to withstand the worst possible seismic and weather conditions. Plus, Ed Bully has a structure that offers excellent current ROI with the possibility of re-purposing later in the building's 100-year lifespan.
