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Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona J. Martinez

Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Mare Nostrum Tower for Natural Gas

in Barcelona

Mare Nostrum tower for the Natural Gas

in Barcelona

R
Julio Martinez Calzon
Dr. Civil Engineer Director of MC2
Engineering Study

1. GENERAL ASPECTS of a restricted architectural 1. GENERAL ASPECTS

The Gas Natural complex is located
on Avenida del Doctor Aiguader on
the coastal belt in the Barceloneta
neighbourhood, and in relative
proximity to the two high-rise
buildings: MAPFRE and Hotel Arts,
built for the 1992 Olympics.
This realization is the end result
Brullet-De Luna
competition convened in 1999 by said
company, in agreement with the
Barcelona City Council, to achieve a
representative work that would
appropriately order this partially
industrial and somewhat degraded
area. Eight teams of architects
participated in this contest, whose
proposals, of great interest, are
reflected in the following images:
theNatural gascomplex is set on the
Avenida del Doctor Aiguader in the
coastal sector of the Barceloneta district
and relatively close to two other tall
buildings, the MAPFRE building and the
Hotel Arts which were both built on the
occasion of the 1992 Olympics in
Barcelona.
This building is the final result of an
initial and restricted call for architectural
proposals made by the company in 1999,
on the approval of the Barcelona City
Council, with the intention of creating a
landmark building and one which would
integrate with and suitably organize this
partially. industrial and somewhat
neglected area of the city. In that call
eight architects teams participate and
furnished a series of interesting proposals
which may be seen below.

Carlos Ferrater Henry Henry

concrete Y Steel R neither245, 3erQuarter 2007 5

 J. Martinez Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Espinet - Ubach Jospe A. Llinàs

Martinez Lapena - Torres Martorel - Bohigas - Mackay

Miralles - Tagliabue

The winning proposal was presented
by the EMBT group of architects, formed
by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagl
iabue who proposed a solution along
the lines of post-modern hybrid
deconstruction, a style in which Enric
Miralles was perhaps the leading
exponent in Spain. Miralles in
association with Benedetta Tagliabue
were responsible for the design of the
prestigious Scottish Parliament building
and other works including the extension
of the Institute of Architecture in Venice
(IUAV), though this latter design may
not see the light of day following the
last- minute cancellation of the works.
The formal and conceptual process of
the Gas Natural complex is based, in the
words of its designers, on the reflection
of a disorderly group of rocks beside the
sea (Figure 1); with a partially
amorphous organization of great visual
impact and totally opposing any ration-
alized outline, though one which is very
solid. It could be defined as a neo-
expressionist proposal with elements of
forceful lyricism.
The formal version presented in
response to the call for proposals (Figure
2) – which subtly incorporates in the plan
layout and the silhouettes of a number of
elevations a type of abstract configuration
of the butterfly emblem employed by Gas
Natural in many of its advertisements – is
very similar to the final building, though
there are a number of differences between
both solutions and essentially that the
original layout was clearly more “dramatic”
and even more daring and tense.
This first and more dramatic version
was toned down at the start of the
development of the proposal due to the
need to incorporate detailed functional
aspects which, as is well known, in build-
The winning EMBT team, made up of
Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue,
proposed a solution in the deconstructive-
postmodern hybrid line, in the first of
which Enric Miralles represents, perhaps,
the most conspicuous Spanish example of
this compositional trend. More recently,
together with Benedetta Tagliabue, they
have carried out the prestigious Scottish
Parliament and other works, among which
I would highlight the expansion of the
Venice Institute of Architecture (IUAV),
although it may not be completed after the
interruption of the work at the dawn of it.
The formal and conceptual process
of the Natural Gas complex started –
in the words of its authors- from a
reflection on a disorderly set of rocks
by the sea (Figure 1); with a partially
amorphous structuring, but of great
visual power, totally in opposition to
any delineated system, rare.

