View source for Manchester Cancer Research Centre

==Article in [http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/digi/NSCOct13/index.html#/16/ NSC October 2013]==
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'''Steel formulates iconic research facility'''<br>
A cancer research centre in Manchester is being constructed with a [[Braced_frames|steel frame]] to create a building that can flexibly accommodate both research laboratories and office space.<br>

The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) building is funded by The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. It is being built on land owned by The Christie – a specialist cancer hospital in South Manchester.

The new building will aid the expansion of research by providing space for an additional 150 cancer researchers whose research will focus on understanding how cancer starts, develops and progresses, as well as 100 clinical trials support staff. It has been designed to facilitate collaboration between researchers and clinicians to translate discoveries made in the laboratory into new personalised treatments for cancer patients.

The facility is expected to attract leading experts from across the globe and so the client’s brief to the design team stipulated an iconic flagship development.

Situated overlooking a busy thoroughfare, the structure is destined to become a local landmark with its visually exciting cantilevers and sloping [[Facades_and_interfaces|facades]]. This complex [[Design|structural design]] had to incorporate both research laboratories and offices and this led to the decision to employ a hybrid approach to the structural frame. “Using a [[Braced_frames|steel frame]] allowed us to create the desired structural shape and the hybrid design helped solve any [[Floor_vibrations|vibration]] issues connected with the sensitive equipment which will be installed within the completed facility’s laboratories,” explains James Potter, Wilson Mason Project Architect.

The building is divided in half by the entrance and a large lightwell. Three interlinked laboratory wings are positioned on one side of this open space with the offices on the other side. Both consist of three levels (including ground floor), with the laboratory area’s topmost level occupied by a plant floor. The three levels of [[Multi-storey_office_buildings|office accommodation]] have been constructed using a [[Composite_construction|composite]] solution with steelwork supporting [[Steel_construction_products#Decking for floors|steel floor decking]].

In the laboratory areas a [[Braced_frames|steel frame]] supporting [[Floor_systems#Precast units|precast planks]] is utilised to accommodate the varying degrees of [[Floor_vibrations|vibration]]  due to the research equipment. The planks vary in depth, up to a maximum 350mm thickness, depending on the equipment to be installed and the soffits will be left exposed to optimise [[Thermal_mass|thermal mass]], thereby helping to cool the building, explains Jon Sheppard, Aecom Project Engineer. “Although this was of secondary importance to the [[Floor_vibrations|vibration]]  issue.”

Aside from the two disparate functions accommodated within the structure, the overall form of the building has presented some interesting [[Design|design]] challenges. “The complexity of the shape lends itself to steelwork with [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|reinforced cores]],” says Dave Mills, Pochin Project Manager. “We have split levels, cantilevers and sloping [[Facades_and_interfaces|facades]], all of which would have been difficult to achieve with any other material.”

Each of the laboratory wings feature a 12 degree sloping [[Facades_and_interfaces|façade]], making them look like protruding blades. They are each supported by sloping shear walls and [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|cores]], and formed with raking columns.
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Overall the [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|stability]] for the building’s frame is derived from the [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|cores]] with additional [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|stability]] provided by [[Braced_frames#Bracing systems|bracing]]. [[Construction#Temporary works|Temporary steelwork]] was also extensively used throughout the sloping areas, as these parts of the frame were not fully stable until they were topped out and the floors installed.

According to Mr Potter, the sloping [[Facades_and_interfaces|facades]] not only furnish the structure with some standout architectural elements, they also help maximise the available footprint. “By leaning away from the lightwell the first floor has a larger footprint and so provides more valuable laboratory space,” he adds.

The majority of the raking columns will be left exposed, adding further to the modern and aesthetic feel of the laboratory zones and the adjacent lightwell.

Spanning the lightwell, a steel footbridge will connect the offices with the laboratories at first floor level. Above this, the building’s central void is topped with a series of north lights, formed with steel frames. These frames were brought to site as [[Welding|welded]] triangles and once they were [[Simple_connections|bolted]] into place, secondary [[Braced_frames#Bracing systems|bracing]] was then added.

The north lights will illuminate the centre of the building, as well as some of the laboratories with natural daylight. The entrance area’s public café will also benefit from this feature.

Professor Nic Jones, Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, says: “The new Manchester Cancer Research Centre building has been designed to provide state-of-the-art research facilities that will enable our scientists to make ground-breaking discoveries that lead to improved treatments for cancer patients. The new centre marks an important new phase in cancer research in Manchester and will be completed and ready for use in Summer 2014.”

==[[Construction#Steel erection|Steel erection]]==
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The MCRC site is compact with limited space for materials to be stored or [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] to be located. Steelwork contractor EvadX has employed a just-in-time method for its steel deliveries with everything lifted into place the day it arrives to site.

Another challenge is the fact that the structure has eight [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|cores]], which provide [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|lateral stability]] to the frame. “Avoiding the [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|cores]] while lifting steelwork, [[Floor_systems#Precast units|planks]] and [[Steel_construction_products#Decking for floors|steel floor decking]] was a considerable challenge and required a lot of logistical planning,” says Andrew Roberts, EvadX Project Manager.

Because of the job’s complexity the 575t steel total includes hundreds of small [[Steel_construction_products#Standard open sections|sections]]. At the other end of the scale, the longest pieces of steel to be [[Construction#Steel erection|erected]] are a series of 18m long x 700mm deep [[Steel_construction_products#Plate girders|fabricated beams]] which form the entrance and lightwell.

Another large steel element is a 16m long × 5m high [[Trusses|truss]] which forms the office area’s feature 11.5m cantilever on the front elevation. The [[Trusses|truss]] is situated on the second floor and as well as creating the cantilever the first floor of this part of the building is hung from it. The [[Trusses|truss]] was [[Fabrication#Handling and transportation|brought to site]] as a completed and fully [[Welding|welded]] section, and lifted into place during one four-hour procedure.

“We used two 50t capacity [[Construction#Mobile cranes|mobile cranes]] in a tandem lift. As it was so big we had to employ traffic control measures to bring the [[Trusses|truss]] close to the site and then lift it into place,” explains Mr Roberts.

{|class="wikitable" width="400"
|-
|'''Architect'''||Wilson Mason and Partners
|-
|'''Structural Engineer'''||Aecom
|-
|'''Steelwork Contractor'''||EvadX
|-
|'''Principal Contractor'''||M+W Group
|-
|'''Main Contractor'''||Pochin
|-
|'''Main Client'''||The University of Manchester
|}

[[Category:Case studies - Healthcare buildings]]