The highstreet and public interface atrium encourages formal and informal interactions between clients , staff and visitors and contains the staff & visitor entrances & receptions , vertical circulation including lifts , stair & escalators , coffee shops , informal meeting spaces , staff restaurant and seating as well as the pause areas for each office floor plate . There are a series of outdoor spaces accessible from the highstreet that allow for staff break away spaces and outdoor functions , adding value to both the client and BCX user .
The architecture is derived from a ‘ folded atrium façade ’, perhaps reminiscent of origami paper folding techniques ’ allowing for a somewhat organic set of linking spaces containing the social and interactive elements of daily use including the multi-level escalator and lift banks clustered around the coffee and pause areas .
The folded architecture allows for ingress of natural light from the south while screening the internal environment from hot northern and western sun . The façade folds adapt themselves to acknowledge entrance , branding and user experience . Careful use of materials ; aluminium panels and performance glazing enhance the iconic brand value of the public atrium element .
In essence BCX is a set of highly efficient working footplates connected by an interwoven network of user pathways providing a stimulating , comfortable and respectful environment to its many diverse users .
The Roof One of the standout aspects of the project was the feature roof portion which encloses the large multi-level atrium areas . Large multilevel glazed façades enclose these atrium areas on either side of the building .
The roof structure had to be developed in such a way that large spans were incorporated with minimal impact on the structure below . The roof geometry was relatively complex , however the design solution needed to be relatively simple to enable easy installation on site .
The roof structure and associated feature columns were designed and constructed with structural steel lattice trusses , girders and lattice columns . The lattice structure in turn is clad with smooth aluminium cladding giving the roof structure the crisp finish that was desired .
The structure supporting the multi-level façade also provides vertical support for the roof structure . This structure was designed and constructed with conventional I and H structural steel sections . The roof and façade structure are braced to the adjacent reinforced structural buildings which provide the required lateral stability for these structures .
The atrium areas also had feature columns that were constructed from welded up structural hollow sections . A number of these columns are features with no structural significance , however three of these columns are design to provided vertical support for the roof structure .
BCX Head Office 501