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Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Figure 1. Conceptual image.
Figure 1. Conceptual image.
nationalized, ... etc. but very
consistent. We could define it as a
neo-expressionist proposal with a
component of poetic lyricism.
The formal version submitted to the
competition (Figure 2) –which subtly
includes, in its plan layout and the
silhouettes of some of its elevations, a
kind of abstract configuration of the
butterfly that Gas Natural uses in many
of its posters and advertisements– it is
very similar to what was built, although
some differences between the two
solutions cannot be overlooked, which
are fundamentally established in that
the original scheme was openly more
“dramatic”, and if you will, somewhat
more daring and tense.
Said first, and more dramatic
version, was softened when the
development program of the idea
began, as the functional aspects had
to be incorporated in detail, which, as
is well known, in buildings of a certain
height involve important conditioning
factors linked to the connections and
vertical installations: lifts, patios, etc.,
as well as structural aspects.
The range of objectives of the architectural
project was very wide: it tried to achieve an
attractive and emblematic image, required by
the competition, through the complex system
of shapes, proportions and daring
arrangements of the pieces that constitute it;
but, in addition, the building addresses other
ideas, consisting of achieving an articulated
and continuous integration with the two
areas
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
J. Martinez
ings of certain heights impose
important limitations with regards to
connections and vertical installations:
lifts, courtyards, etc., as well as in terms
of structural aspects.
The architectural project encompassed a
broad range of objectives: It attempted to
achieve an attractive and emblematic
image, as requested in the call for
proposals, by means of a complex system
of shapes and proportions and the bold
arrangement of the component parts; but
the building also incorporated other ideas
aimed at achieving harmonious and
continuous integration with two adjoining
built-up areas on the Avenida del Doctor
Aiguader and serving as a connection or
tie between these two areas:
– The area formed by the Luis Pascual
architect buildings are set at medium
height and arranged at a slight angle
of construction of the Avenida del to the centerline of the Avenue. This
Doctor Aiguader that border it, acting was offset by arranging one of the
as a hinge or link between them: bodies of the tower complex at a
similar height and angle in the form
– On the one hand, the buildings of of a continuing prolongation (Figure
the architect Luís Pascual, arranged 3). This area is cantilevered out with
with a medium height and slightly the idea of forming a type of bridge
skewed alignments with respect to or conceptual window towards the
the axis of the Avenue, determined Barceloneta district and the sea.
that one of the bodies of the
complex be arranged in similar
height and alignment, as a sort of – The other area is formed by the two
prol on continuity character (Figure high-rise buildings indicated above
3). In addition, this piece was flown, and set further away. This connection
with the idea of configuring a kind was formed by setting the tower part
of conceptual door or window of the Gas complex at such a height
towards the Barceloneta and angle that, when seen from the
neighborhood and towards the sea. Plaza de Pau Vila and the
Figure 2. Images submitted to the contest.
Figure 2. Architectural proposals.
7
 J. Martinez
Figure 3. Perspective from Avenida Dr. Aiguader.
Figure 3. Perspective from the Avenida Dr. Aiguader.
Paseo de Juan de Borbón, the
places of maximum transit in the
area, this would appear to be the
same height as the other buildings
though, in all reality, it is barely
over half the height of the same as
it is possible to see in the above
mentioned Figure 3). In all events,
the effect of a medium height
tower largely contributes to the
modulation and continuous
transition between these two areas.
– These two buildings or bodies are
complemented by other elements
of the complex to form: a sculptural
materialization of the initial idea of
a scattering of rocks (and serve to
hide the existing and somewhat
ugly Gas Natural building which
had to be respected and integrated
within the complex) providing
movement and a wealth of
perspectives and creating a form of
inner avenue connecting up the
different areas of the plaza on
which the complex is set.
– Smaller elements, such as a raised
connection point in the form of a
bridge, or a small lower leaf-shaped
block, with the characteristic
profiles of many of EMBT's works,
complete the series of buildings set
above ground level.
The entire complex (Figure 4) is
completed by a three-storey basement
extending over the entire area of the site
and covered by a large, open garden area
at street level which is open to the public.
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Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
This garden area opens out and gives an idea
of space to the entire complex which is set
in the furthest corner removed from the
existing buildings in the area.
The arrangement is not arbitrary and,
instead, provides an intense conceptual
configuration, yet forming just part of the
entire synthesis which is yet further
enhanced by the relation with other
architectural aspects which do not require
analysis here.
On account of its expressive originality,
the building is clearly open to generic
criticism regarding the mannerism
observed in modern architecture, but
which may also be incorporated within this
interesting expressionist line explored and
developed by Behrens, Berg, FL Wright,
Mendelsohn, E. Saarinen and Gehry and
which continues to this day.
If Miralles had been able to continue the
design and the building work, the final
solution would have undoubtedly been
very different, as may be witnessed by
many other of his works. While it is
evidently more complicated to make
changes in complex high-rise buildings ,
many aspects would have been adapted to
obtain closer adherence to the original
concept which arranged the shapes and
areas in a far more daring manner than
the semi-rationalism of the building shown
in the tender stage and one which
Benedetta Tagliabue and her collaborator
Elena Rocci maintained in spirit and largely
adhering to the ideal accepted by Enric up
to the time of his death.
– On the other hand, the two
aforementioned tall buildings, located
at a greater distance, led to the
arrangement of the upper part of the
Gas complex with such a height and
alignment that, seen from Pau Vila
Square and Paseo de Juan de Borbón,
places of maximum agglomeration of
the area, it would be perceived ideally
aligned in height with those, although
it actually barely exceeded half of
them, as can be seen in the same
figure 3 above. In any case, the effect
of a tower of intermediate height
meant, to a large extent, a kind of
modulation and continuous transition
between the two aforementioned
areas.
– Complementing these two buildings or
bodies, the rest of the
aforementioned pieces of the
complex make up: on the one hand,
the sculptural vision of the previously
mentioned accumulation of ideal
rocks (a set that also hid the ordinary
existing Gas Natural building that had
to be integrated in the complex)
provide rhythm and richness of
perspectives, creating between them,
a kind of interior street that connects
the various areas of the square in
which the complex is located.
– Finally, minor elements such as
a high-rise connection piece in
the form of a bridge, or a small
lower block in the form of a tree
leaf, with the characteristic
profiles of many EMBT works,
make up the program of
buildings above ground.
The entire aforementioned complex
(Figure 4) is completed with a plinth with
three basements, which occupies the
entire site, leaving free on the ground
floor, at street level, a large public square,
landscaped, which frees up and gives
ample spatiality. to the entire complex,
which is arranged in the farthest corner
from the nearby buildings already built in
the area.
The layout, therefore, is not free
at all, but forms a strong conceptual
program, whose synthesis here
proposed is partial and which is
notably enriched in relation to other
architectural aspects that are not of
interest to detail here.
Undoubtedly, due to its expressive
originality, the building is subjected to the
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
generic criticism about the
mannerism that is observed in the
architecture of our time, but it could
also be incorporated into that
interesting expressionist line that, in
their day, Behrens, Berg, F. LL. Wright,
Mendelsohn, E. Saarinen, Gehry
toured or continue to do so.
There is no doubt that if Miralles had
been able to continue in the project and
in the execution of the work, the final
solution would have been different, as
many other of his works testify; and
although, obviously, in complex high-
rise buildings, changes are less easy,
many things would have been adapted
to achieve a closer approach to the
postulates of deconstruction, which
arranges forms and spaces in a much
more complex way than the semi-
rationalism of the building projected in
its competition phase and that
Benedetta Tagliabue and her
collaborator Elena Rocci kept in spirit,
with great adjustment, to the ideal
accepted by Enric until the moment of
his death.
In any case, the final image very
tensely summarizes a complex idea,
even including the proposal for a
facade with distorting reflection
glass and varied coloration,
proposed by Enric in view of the
buildings he saw on his last visit to
the USA, little before his death.
Figure 4. General view of the building complex.
Figure 4. General view of the building complex.
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
In this process, the structural chapter
only had an appreciable role in the field
of the flown building, for which, and
based on the conversations and
conditions defined with EMBT, various
proposals were proposed to be decided
by them. The one chosen and executed
was the first and most logical and
efficient, both in terms of resistance and
construction. Other minor
considerations were related to the type
and shape of the bars of the set in some
specific points of each building.
It can be said, in summary, that the
structural engineering-architecture
collaboration had an exemplary and coherent
character and, as far as possible, they were
achieved, in a very harmonious way.
niosa, each and every goal
planned.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE
BUILDING AND APPROACH
CONCEPT OF THE
STRUCTURE
The double configuration:
– slender and complex building
above ground
– compact and relatively simple
below ground
clearly led to a logical unfolding of
its structures: of a me-
J. Martinez
In all events, the final image provides
a very relaxed summary of a complex
idea, even down to the façade proposal
using reflecting, deforming and variable
colored glass. This type of façade being
considered by Enric after visiting several
buildings during his last trip to the USA
shortly before his death.
In this process, the structural work
only took on particular protagonism in
the construction of the cantilevered
building, and in accordance with the
conversations and conditions defined
with EMBT, various different proposals
were formed for selection by the same.
The solution that was selected and
employed was the first and more logical
and efficient of the solutions in terms of
both strength and construction.
Additional minor considerations were
related to the type and form of the
members of the assembly at certain
specific points of each building.
The collab o ration between structural
engineering and architecture was seen
to be exemplary and coherent in this
case and, as far as possible, each and
every one of the planned objectives was
reached in a very harmonious manner.
2. BUILDING DESCRIPTION AND
CONCEPTUAL ARRANGEMENT
OF THE STRUCTURE
Double configuration:
– slender and complex configuration of
the building above ground level
– compact and relatively simple
configuration of the building below
ground level.
This leads to a logical overlapping of
the structures with steel and composite
structures dominating in all the
buildings above ground level and
concrete prevailing in the areas below
ground level and where three quarters
of the depth of the same was set below
the ground water table. However, it was
also necessary to establish a clear
interaction between the entire assembly
to ensure continuity and an optimum
structural arrangement. This being
essentially achieved by the placing of
reinforced concrete shafts
interconnecting both systems.
9
 J. Martinez
Figure 5. General plan of the complex.
Figure 5. General plan of the complex.
in theirentirety, the complex of
buildings and their common lower
basement may be said to determine an
interesting range of both structural and
construction solutions which actively
and harmoniously collaborate to allow
complete integration and provide the
intense formal and arch it ec t ural
image demanded by the building .
There follows an individual description
of the main conceptual aspects of both
areas of the complex. This then providing
a clearer understanding of the adopted
structural solutions which are, in turn,
described in detail further on.
2.1. Building below ground level
Various alternative construction
methods were considered at the outset
such as up-and-down construction or the
partial execution of the structures to take
advantage of their horizontal bracing
possibilities. However, the number of
underground floor levels – three levels -,
the large surface area and the irregularity
of the vertical forces in the different parts
of the floor plan on account of the varying
heights and positions of the buildings
above ground lev-
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Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
el, all made it far more favorable to
construct outer retaining walls for the
entire area of the site down to the total
depth required for the foundations. This
was performed by means of a medium
thickness retaining screen wall braced
by provisional anchors to the soil.
Following the construction of the said
retaining walls, the ground was then
excavated, the anchorages prestressed
and the established foundation slab
laid. The remainder of the complex was
then simultaneously raised from the
foundations in a conventional manner.
2.2. Buildings above ground level
The complex is formed by a series of
merging or interpenetrating buildings,
with intense visual and structural
collaboration, in order to create the
powerful formal image and expression
referring to ab ove. The above ground
complex is formed by the following
buildings which have been referred to
by readily recognizable and descriptive
names to help identify and locate the
same (Figure 5):
• “TOWER”. A conventional tower
though subdivided into two areas of dif-
thallic-mixed dominant in all exempt
buildings; and concrete for the below
ground areas which, in addition, had
to be located below the water table in
three quarters of its depth. On the
other hand, however, a clear
interactivity had to be established for
the whole, in order to achieve
optimum continuity and structural
layout, fundamentally through the
layout of the reinforced concrete
cores that relate both systems.
In my opinion, I consider that, as a
whole, the building complex and its
base or common lower plinth
determine an interesting range of
structural and also constructive
solutions, which collaborate actively
and harmoniously to integrate deeply
and facilitate the intense formal and
architectural image. that the building
claimed.
The main conceptual aspects of
both areas of the complex are set
out separately below, which will
subsequently allow an in-depth
understanding of the structural
solutions adopted and carried out,
which are described in detail later.
2.1. Building below ground
Although in principle alternative
construction methods were
considered, such as ascending-
descending or partial execution of the
structures to take advantage of their
horizontal bracing possibilities, the
number of planned basements
– 3 levels–, the great surface extension and
the irregularity of the vertical actions in
the various areas on the ground floor,
motivated by the heterogeneity in height
and the position of the buildings above
ground, determined that the procedure to
carry out was much more favorable. the
perimeter containment enclosure of the
entire land, in the total depth required for
the foundation, by means of a medium-
thickness screen braced by provisional
anchors to the ground; to, after the
execution of the aforementioned screens,
carry out the emptying of the earth, the
successive stressing of the anchors and
the planned foundation slab, and then and
simultaneously carry out, from it, the
conventional construction of the entire
complex.
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
2.2. tall buildings
The complex is made up of a series of
twinned or interpenetrated buildings,
with an intense visual and structural
collaboration, aimed at achieving the
formal and expressive power indicated
above. These buildings, which have
been named using terms that are easily
understandable and descriptive of their
shape, to help locate them, are the
following (Figure 5):
• “TOWER”. Of a conventional
character, although subdivided into two
zones of different heights: one, frontal,
with 22 floors; and the second, dorsal,
of 12, which is twinned at its lower part
with one of the ends of the building
described below.
• "AIRCRAFT CARRIER". Powerful
elongated body with five floors, one of
whose longitudinal halves protrudes
horizontally in a cantilever with respect
to the rest, with a span of 40 m, and is
located 20 m above the lower square on
which the complex is located.
• “CAPITAL”. Due to its resemblance
to the way a Corinthian column is
finished off, as it presents on its
exterior front a series of scrolls in the
form of curved or polyhedral surfaces,
which stand out in cantilevers that
increase with height. At its dorsal end
it joins the Torre building.
• "WATERFALL". Very compact 4-
storey block, whose back façade
partially joins in plan with an existing
building and with which it also forms
a semi-interior patio. On its front
façade facing the square, the floors
are arranged successively set back
from the first upwards, creating the
kind of waterfall that gives rise to its
name.
• "BRIDGE". A small five-storey body
located between levels 8 and 13 and
located on the interior street that
separates the Tower and Aircraft Carrier
buildings to which it joins, forming the
kind of piece that its name indicates.
• “PETAL”. Small lower body of 4
floors, located under the Aircraft Carrier
and partly attached to it; with its front
vertex arranged under the cantilevered
area. Horizontally it leaves a wide open
area between its top finial and the
bottom of the carrier.
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
The interconnected arrangement of all
these buildings, with their special
architectural ideas and shapes, posed a
great challenge in relation to a
harmonious and regulated resolution, not
only in relation to the shapes and
dimensions of the elements to be
integrated, but also in their typological
aspects, sturdy and constructive.
The structures chosen to deal with
all these constraints were preferably
based on metallic and mixed
solutions, trying in all special cases to
establishmegastructures; that is,
structural systems capable of taking
advantage of the maximum external
dimensions of the required
architectural forms, to achieve, by
arranging the lightest possible pieces
–and therefore, the most economical–
deformation responses of great
rigidity and maximum functionality,
taking advantage of the large edges
of such sets. But, in addition, this
arrangement also leads to very
favorable construction processes,
which take advantage of the self-
evolving capacity of these typologies,
in order to avoid the use of large
falsework or important provisional
auxiliary systems.
3. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS
CRITERIA OF THE
STRUCTURES
3.1. Below ground areas
The containment of the ground was
proposed by means of a continuous
screen 60 cm thick, braced with two rows
of provisional anchors to the ground,
capable of maintaining the height of the
land of 11.80 m, up to the lower plane of
the foundation slab.
The only specific incidence
consisted of the need to adopt a 45º
inclination in the anchors of a part of
one of the sides of the enclosure,
motivated by the presence of a
nearby construction that did not
grant permission to the inclusion of
anchors in its domain, having to
limited to using only the narrow area
of the adjacent street.
The depth of the screens, from the
aforementioned lower edge of the slab, had
to attend not only to the considerations
J. Martinez
Ferent heights: a front 22 storey area
and a rear 12 storey area which merge
at their inner part with the end of the
following building.
• “AIRCRAFT CARRIER”: Forceful,
elongated five-storey building with half
its length projecting 40 meters
horizontally out from the rest of the
building 20 m above the plaza.
• “CAPITAL”: So named on account of
its similarity to the head of a Corinthian
column, with a series of volutes or
scrolls on its outer face in the form of
curved or polyhedral salient surfaces
which increasingly project out
throughout the height of the “ capital".
The rear of this building is connected to
the Tower building.
• “CASCADE”. Very compact fourstorey
block, the rear façade of which partially
connecting throughout one storey to an
existing building and with which it
forms a semi-interior courtyard. On the
façade to the main plaza, the floors are
successively setback from the preceding
floor to create a cascade effect and
hence its name.
• “BRIDGE”. Small five-storey building
set between floors 8 and 13 and rising
above the inner avenue separating the
Tower and Aircraft-carrier buildings and
forming a bridge between the same.
• “PETAL”. Small lower 4-storey
building set below the Aircraft-carrier
building and partly connected to the
same; with its front vertex set below the
projecting area. The building leaves a
wide open horizontal area between its
roof and the base of the cantilevered
structure.
The harmonious and regulated
interconnecting arra ngement of all these
buildings, each with their own particular
architectural form and design, posed a
great challenge both in terms of the
shapes and dimensions of the merging
elements and with regards to their types
of construction and resistant capacities. .
The structures selected to overcome all
these conditioning factors we re based
preferably on steel and composite
solutions and attempting in all particular
cases to form megastructures, that is,
structural systems capable of employing
the maximum external dimension.
eleven
 J. Martinez
sions of the required architectural forms
and through the arrangement of the
lightest, and subsequently most
economical, members possible, obtain
very rigid and highly reliable stress
responses, using the large heights of these
components. This arrangement also
permitted very favorable construction
processes which took advantage of the
self-supporting capacity of these types and
avoiding the need for large shoring
systems or provisional support systems.
3. DESCRIPTION AND CRITERIA
OF THE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
3.1. Underground areas.
The soil retaining method during the
groundworks was initially established in
the form of a continuous 60 cm thick
retaining wall braced with two rows of
provisional anchors to the soil and
capable of maintaining an excavated
height of 11.80 m down to the base of
the foundation slab.
The only specific requirement consisted
of the need to slope the anchors 45º in an
area on one side of the site due to the
presence of a nearby construction, and
where the owners rejected the projection
of the anchors into their property. In this
area the anchorage was purely restricted
to the narrow area of the adjacent street.
The depth of the retaining walls down
to the lower edge of the foundation
slab, not only had to take into account
the restraint bending, the axial load
transfer caused by the basement and
ground slabs on the retaining walls as
well as the loads of the subsequent steel
supports acting on their top, but had
also to guarantee that at the point of
maximum excavation and under the
worse height conditions in terms of the
ground water table, this would not lead
to the siphoning of the sands within the
site nor lead to the sudden failure of the
excavation base on account of the
difference between the uplift and the
weight of the soil confined between the
retaining walls. This condition requires a
minimum embedment of 11m below the
maximum excavation level.
The foundations we re considered in
the form of a 1.80 m deep reinforced
concrete slab supplemented by prefab-
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Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
rich tensile loaded piles wh i ch,
together with the deadweight loads of
the underground system, would be
capable of compensating the uplift in
the open areas of the plaza unoccupied
by buildings.
The allowable stress was 4.5 kp/cm2
in the state of minimum uplift and the
ballast coefficient considered to analyze
the soil-structure interaction was 2.5 kp/
cmtwo≡2,500 t/m3. The foundation slab
was to remain perforated, acting the
drainage system up to the completion
of the deadweight loading required in
the different areas.
The system was completed with a
cellular type upraised floor set over the
foundation slab and drainage channels
at the sides of the floors below the
ground water table level to collect
possible leaks from the slab and
retaining walls and to drain these out to
sumps. The waterproofing of the slab
was carried out after these systems had
been installed in order to allow for the
incidence of their dead weight.
The slab was laid without expansion
joints and incorporating the said sumps
and the lift wells wh i ch we re du ly
arranged with respect to the uplift at
their base and set at a pitch of 1% to
allow the runoff of water to the sumps.
The floors below ground level and the
ground floor slab were formed by 28 cm
and 35 cm thick solid concrete slabs
respectively hinged at their connection
with the outer retaining walls and with just
one expansion joint between the area of
the overground buildings and the open
plaza area .
The TERRATEST company awarded the
contract for the construction of the
retaining walls, the groundworks and
the foundation slab, and intelligently
proposed an alternative solution with a
thinner 80 cm slab supplemented by
0.60, 0.80 and 1.20 m thick wall modules
below the very loaded columns and
shafts and where the vertical actions
could not be supported by the sl ab
alone. The reduced slab thickness
similarly reduced the excavation and the
acting uplift and allowed the use of just
one row of widths for the outer
retaining wall (Figure 6). This together
with the reduction in slab thickness,
offset the presence of the said cut-off
rations of flexural embedment and axial
transfer caused by the basement and
ground floor slabs in said walls and the
loads of the eventual metal supports
acting on their crowning, but to the fact
of guaranteeing that in the maximum
excavation phase and with the worst
conditions of the height of the water
table, neither the siphoning of the sand
inside the enclosure, nor the sudden
rupture of the bottom of the excavation
("plug"), produced by the imbalance
between the underpressure and the
weight of the ground confined between
screens. This condition was
dimensioning, requiring a minimum
embedment of 11 m below the
maximum excavation level.
The foundation was laid with a
1.80 m deep reinforced concrete
slab, complemented by
prefabricated driven piles working
in traction, capable of – together
with the self-weight loads of the
underground system –
compensating for subpressure in
the plaza areas. no buildings on it.
The allowable stress was 4.5 kp/cm
two, in the situation of minimum
subpressure. The ballast coefficient
considered was 2.5 kp/cm3≡2,500 t/m
3for the distribution of shares. The
foundation slab remained perforated,
operating the exhaust systems until
the loads of self-weight required in
the various zones were completed.
The system was completed with a
cellular-type sanitary floor located on
the foundation slab and buffa chambers
on the sides of the underwater plants,
to collect possible leaks from the slab
and from the screens and take them to
the pumping wells. The sealing of the
slab was carried out at the end of the
placement of these systems, in order to
have the incidence of its weight at that
moment.
The slab was made without
expansion joints, including the
aforementioned pumping wells and
elevator pits duly configured with
respect to underpressure at its
bottom; having slopes of the order
of 1% to lead any leaks to the
pumping wells.
The below ground and ground floor
slabs consisted of solid concrete slabs
28 and 35 cm thick, res-
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Figure 6. Execution of anchored screens and bottom slab. Figure 6.
Construction of anchored retaining walls and foundation slab.
respectively, articulated in their
connection with the perimeter screens and
with a single expansion joint between the
area with high-rise buildings and the
basically square area on the ground floor.
Cleverly, the company TERRA-TEST,
winner of the contest organized by
the property for the realization of the
foundation screens, the excavation of
the land and the foundation slab,
proposed a variant solution with a
thinner slab, 80 cm, complemented by
modules of 0.60, 0.80 and 1.20 m
thick screen under the cores and
highly loaded supports, in which the
vertical actions could not be assumed
by said slab alone. The reduction of
the 1.00 m depth of the slab reduced
the excavation and the acting
underpressure, allowing the
realization of a single row of anchors
for the perimeter screen (Figure 6);
which, together with the reduction in
the thickness of the slab,
compensated for the presence of the
aforementioned screen modules on
supports and the slight increase in
the necessary tensile piles,
The process was carried out in full
compliance with the planned aspects and
the values obtained by the monitoring
provided can be cited:
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
– The maximum horizontal
displacements of the screens, controlled
by means of inclinometers by INTEMAC,
were: 21 mm at their crowning and 31
mm in the intermediate area between
anchors and maximum excavation.
– Maximum exhaustion flow in the
total surface for a very stable
lowering of 10 m of the water table:
30 l/sec.
3.2. tall buildings
The general analysis of the set of
structures above ground was carried out
– with the idea of achieving maximum
effectiveness and suitability – in two
complementary lines, but well
differentiated, which clearly reflected the
typologies established in each of them:
Particular study of each body or
building to determine the basic
structural characteristics to
establish, in order to make the most
of all its resistant elements, both
conventional and special, against
vertical or gravitational stresses.
Global analysis of the set of specific
elements that determine the
J. Martinez
walls under the supports and the slight
increase of the tensile loaded piles
required, of the drilled type, in the plaza
areas.
The process was performed entirely in
accordance with the forecasts and the
following results were recorded during the
monitoring of the same:
– The maximum horizontal shift of the
retaining walls, controlled by
inclinometers by the INTEMAC company
were: 21 mm at the capping and 31 mm
at the intermediate area between the
anchors and the maximum point of
excavation.
– Maximum drainage flow throughout
the total surface for a very stable
undercut 10 m from the groundwater
table: 30 l/s.
3.2. Above ground buildings
The general analysis of the group of
buildings above ground level was
conducted –for purposes of maximum
effectiveness and adjustment –in
accordance with two complementary,
yet very different, lines which clearly
reflected the system types established
for each of the buildings:
13
 J. Martinez
1)Individual study of each block or
building to determine the basic structural
characteristics to be established in order
to take full and appropriate advantage of
all their resistant elements, whether
conventional or particular, against actions
of vertical or gravitational nature.
2) Overall analysis of the combination of
specific members to establish the real and
interactive connection between all the
components serving to withstand
horizontal actions and attempting to
obtain the most favorable possible
distribution of loadings caused not only by
wind and earthquake but also the
horizontal deviation forces caused by the
presence of numerous sloping members
within the system assembly.
Both groups of results we re then
matched and it was generally noted that
there was little interaction between
them with the exception of the system
of vertical reinforced concrete shafts
and the special structures of the two
large cantilevered constructions.
There follows a description of the
basic arrangement of these two groups
that combine in the buildings.
3.2.1. Vertical resistant structures
With the exception of the Cascade
building, the base structure of all the
buildings was established in
accordance with the following criteria:
• Steel columns pure ly supporting
vertical loads.
All the horizontal loads are
transferred to the concrete shafts
though the floor slabs.
S275R and S355J2G3 steels have been
employed with external cross-section
dimensions restricted to around 30 x 30
cm, though where necessary additional
plates have been incorporated slightly
recessed between the flanges in order
to retain an “H” shape throughout the
height of the column and allow the
application of the indicated architectural
finishings in an arrangement which
does not appear to be excessively
compact.
• Composite slabs with profiled steel
sheeting, together with suitable rein-
14 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
forcement bars to resist the
corresponding actions in the case of fire
without the collaboration of the said sheet
and subsequently eliminating the need for
a fire-resistant lining to the same.
In those areas of large transfers of
horizontal forces induced by the
deviation of the sloping members, the
total depth of the slab was packed up.
• Steel joists between the main
beams, with a maximum spacing of 2.40
m, and connected by semi-automatic
shear connectors set through the
profiled steel sheeting in order to obtain
composite members and keep the
deflection within suitable limits.
• Main steel beams with maximum
depths of 60 cm and fitted with circular
openings in the area of midspans and
special brackets at the ends by the
columns, to allow the passage of
installations through the same vertical
space occupied by the steel beams.
• Special steel transfer girders to
support the upper columns removed in
the lower floors and trim the large beams
in the area of voids or openings.
The complex plan arrangement of the
buildings, with their merging forms and
interconnections, gave rise to certain
intersections between alignments,
modulations and sections which could not be
resolved by just one vertical arrangement of
columns and frequently required the
interruption of these elements or their
displacement by appreciable distances.
Furthermore, the presence of sizeable
voids, recesses and adaptations within the
façades also made it necessary to employ
this type of members, whether as
supported or cantilevered, straight,
polygonal or curved beams, in order to
maintain the necessary structural
continuity of the system.
• Solid concrete slabs, 28 cm thick, in
the Cascade building due to the need to
connect the structure of this building to an
existing building which had to be retained
and with which it was to form a functional
unit.
Composite transfer beams were
embedded within the thickness of the slab
to support a number of the columns to the
façade where there were large recesses
caused by the displacement of
real and interactive link between all
the elements that participate in the
resistance to horizontal actions, trying
to achieve the most favorable
distribution possible of the efforts
caused, not only by the wind and the
earthquake, but also by the horizontal
components of deviation caused by
the presence of numerous slashes in
the whole system.
Subsequently, the superposition of both
groups of results was carried out, which, in
general, are not excessively interacting
with each other, with the exception of the
system of vertical reinforced concrete
cores and the special structures of the two
large cantilevered bodies.
Next, the basic schemes of the two
typological groups mentioned that
are combined in the buildings are
exposed.
3.2.1. Vertical resistant
structures type
Except for the Cascada building, the
base structure of all the buildings was
proposed in accordance with the following
criteria:
• Metal supportsresistant to
vertical actions, exclusively.
All the horizontal actions are
transferred to the concrete cores
through the floor slabs.
S275JR and S355J2G3 steels have
been used, limiting the plan
dimensions to approximate values of
30 x 30 cm, incorporating additional
sheet metal reinforcements where
necessary, arranged slightly recessed
between the wings, so as to maintain
a presence in H-shape and apply the
suggested architectural cladding,
which reflects a not excessively
compact layout.
• mixed slabsof collaborating
folded sheet metal, reinforced by
appropriate reinforcements to
withstand the corresponding actions
in case of fire, dispensing with the
collaboration of said sheet and,
therefore, without the need to carry
out a fireproof coating of it.
In areas with strong transfers of
horizontal forces, coming from
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
tes of the deviations of the inclined
pieces, the entire edge of the slab
was solidified.
• metal joistsbetween main beams,
with a maximum separation of 2.40
m, connected by means of semi-
automatic bolts placed through the
folded sheets, to obtain mixed pieces
and keep the deflections at adequate
values.
• Saw main metallic gaswith
maximum edges of 60 cm, equipped
with circular alveoli in the opening
areas and special gussets at the ends,
next to the supports, to allow the
passage of the installations in the
same vertical space occupied by the
beams.
• Special metal loaders for shoring
of upper supports and fastening of
large beams in the areas of holes or
necessary openings.
The complex layout of the buildings
in plan, with their twinning and
interconnection, generates
intersections of alignments,
modulations and plots between
sectors, which cannot be resolved
with a single vertical arrangement of
supports, requiring on many
occasions to interrupt such elements
or move them appreciable distances.
Likewise, the presence of important
gaps, recesses and adaptations in
facades, also requires the use of this
type of element, either in the form of
supported or flown pieces, straight or
curved, as balcony beams, capable of
maintaining the necessary structural
continuity. of the system.
• Solid concrete slabs28 cm thick in
the Cascada building, motivated by
the fact of having to couple the
structure of this building to an
existing one that had to be
maintained and with which it had to
constitute a functional unit.
In the aforementioned thickness, the
mixed landings necessary for the propping
of some facade supports were embedded,
in which there are strong setbacks, due to
the displacement between floors of the
curved stepped edges.
In the following detailed
description of each of the buildings,
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
they detail the special systems
incorporated to them, in addition to the
generic systems previously exposed.
3.2.2. tower building
Due to its great visual representativeness,
it is the one that gives its name to the
complex: Torre Mare Nostrum (Figs. 7 and 8).
It is made up of two zones:
– High body, with 22 floors plus an
upper area for facilities. It encompasses
the nuclei N1 and N2. Its specific
singularities focus on the following
aspects: slightly inclined arrangement
of the supports on one of the straight
edges, giving rise to a ruled curved
façade; presence of some recesses or
recesses in the area of the dorsal
façade, which generates the presence of
slight cavities in it; and arrangement of
important balcony beams in the areas of
continuity with the intermediate body
and the bridge building, to achieve the
required permeability of the façade and
functional surfaces of these pieces.
– Intermediate body, with 13 floors that
merges with the previous one and, in
addition, is linked to the Aircraft Carrier
building between floors 8 to 13, both
inclusive, giving rise to a common or twin
area through the Puente building located
on the interior street .
These joints and their connection with
the N4 core that crosses the dorsal part of
this body, and is then integrated into the
Aircraft Carrier, give rise to one of the
strong horizontal resistant interactions
between buildings.
The two cores N1 and N2 of the
Tower, like those of the other
buildings, were made using self-
climbing formwork, in which the
appropriate metal plates were left
anchored for the subsequent
placement of the support bushings
and fixing of the metal beams. of the
plants that support them.
3.2.3. Capital Building
This body, 8 storeys high, is linked
from its start to the Tower building, to
which it must transmit the balancing
horizontal forces necessary to
stabilize the large cantilevered body.
J. Martinez
the stepped curved edges between
floors.
There follows a detailed description of
each building with an indication of the
additional systems required to those
general systems indicated above.
3.2.2. Tower Building
The Mare Nostrum Tower complex is
named after this building on account of its
great visual impact (Figure 7 and 8). The
tower is divided into two areas:
– A tall twenty-two storey block
together with an upper area for
installation and incorporating shafts N1
and N2. The specific characteristics of
this tower are as follows: the slight
leaning arrangement of the columns on
one of the straight edges, giving rise to
a ruled curve façade; the presence of a
number of recesses or offsets in the
area of the rear façade which create
the image of slight voids in the same;
and the employment of sizeable
transfer polygonal beams taken
through to the adjoining areas of the
intermediate building and the Bridge
building to obtain the required
permeability of the façade surfaces and
to ensure the functionality of the same.
– Thirteen-storey intermediate structure
which merges with the preceding building
and connects to the Aircraftcarrier
building from the 8thto the 13th
floor, creating a common or
interconnected area via the Bridge
building set above the inner avenue.
These joints and the connection with
shaft N4 which passes through the rear
part of this structure and then
integrates with the Aircraft-carrier
building, gives rise to one of the
powerful horizontal resisting
interactions between the buildings.
The two cores N1 and N2 of the
Tower, as in those of the other
buildings, are formed by self-climbing
formwork in which steel plates are
anchored for the subsequent placement
of support housings for the steel beams
to the floors resting on the same.
3.2.3. Capital Building
This eight storey building is connected
from its base to the Tower building and to
fifteen
 J. Martinez Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 7. Sequence of some plans and photos of the architectural model. Figure
7. Sequence of certain floors and photographs of the architectural model.

The two lateral facades of this

building are not parallel, but rather
have a slight convergence in plan,
until reaching the extreme frontal
finish, limited at its edges by two
mixtilinear pieces that do not
match, but are dislocated from each
other that, from its start on the first
floor in two short cantilevers, they
move outwards and upwards,
generating a polyhedral front
exterior facade of glass; the slab
planes do not reach said façade but
are slightly set back, and are closed
by vertical glass panels, thus
creating a kind of inclined interior
patio with a very random spatial
layout (Figure 9).

The structure of this body is based on

carrying the vertical loads of the supports
to the aforementioned mixtilinear pieces,
formed by powerful box sections; and
collect the horizontal components of
deviation by means of the beams and
floors of the floors, which move them,
acting in traction or compression
depending on the floors, towards the N1
core of the Tower building. As the axis of
the building is not aligned with said core,
this transfer causes torsional stresses in
the aforementioned core and vertical axis
Figure 8. Tower Building.
Figure 8. Tower building. bending in the slabs.

16 Concrete Steel R neither245, 3erQuarter 2007

Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Figure 9. Capitel Building (section B fig. 6).
Figure 9. Capital Building (section B. fig. 6).
of floor in the areas close to it,
which are suitably solid and
reinforced, as well as properly
connected to said core and to the
mentioned longitudinal and forged
metal parts.
3.2.4. Aircraft Carrier Building
This piece, of strong singularity,
presents a large cantilevered body
of about 40 m in length, almost 20
m in height and is also located 20 m
above the ground of the Plaza
(Figure 10).
Structurally, it incorporates four
characteristic elements:
– The vertical core N3 of concrete
quasi-centered in the building
– The vertical nucleus N4 arranged at
the dorsal end
– Two large pieces of lattice
arranged on the longitudinal facades
of the building
– A powerful suspension system
at the top of the N3 core
The presence of the large cantilevered
body requires, in order to achieve
adequate economic and constructive
functionality, the use of a
megastructure-type system, and not
resort to systems of discrete
dimensions, floor-to-floor type, framed.
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
The necessary oversize is achieved by
placing two Pratt-type lattice beams on
each of the two longitudinal façades,
taking advantage of their 18.30 m
depth, practically the total useful height
of the building. This edge, in relation to
the 40 m of cantilever span, defines a
short corbel, extraordinarily effective
against the actions of use and especially
those due to the earthquake in its
vertical component.
These lattices each have two modules
on each side of the central core N3, and
receive practically all of the
Figure 10. Aircraft Carrier Building (section C fig. 6).
Figure 10. Aircraft-carrier building (section C. fig. 6).
J. Martinez
which it transfers all necessary
counterbalancing horizontal forces to
stabilize the large cantilevered structure.
The two side faces of this building are
not parallel and slightly converge in
plan until reaching the uppermost part
of the front wall, their edges being
formed by disjointed and non-
coinciding mixtilinear components
which start off from the first floor in two
short cantilevers and advance up and
out to create an external polyhedric
glass wall. The slab edges do not reach
up to this façade but are, instead,
slightly recessed and the area is closed
by vertical glass panels to create a type
of sloping inner patio with a very
random spatial arrangement (Figure 9).
The structure of this building is
designed to carry the vertical loads of
the columns to the said mixtilinear
components, formed by strong box
sections, while the horizontal deviation
components are taken by the beams
and floors which carry them in tension
or compression depending on the floor
considered to shaft N1 of the Tower
building. As the axis of the building is
not aligned with this shaft, this transfer
causes torsional moments on the shaft
and bending moments of vertical axis in
the floor slabs in the vicinity of the
same. These areas being accordingly
packed out and reinforced and suitably
connected to the shaft and the said
slabs and longitudinal steel members.
17
 J. Martinez
Figure 11. Suspension structure at the top of core 3.
Figure 11. Suspended structure at the crown of core 3.
3.2.4. aircraft-carrier building
This highly original building is formed
by a large projecting structure some 40
m long and nigh on 20 m high and is set
20 m above the level of the Plaza (figure
10).
The building incorporates four
characteristic structural elements:
– The concrete vertical shaft N3 set
quasi central to the building
– The vertical shaft N4 set at the rear of
the building
– Two large space frame systems set on
the longitudinal sides of the building
– Powerful suspension system at the
crown of shaft N3
In order to ensure suitable economic
and constructive functionality, the large
cantilevered structure required the
employment of a megastructure type
system and not to resort to smaller floor
by floor framed systems.
The necessary oversizing was achieved
by setting large Pratt type truss girders on
each of the longitudinal sides and taking
advantage of their 18.30 m effective depth
which covered practically the entire height
of the building. This depth, in relation to
the 40 m projecting span, forming a short
and extraordinarily efficient cantilever
more than capable of withstanding,
throughout its height, all general loads
and particularly the vertical actions due to
earthquake.
These trusses were set in place by two
modules each side of the central shaft
18 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
N3 and received practically all the
vertical loads of the building via vertical
columns set purely on the longitudinal
façades –with its normal modulation
and integrated within the truss plans.
In order to ensure that the diagonals of
the truss modules always crossed at the
height of the floor slabs, the height and
façade module ratio had to be maintained.
As such, each truss has 18 m modules (5
modules of 3.60 m column supports) and a
height of 18.30 m (five 3.66 m floors),
thereby providing ideal diagonals of 25.67
m between the axes of the nodes.
All the members of these large
trusses were arranged in the form of 30
cm wide box sections in order to allow
their integration within the façade. The
box sections were formed in thick plate,
up to a maximum of 80 mm, with
thermomechanically treated special
S460M steel employed in certain areas
for the pertinent effects.
The central part of these trusses
coincides with shaft N3 and provide an
area free of diagonals and where only the
upper and lower cords are present, as the
internal uprights of each truss limiting the
said area serve as the basis for the
suspended support of the trusses. on the
said shaft. The said cords being slightly
curved in plan in order to support the
change in longitudinal alignment of the
front and rear façades.
The complete structure of each façade is
suspended at the upper nodes of the
central module by means of a large
prestressed structural element with
double composite action (Figure 11) set at
vertical loads of the building,
through the vertical supports only
located on the longitudinal facades
– with its normal modulation – integrated
into the planes of the lattice.
In order to ensure that the crossing of
the diagonals of the lattice modules
always occurs at the height of the slabs,
the ratio of height and façade module
must be maintained. Thus, each lattice
has modules of 18 m (5 support
modules of 3.60) and a height of 18.30
m (5 floors of 3.66 m), giving rise to
ideal diagonals of 25.67 m between axes
of nodes. .
All the bars of these large pieces are
arranged with 30 cm wide box
sections to allow them to be
integrated into the façades and have
significant sheet thicknesses, with a
maximum of 80 mm; using special
S460M steel, thermomechanically
treated, in certain areas to achieve
such conditions.
These lattices, coinciding in their
central part with the core N3,
determine an area without diagonals;
that is to say, in which only the upper
and lower chords are present since, in
the internal uprights of each lattice
that limit said area, it is where the
suspension support is carried out on
said core; Cords slightly curved in
plan to accommodate the change in
longitudinal alignments of the front
and back body facades.
The complete structure of each façade is
suspended from the upper nodes of the
aforementioned central module, by means of
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
a large prestressed structural
element with double mixed action
(Figure 11), arranged orthogonally
to the two lattices, one on each
façade. This powerful short mixed
piece is made up of a large box with
slightly variable depth and width, to
ensure that its two souls coincide in
their central area parallel to the
lateral sides of the concrete core
N3, and to achieve a perfect
transfer of shares from one system
to another. The system is crossed
by two circular manholes for access
to the central areas and between
wings of the roof of this building.
The dorsal ends of the large
trusses described above join the
concrete core N4, which forms one
of the main facilities patios, which
also collects part of the loads of the
Torre building, in its 14-storey body.
On the other hand, the main lattice
structure is completed with the
presence of internal vertical supports,
located at a modular distance of 3.60 m,
which intersect with the diagonals
through the provision of support and
distribution elements on one side. and
another of the same, to allow the
reception and transmission of efforts.
This set of uprights receives the
incidence of the beams on each floor
and transfers them to the lattice system,
with traction or compression depending
on the area, depending on the position
of each section of the shaft with respect
to the large lower chords and the frame
of the lattice in which they are located.
In the dorsal area, most of the
aforementioned uprights, corresponding
to the supports of the building, continue
downwards, thus creating, in conjunction
with the aforementioned dorsal nucleus
N4, a large counterweight system that
prevents, at all times, , the possible
bending work of the central core −except
for the inevitable parasitic conditions of
deformation compatibility required
between the various pieces of the
assembly−, almost exclusively
incorporating axial-type actions caused by
the support of the large lattice girders.
On the contrary, in the transverse
direction, the different distances flown
from the trusses to the core, as well as
the overload alternations, produce
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
There are actions in the upper brackets of
the large suspension piece, with different
values on one side and the other of the
core, which do produce bending in the
core and which have been properly
controlled.
Due to the different dimensions
between the upper edge of the truss
cords and the lower edge of the webs
of the suspension box part, motivated
by the functional conditions required
by the placement of the elevator
machinery of the N3 core, it became
necessary Provide intermediate
hanging elements to adequately
connect both systems.
For this reason, the roof floor slab
disappears in the area of said core
N3, leaving only a horizontal rib as
continuity, and is replaced in this
area by a powerful 40 cm thick
concrete slab located 1.70 m above
that. This area, which connects the
two webs, forms the lower wing in
compression of the box part of the
suspension system. These metal
cores are also covered by concrete
that connects to them, so that, in
additional combination with
another large upper slab of equal
thickness, slightly broken in
elevation and strongly prestressed,
they constitute a large mixed
element of a very monolithic
character. , but fully active against
any type of transverse stress due to
unbalanced loads, wind, special
actions: covered gondolas,
thermals, etc.
To collect all types of deflection forces
in these intersection areas, the system
is completed with two transverse
diaphragms, parallel to the planes of
the trusses, located on the longitudinal
faces of the core and which contribute
to the adequate and perfect distribution
of loads in the itself, for its transfer to
the foundation.
The bracing between the two
main trusses of both facades, as
well as the horizontal non-
deformability between them, is
guaranteed by the set of floor slabs
and their support beams, which
allow their separate vertical work
with slight differences in
movement. : arrows and turns,
which are determined by the
overload differences at each end.
J. Martinez
right angles to the two trusses, with one
on each façade. This powerful, short
composite structure is formed by a
large box section of slightly variable
depth and width in order to ensure that
the two webs of the same coincide in
the central area parallel to the sides of
the concrete shaft N3 and produce a
perfect transfer of actions from one
system to the other. The system is
crossed by two circular holes to access
at the central and sided areas of the
roof located between their webs.
The rear ends of these large trusses
are connected to the concrete core N4,
forming one of the main shafts for
installations and taking part of the loads
from the 14-storey section of the Tower
building.
The main truss structure is completed
by vertical columns set within the same
and spaced at a modular distance of 3.60
m and crossing the diagonals by means of
support and distribution elements at each
side of the same in order to receive and
transfer loadings. This combination of
uprights receives the effects of the floor
beams and transfers them to the truss
system, under compression or tension
according to the zone, in accordance with
the position of each section of upright with
regards to the large lower cords and the
panel of the truss in which it is set.
At the rear, the majority of the uprights,
corresponding to the columns of the
building, are continued downwards and, in
conjunction with the rear shaft N4, create,
a large counterweight system to prevent
any possible bending of the central shaft –
except the inevitable secondary conditions
related to the compatibility of deflections
between the different members of the
assembly – purely incorporating loadings
of an axial nature caused by the support of
the large truss girders.
In the transverse direction, the different
cantilevered distances from the trusses to
the shaft, as well as the unbalanced live
load, produce forces in the upper brackets
of the large suspension element, with
varying values each side of the shaft, that
do lead to bending. moments in the core
and which have subsequently been
appropriately controlled.
On account of the different levels
between the upper edge of the truss cords
19
 J. Martinez
and the lower part of the webs of the
suspension box member, due to the
operational conditions required by the
placing of lift machinery in shaft N3, it was
necessary to place a number of intermediate
suspension elements to connect both
systems in a suitable manner.
For this reason, the slab of the top
floor disappears in the area of shaft
N3, leaving only a horizontal joist by way
of continuity, and is replaced in this area
by a 40 cm thick concrete slab set 1.70
m above the same. This area, which
connects the two webs, acts as the
lower compression flange of the box
component of the suspension system.
These steel webs are, in turn, covered
by concrete which interconnects the
same and, in combination with an other
large upper slab of equal thickness,
slightly uneven in elevation and heavily
prestressed, forms a large composite
element of very solid nature but fully
capable of considering any type of
transversal forces on account of
unbalanced loads, wind, special
loadings: window washing equipment,
thermal actions, etc.
In order to absorb all types of deviation
forces in these intersecting areas, the
system is completed by two transverse
diaphragms, set parallel to the plans of the
trusses on the longitudinal faces of the
shaft and which contribute
twenty ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Figure 12. Cascade Building.
Figure 12. Cascade Building.
to the correct load distribution within
the same, so that this may then be
carried down to the foundations.
The bracing between the two main
trusses of both façades and the fact that
the horizontal indeformability between
the same is guaranteed by the
combination of floor slabs and their
supporting beams, allows independent
vertical work with slight differences of
movements, deflections and rotations,
determined by the unbalanced live
loads at each truss.
The time dependent creep and
shrinkage strains are incorporated within
the analysis and imply reductions in
stiffness against permanent loadings and
giving rise to small movements of the
assembly which may be perfectly
assimilated by the functional systems on
account of the large lengths between the
fixed and moving points. and the relatively
low stiffness of the secondary systems.
3.2.5. Cascade Building
This low, four-storey building with its
curvilinear external faces offset from each
other in a variable stepped manner, has a
hybrid structural arrangement consisting
of steel columns and solid reinforced
concrete slabs connected to the two shafts
N5 and N6 (Figure 12).
Deferred creep and shrinkage
deformations are incorporated into the
analysis, determining stiffness reductions
in the face of permanent stresses that give
rise to small joint movements that are
perfectly assumable by functional systems,
given the large lengths that exist between
fixed and mobile points and the relatively
small rigidity of the secondary systems.
3.2.5.. Cascade Building
This low body, with 4 floors, with its
curvilinear outer edges offset from
each other in a variable staggered
manner, presents a hybrid structural
arrangement, of metal supports and
solid reinforced concrete slabs, linked
to two cores of its own N5 and N6
(Figure 12). .
The specific aspect of this building
already mentioned lies in the need
to lower some façade supports on
floor lintels, to appropriately collect
the curved areas of said façade.
4. HORIZONTAL RESISTANT
STRUCTURE
As previously indicated, in each
building it was considered that all
the planned horizontal actions
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
These were transmitted to the existing
concrete cores inside them. However, as
they are linked to each other by the
slabs −with the exception of the
Cascada building, which is autonomous
− the response of each concrete core as
a free corbel is not possible, producing
an interaction between the various
cores that makes their rotations and
translations compatible through of the
different pieces of existing horizontal
union, constituted by the forged planes.
For this reason, the horizontal analysis
of the system was not carried out as
isolated bodies, but rather, together with
the different vertical cores, the pieces with
a large horizontal depth formed by the
mixed slabs of the different buildings were
considered. The different hypotheses of
wind and earthquake actions in the two
main orthogonal directions, as well as the
deflection forces transmitted by the
inclined elements, were incorporated into
this spatial set thus formed (Figure 13).
Especially important for these purposes
was the incidence of the loads of the
cantilevered body of the Capital and its
incorporation into the system as a whole.
Likewise, in order not to introduce
horizontal actions of great importance in
the contact of the ground floor slab with
the cores, the condition was adopted that
the support of the basement slabs
Figure 13. Global spatial scheme versus horizontal actions.
Figure 13. General spatial arrangement for horizontal forces.
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
So first in the different cores, it was
exclusively vertical, leaving freedom of
horizontal relative movements between
slabs and cores. In this way, the transition
height between the free-standing upper
buildings and the basement areas
corresponded to two floors (between the
ground floor and the basement -2),
reducing the shears and reactions to
values perfectly acceptable by the
elements and thicknesses arranged.
Finally, it should be noted that core
N2 does not rest on the foundation
slab, but must be interrupted in
basement -1, being propped up
through large concrete beams that
rest on core N1 and on the perimeter
containment screen. next, whose
affected batches were dimensioned
considering these special loads.
5. CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
The whole complex, with the
exception of the Capitel and Aircraft
Carrier buildings, presents, in general
terms, a conventional type of
execution that does not require a
specific exposure. On the contrary,
these buildings were executed
through special procedures to limit
the means to be used, taking
advantage of the evolutionary self-
capacity of the megastructures used.
J. Martinez
The specific aspect of this building lies
in the need to transfer certain columns
of the façade by means of girders in
order to support the curved areas of the
façade.
4. HORIZONTAL RESISTANT
STRUCTURE
As indicated above, for each building it
was taken that all horizontal loadings
would be transmitted towards the
concrete shafts within the same. However,
as all the buildings are interconnected to
each other by the floor slabs – with the
exception of the independent Cascade
building - the response of each concrete
shaft as a free cantilever is not possible.
This producing an interaction between the
different shafts and offsetting the
respective turning and displacements of
the same by the different horizontal
connecting members formed by the floor
slabs.
For this reason, the horizontal analysis
of the system was not carried out in terms
of isolated core members, but considering,
together with the different vertical shafts,
the elements of large horizontal depth-
formed by the composite slabs of the
different buildings. The spatial
combination formed in this way (Figure 13)
was then subject to the different
hypotheses concerning wind and
twenty-one
 J. Martinez
Figure 14. Execution of the Capitel building.
Figure 14. Erection of the Capital Structure.
earthquake actions in the two main
orthogonal directions, together with the
forces transmitted by the sloping ele-
ments. In this regard, the effect of the
loads of the cantilevered body of the
Capital structure and its incorporation
within the rest of the system was of
particular importance.
In order to prevent the introduction of
large horizontal forces at the
interconnection between the ground floor
slab and the shafts, it was established that
the connection of the first basement slabs
at the different shafts were purely vertical
in order to allow relative freedom of
horizontal movement between the slab
and the shafts. In this way, the transitional
height between the upper above ground
areas and the basement areas
corresponded to two floors (between the
ground floor and basement - 2) thereby
reducing shear and reaction forces to
values which could be perfectly
assimilated by the elements and
thicknesses employed. .
It is of note that the shaft N2 does not
rest on the foundation slab and instead
starts from basement -1. This shaft is
supported by large concrete beams
which rest on shaft N1 and on the
nearby perimeter retaining wall, that
was suitably scaled in the area affected
in accordance with these special loads.
5. ERECTION PROCESS
The entire complex, with the exception
of the Capital and Aircraft-carrier
22 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
buildings, were generally constructed
by conventional means and do not re-
want further explanation no here.
However, these two other buildings
were built by special procedures in
order to restrict the resources required
and to take advantage of the ongoing
self-bearing capacity of the
megastructures employed.
5.1. Erection of the Capital building
The construction process of this
building was fairly similar to that of a
conventional structure with the
exception of certain aspects which
required consideration in terms of the
sequence of construction.
1) Floors could not be assembled until at
least 21 days after the laying of the two
solid slabs corresponding to each floor
and that immediately above within the
Tower building, set in the adjacent areas
of the Capital building and connected to
core N1. This then guaranteed the transfer
of horizontal forces to the core from the
Capital as a result of the deviation of the
sloping columns within the same.
2) The placement of the sections of the
mixtilinear edge box members could not
be carried out until the completion of the
steel structure of the floors set below the
upper level of these components on both
façades, together with the placement of
the profiled steel sheets in the slabs.
5.1. Execution of the structure of the
Capitel building
The construction process of this
building is quite close to a conventional
scheme, except for some aspects that
had to be taken into consideration in its
evolutionary sequence.
1) The assembly process of any floor
could not be started without being
completed, with an age of at least 21
days, the two solid slabs corresponding
to said floor and the one immediately
above the Tower building, located in the
areas adjacent to the Capital and
connected to the core N1, to guarantee
the transmission to said core of the
horizontal forces coming from the
Capital, produced by the deviation of its
inclined supports.
2) The placement of the sections of
the mixtilinear edge pieces was not
carried out until the metallic structure
of the floors located below the upper
level of said pieces on both facades
was not completely finished, even
when the folded plates of the slabs
were placed. .
3) The assembly process required
taking both facades as parallel as
possible and joining both with the
transverse beams between nodes.
4) The execution of slabs was carried
out by pouring the concrete as close as
possible to the finish of the assembly of
the metallic structure of each floor.
In Figure 14 you can see aspects of
the execution of this body.
5.2. Execution of the aircraft
carrier building structure
The execution sequence responded to
the following process
– Phase 1 (Figure 15)
• Execution of cores and structures
of lower floors of the building.
– Phase 2 (Figure 16)
• Placement of auxiliary continuity shafts
between the 4th floor and the bottom of
the lower chord of the lattices.
These auxiliary shafts had a
dismounting device for their removal.
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Figure 15.
Figure15.
rada at the right time later.
• Placement of turrets 1 to 5 under
supports nº 123, 132, 143, 142 and 133
joined to the ground floor slab.
• Arrangement of the bracing
between turrets.
– Phase 3 (Figure 17)
• Simultaneous construction of the structure
of the 5th, 6th and 7th floors; so much
ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
in the building in its dorsal part, as in
the cantilevered front; concreting the
entire 5th floor before making the
metallic structures of the 6th and 7th
floors (Figure 18).
• Assembly at the crown of the N3
core of the beams and suspension
metal elements of the large facade
lattices (Figure 19).
• Execution of the lower slab of the
large suspension box beam, hanging
its formwork from the metal parts.
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
J. Martinez
and process required that
raised as parallel as
both be connected by
between nodes.
was carried out as
after the installation of
e to each floor.
ows construction in
building
the Aircraft-carrier
ion sequence runs
responded to the following process:
– Stage 1 (Figure 15)
• Construction of cores and structures
of the lower floors of the building.
– Stage 2 (figure 16)
• Placing temporary columns between
the 4thfloor and the bottom of the lower
cord of the main trusses.
These temporary columns included an
unhorsing device which could be
removed at the opportune time as
indicated below.
• Placement of provisional towers below
columns Nos. 123, 132, 143, 142 and 133
loading on the ground floor slab.
23
 J. Martinez Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 17.
Figure 17.

Figure 18. Execution of the aircraft carrier in phase 3. Figure Figure 19. Positioning of metal parts
18. Stage 3 construction of the Aircraft-carrier building. of the suspension element.
Figure 19. Arrangement of steel hanging elements.

suspension casings above and the walls of the

N3 core.

• Execution of the concrete lining of the

webs of the large beams and the transverse
trusses.

• Execution and prestressing of the upper slab of

the large suspension box beam (figure 20).

– Phase 4 (Figure 21)

• Closure of the first front module of the

main trusses (figure 22).

– Phase 5 (Figure 23)

• Disposal of turrets 1, 2 and 4.

• Continuation of the execution of floors of

Figure 20. View of the structure of the suspension element during the preten-
sado of the upper slab.
the first frame of the frontal lattices.
Figure 20. View of the hanging structure during the prestressing
of the upper slab. – Phase 6 (Figure 24)

24 ConcreteR neither245, 3erQuarter 2007

Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona J. Martinez
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 21.
Figure21.

• Bracing between temporary towers.

– Stage 3 (Figure 17)

• Simultaneous erection of the structures

to floors 5, 6 and 7, both at the rear of the
building and at the front of the cantilever,
but concreting the whole of the 5thfloor prior
to raising the steel structure to floors 6 and
7 (Figure 18).

• Assembly at the capping to core N3 of

beams and steel suspension components to
the large façade trusses (Figure 19).

• Construction of the lower slab of the

large suspension composite box girder,
suspending its formwork from the said steel
Figure 22. View of the execution of phase 4 of the Aircraft Carrier. suspension members and the walls of shaft
Figure 22. View of stage 4 construction of the Aircraft-carrier building. N3.

Figure 23.
Figure 23.

ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007 25

 J. Martinez Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 24.
Figure 24.

Figure 25.
Figure25.

Figure 26.
Figure 26.

26 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007

Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona J. Martinez
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 27. Final view of the execution of the Aircraft Carrier. Figure 28. Beam structure of an aircraft carrier floor.
Figure 27. Final view of the construction Figure 28. Beam structure on one floor
of the Aircraft-carrier building. of the Aircraft-carrier building.

Figure 29. Dorsal view of the Tower and the Bridge. Figure 30. General view in the completion phase.
Figure 29. Rear view of the Tower and Bridge buildings. Figure 30. General view of finishing work.

• Complete closure of the first box and the diagonal • Concrete lining of the webs to the large beams and the
bars of the second box. transversal trusses.

• Completion of the execution of plants of the first • Construction and prestressing of the upper slab to the
box. large suspension box girder (figure 20).

– Phase 7 (Figure 25)

– Stage 4 (Figure 21)
• Disposal of turrets 3 and 5.
• Closure of the first frontal module of the main trusses
• The detachment arrows foreseen for this second manoeuvre. (Figure 22).

ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007 27

 J. Martinez Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 31. Dorsal view in closure phase. Figure 31. Figure 32. Aerial plan view during construction.
Rear view during construction of facings. Figure 32. Aerial view of the site during construction.

Figure 33. Aerial view under construction. Figure 34. Cascade Building.
Figure 33. Aerial view of construction. Figure 34. Cascade Building.

– Stage 5 (Figure 23)
• Removal of temporary towers 1, 2
and 4.
• Continued construction of the
floors to the first panel of the front
trusses.
– Stage 6 (Figure 24)
• Complete closure of the first panel
and the diagonal bars of the second
panel.
• Completion of floors to the first
panel.
– Stage 7 (Figure 25)
• Removal of provisional towers 3
and 5.
• The deflection considered for this
second removal of shoring was 20mm and
the measured values 17 and 18 mm.
• Removal of auxiliary truss to the
front façade,
• Continued construction of the
floors to the second panel of the front
trusses.
• Concreting of floors to the front
area.
– Stage 8 (Figure 26)
• Complete closure of the structure of
the 2nd front panel (Figure 27).
• Completion of the floors to the
second front panel
• Concreting of remaining floors to
the front area.
Several final stages of the
construction and some views of the
finished building are shown in figures
28 at 39.
bra were 20 mm, obtaining values of
17 and 18 mm.
• Removal of auxiliary lattice from the
front façade.
• Continuation of the execution of
floors of the second frame of the
frontal lattices.
• Concreting of plants in the frontal
zone.
– Phase 8 (Figure 26)
• Complete closure of the structure of
the 2nd frontal box (Figure 27).
• Completion of the execution of
floors of the second frontal box.
• Concreting of the remaining floors of
the frontal area.
Figures 28 to 39 show some of the
final phases of the execution of the
works and of the finished building.

28 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007

Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona J. Martinez
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

Figure 35. Longitudinal view of the capital and the interior street
in the finished building. Figure 36. Completed Petal and Aircraft Carrier Buildings
Figure 35 Longitudinal view of the Capital building Figure 36. Finished Petal and Aircraft-carrier buildings.
and the inner avenue to the finished building.

Figure 37. Dorsal view of the front and the inner lane Figure 38. General dorsal view.
Figure 37. Rear view of the front and inner avenue. Figure 38. General rear view.

ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007 29

 J. Martinez
6. CONCLUSION
The combined use of different structural types and solutions,
both in the overall arrangement and in the details and specific
areas of the building, is almost mandatory in order to adapt the
pertinent strength and construction capacities to the formal and
functional conditions demanded by modern architecture in highly
complex works.
Within these lines of action, the example referred to in this
article offers a broad range of available possibilities and
demonstrates that this method of action is not only pertinent
and logical, but is nigh on obligatory if one aims to provide
the necessary structural response, at the same level of
intensity and complexity, to this profound architectural-
engineering dialogue so actively manifested today.
Though the suitability and quality of these specific solutions
have subsequently been covered up by architectural
finishings, the subliminal presence of these solutions is not
totally erased and they actively remain in order to maintain
this interesting dilemmatic dispute between the visible and
invisible elements of a structure in modern-day architecture.
Figure 39. General view from the dorsal façade.
Figure 39. General view from the rear façade.
30 ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona
6. CONCLUSION
The combined use of various typologies and structural
solutions, both for the most global approaches, as well as for the
details and local areas of a building, is almost obligatory in order
to adapt the most appropriate resistant and constructive
resources to the forms and functional conditions that the large
Today's architecture demands in complex realizations.
The example shown in this article offers –within said line
of action– an appreciable range of such possibilities; and it
shows that this way of acting is not only appropriate and
logical, but that it is fully obligatory if you want to give an
adjusted structural response, and of the same level of
intensity and complexity, to that deep architecture-
engineering dialogue that is manifesting actively at the
present time.
Although the adequacy and quality of these specific
solutions have been subsequently covered up by the type of
architectural finishes, the subliminal presence is not
completely erased and actively beats to maintain the
interesting dilemmatic controversy of the visible and the
invisible of the resistant structure in architecture. of our days.
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona J. Martinez
Mare Nostrum Tower for Gas Natural in Barcelona

DATA SHEET/DATA SHEET

• Property: NATURAL GAS

• Project management: SERVIHABITAT

• Architectures. Project and construction management: EMBT Arquitectec Associats, SL

• Structures. Project and construction management: MC2 Engineering Study

• Construction Management Assistance: IOCs

• Facilities Project and Management: PGIGRUP

• Curtain wall facade: PERMASTEELISA SPAIN, SA

• Project Management: IDOM. Engineering and Systems, S.A.

• Technical Construction Management: CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL

• Economic Control of Work: TASINSA

• Project and Quality Control: SECOTEC

• Security and Control Coordination: SGS

• Builder, Foundations and Containment Screens: TERRATEST

• Foundation control: INTEMAC

• Builder of the superstructure: DREDGED

• Metallic Structure Builder: ASCAMON

• Control of the Superstructure: APPLUS

• Mixed wrought metal folded sheets: HIANSA

• Fire protection: PERLIFOC

• Waterproofing of the infrastructure: MASTER CONCRETE

• Mechanical installations: SOGESA

• Electrical installations and weak signals: UTE Crespo and Blasco with EMTE

• Elevators: KONE

ConcreteRneither245, 3erQuarter 2007 31

III ACHE CONGRESS OF BRIDGES
AND STRUCTURES
THE STRUCTURES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Sustainability, innovation and future challenges

achievements

MARE NOSTRUM TOWER BUILDING. NATURAL GAS

(BARCELONA)

JulyMARTINEZ CALZON1
1Dr. Civil Engineer, Canals and Ports. MC2 Engineering Study
 achievements

ABSTRACT

Complex of buildings consisting of a 22-storey tower, a lower four-storey area

in the form of a waterfall and two highly unique buildings called:

• Aircraft carrier;elongated six-storey building, one of whose halves

cantilever 40 m horizontally with respect to the rest, standing 20 m above
the interior public plaza that completes the complex.

• Capital;eight-storey building with cantilevers growing from bottom to

top with concave curved front finials very similar to the scrolls that finish
off a Corinthian column.

The structural scheme of these two unique buildings is based on the concept
of megastructure, which takes advantage of all the possibilities of the system:
light parts, highly rigid deformation responses and relatively low costs; At the
same time, it facilitates the construction processes by practically eliminating
the need for large provisional falsework.

KEYWORDS

mixed slabs; megastructure; complex architecture; special steels; constructive

process.

1. GENERAL APPROACH (FIG 1 AND 2)

This attractive construction, a project by the architects Enric Miralles (£)and

Benedetta Tagliabue, is made up of four buildings with very different shapes
and characteristics but which, together, constitute an architectural proposal of
the greatest interest, winner in its day of a competition between renowned
Catalan architects (fig 1). His design included a wide range of objectives, which
began with the achievement of a captivating and emblematic image through a
complex system of shapes, proportions and daring arrangements of the pieces
that make it up; continues, in the idea of articulating and offering the
maximum continuity and perspective of such pieces with the rest of the
existing buildings on the Ronda Litoral avenue in which they are located, by
means of an adjusted set of heights,

two
Torre Mare Nostrum building. Natural Gas (Barcelona)

changes in orientation of the facades and volumes; and it is finished off with an
intense interpenetration of the complex with the public sphere, arranging an
interior street between the buildings that compose it and an intense dialogue with
the public square that surrounds and frames practically the entire complex. These
broad ideas and architectural concepts pose a great challenge. Not only in terms
of its shapes and dimensions, but also in its structural, resistant and constructive
aspects.

Figure 1. Initial perspective for the

Figure 2. General plan of the complex
architecture competition

The structures chosen to deal with all these constraints have been based on
preferably metallic and mixed solutions, trying at all times to use
megastructures: structural systems that try to take advantage of the maximum
dimensions of the architectural forms to achieve, arranging the lightest
possible pieces. , and therefore, more economical, deformational responses of
great rigidity and maximum functionality; and also to achieve, through such
systems, construction processes that take advantage of the evolutionary
capacity of these large structures to limit the use of large falsework or
temporary auxiliary systems.

The four buildings that make up the Torre Mare Nostrum complex (figure 2)
have been simply called: Torre; Capital; Aircraft Carrier and Waterfall; due to
the reminiscences of their forms. Two others could be added to these: the
Puente building, three storeys high, which connects the Torre and Aircraft
Carrier buildings, above the aforementioned interior street; and the building

3
 achievements

Petal, small area that is located under the flight of the aircraft carrier. In
addition, but in reinforced concrete, the entire complex has a large three-
storey underground plinth, mainly for parking and services, which extends to
the entire block in which it is located. On the upper surface of this plinth, not
occupied by buildings, there is a large properly urbanized public square.

The general analysis of the structural whole is developed along two

complementary lines:

1) Particular study of each body or area to determine the ideal structural

characteristics of its resistant elements, both conventional and special,
against gravitational or vertical stresses.

2) Global analysis of the set of specific resistant elements that carry out the real
and interactive link between the various aforementioned bodies, to
determine the effective distribution of the efforts between them under
horizontal solicitations, not only of wind and earthquake, but also of the
deviation components caused by the presence of an appreciable number of
inclined bars in the system.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

BUILDINGS

2.1. tower building

It gives a specific name to the complex: Torre Mare Nostrum, and is made up of two
zones (figures 3 and 4):

• High body, 22 floors plus upper facilities area; includes nuclei N1 and N2.
It presents some supports with a slight inclination that generate a
regulated facade and recesses in the continuity of another facade to
generate open areas in it.

• Intermediate body of 13 floors that merges with the previous one and, in
addition, is linked to the Aircraft Carrier building between floors 8 and 13, both
inclusive, generating a twinned area, and another on a bridge over the street

4
Torre Mare Nostrum building. Natural Gas (Barcelona)

inside. These joints and their connection to the N4 core give rise to one of the
strongest horizontal resistive interactions between buildings.

Figure 3. Sequence of some plans and photos of the architectural model

Figure 4. Tower Building Figure 5. Capitel Building (Section B fig. 2)

(Section A fig. 2)

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2.2. Capital Building

8-story-high body connected from its start with the Tower building, to which it
transmits the balancing horizontal components, necessary to stabilize the
large cantilevered body that is finished off frontally by protruding concave
surfaces that increase its flight with height in the form of scrolls. (figure 5), as
in the order of the Corinthian capital, from which it takes its name.

23. Aircraft Carrier Building

It has a large flown body about 40 m long and 18.50 m high, located 20 m from
the ground. It includes three dominant elements (figures 6 and 7):

• A vertical core N3 of reinforced concrete that receives practically all the

actions of the cantilevered body.

• Two large lattices arranged on the longitudinal facades of the building,

which receive all the vertical loads of the cantilevered body and transfer
them to the core through a suspension system.

• A powerful suspension system at the top of the N3 core to which all the
loads of the aforementioned trusses are transmitted.

Figure 6. Aircraft Carrier Building (Section C fig. 2)

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Torre Mare Nostrum building. Natural Gas (Barcelona)

Figure 7. Suspension structure at the crest of the N3 core

2.4. Waterfall Building

Low body 4 storeys high, arranged with its main curved outer edges offset in a
variable staggered manner (figure 8), with solid concrete slabs on metal
supports, so as to adapt their heights to those of an existing building, with
which attaches dorsally for combined use.

Figure 8. Waterfall Building

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3. DESCRIPTION OF VERTICAL RESISTANT STRUCTURES

3.1. type structures

With the exception of the Waterfall, the vertical structure is proposed in a similar way:

• Metallic supports exclusively resistant to vertical actions. All the

horizontal actions are transferred to the concrete cores through the floor
slabs. S275JR and S355J2G3 steels have been used, limiting the
dimensions in plan to approximate values of 30 x 30 cm, incorporating
additional sheet metal reinforcements where necessary, arranged slightly
recessed between the wings, in order to maintain a presence in H and
thus define an architectural cladding with a non-compact arrangement.

• Mixed slabs of collaborating folded sheet metal, reinforced with

appropriate reinforcement to resist the corresponding actions in the fire
phase, dispensing with the collaboration of said sheet and, therefore,
without the need to carry out a fireproof lining of it.

In areas with strong transfers of horizontal forces coming from the

deviations of the inclined pieces, an appropriate solidification of the floor
slab is carried out.

• Joists, with a maximum separation of 2.40 m connected by bolts, to

achieve mixed pieces and maintain adequate deflection conditions.

• Metallic beams with maximum edges of 600 mm, with extreme gussets
and circular alveoli in the span areas, necessary for the passage of the
installations.

• Metal landings for lowering upper supports and support of large beams.
The complex plan layout of the buildings, as well as the twinning and
interconnection between them, generates intersections of frames and
special modulations that cannot be

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Torre Mare Nostrum building. Natural Gas (Barcelona)

resolved with a single family of supports, often requiring the inclusion of

these elements.

Likewise, the presence of appreciable gaps and recesses in facades also

makes it necessary to have this type of element, either in the form of
supported or flown pieces, straight or curved, capable of maintaining the
structural continuity of the system.

• In the Cascada building, solid slabs 28 cm thick, which embed the

landings required for the support of the supports in cases of strong
setbacks, required by the disposition of the curved stepped edges.

3.2. Special structure of the Capitel building (figure 5)

The two lateral facades of the building are not parallel, but rather have a slight
angle to each other in plan. The front facade is made up of curvilinear pieces,
which progress from the lower outer edge outwards and upwards, completely
independently of one edge from the other.

The structure of this body is based on carrying the frontal vertical loads to the
aforementioned mixtilinear pieces, formed by powerful box sections; and
collect the horizontal components of deviation through the beams and floors
of the floors, which move them, in traction or compression depending on the
floors, towards the N1 core of the Tower. In the areas of the internal end,
which must transmit these actions to the aforementioned core, the floor slabs
are solid.

3.3. Structure of the Aircraft Carrier building (figures 6 and 7)

The presence of the large cantilevered body requires, for its proper
functionality, economy and construction, a “megastructure” type system. That
is to say, a structural arrangement of large pieces that make the best possible
use of the total dimensions of a large part of the building; and not resorting to
systems of discrete dimensions, of the floor-to-floor type, framed. Thus, this
over-modulation of the building's parts makes it possible to take advantage of
its total depth of 18.30 m, which, in correlation with the 40 m span of the
cantilever, defines a short, extraordinarily effective corbel

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against the vertical actions of use and, above all, with respect to those due to the
earthquake in its vertical component.

The structural layout consists of arranging two modules on each side of the
central core N3 of the Aircraft Carrier building on the long facades of the
building with “Pratt” type lattices. Each lattice –on either side of the central
support core– has four modules, two on each side of the core, 18 m wide (5
modules of 3.60 m) and a height of 18.30 m (5 floors of 3.66 m), giving rise to
diagonals of ideal lengths of 25.67 m; uprights of 18.38 m and upper and lower
bars of 18 m; all this between axes of nodes.

All these bars are arranged in a box section, with dimensions of 30 cm thick –to
allow their integration into the façades, in correspondence with the supports,
also limited to 30 cm or less– and sheets of significant thickness, with a
maximum of 80 mm; using in certain areas, special steel S460M,
thermomechanically treated.

The complete structure of each façade, made up on each side of two lateral
modules with diagonals and a central module without diagonals, is supported
by the upper nodes of the central module by means of a large transverse box-
shaped mixed element, arranged orthogonally to the two lattices, one of each
facade. Said box piece has slightly variable depth and width, to ensure that the
two webs of this large beam coincide in its central vertical area with the two
lateral sides of the concrete core N3, centered on the building, which allows a
perfect transfer of the actions from one system to another. The dorsal ends of
the large lattices described above join the concrete core N4, which forms one
of the installation chimneys and includes part of the Torre building, in its 14-
storey body.

The main lattice structure is completed with the presence of internal vertical
supports, located at a modular distance of 3.60 m, which intersect with the
diagonals through the provision of support and distribution elements on one
side and the other of the same to allow the reception and transmission of
efforts. This set of uprights receives the incidence of the beams on each floor
and transfers them to the lattice system, with traction or compression
depending on the area, depending on the position of each span of

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Torre Mare Nostrum building. Natural Gas (Barcelona)

shaft with respect to the large lower chords and the frame of the lattice in which they
are located.

The suspension element includes a 40 cm thick lower slab, which connects

both webs at the bottom, with compression work. The metal souls of the
suspension piece are covered with concrete and duly connected to them, so
that, in combination with the large upper slab slightly broken in elevation and
strongly prestressed, they constitute a large mixed element of a very
monolithic character, but fully active against any type of transverse stress due
to unbalanced loads, wind, special actions: covered gondolas, thermals, etc. To
collect all types of deflection forces in these intersection areas, the system is
completed with two transverse diaphragms, parallel to the planes of the
trusses,

The bracing between the two main trusses of both facades, as well as the
horizontal non-deformability between them, is guaranteed by the set of floor
slabs and their support beams.

Deferred creep and shrinkage deformations are incorporated into the analysis,
determining stiffness reductions in the face of permanent stresses that give
rise to small joint movements that are perfectly assumable by functional
systems, given the large lengths that exist between the fixed and mobile points
and the relative small stiffness of secondary systems.

4. HORIZONTAL RESISTANT STRUCTURE

In each building, it is considered that all the planned horizontal actions are
transmitted to the existing concrete cores in each body of the buildings.
However, as they are interlinked – with the exception of the Cascada building,
which is autonomous – the response of each concrete core as a free corbel is
not possible, producing an interaction between the various cores that makes
their rotations and translations compatible through the different existing
horizontal joint pieces.

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For this reason, the horizontal analysis of the system has not been carried out as
isolated bodies, but rather, together with the different vertical cores, the pieces
with large horizontal depths formed by the mixed slabs of the different elements
have been considered and, to this set The spatial structure thus formed is to which
the different hypotheses of wind and earthquake actions in the two main
orthogonal directions have been incorporated, as well as the deflection forces
transmitted by the inclined elements (figure 9). Especially important for these
purposes is the incidence of the loads of the cantilevered body of the Capital and
its introduction into the system as a whole.

Figure 9. Global spatial scheme versus horizontal actions

5. CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

The whole complex, with the exception of the Capitel and Aircraft Carrier
buildings, presents a conventional type of execution that does not require a
specific exposure. On the contrary, these buildings must be executed through
special procedures that take advantage of the evolutionary self-capacity of the
very megastructures used.

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