Effects of steel and composite construction on the life cycle cost and marketability of multifunctional office and commercial buildings
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Richard Stroetmann
Research Assistant:
Dipl.-Ing. Lukas Hüttig
Participating Research Centers:
- Technische Universität Darmstadt,
Fachgebiet Entwerfen und
Baugestaltung
- Technische Universität Dresden,
Institut für Baubetriebswesen
Processing Period: | 01.03.2015 - 31.08.2017 |
Research Association : | FOSTA - Forschungsvereinigung Stahlanwendung e.V. |
Project No.: | FOSTA P1118 |
Funding Association: | IGF - industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung |
IGF-Project-No.: | 18659 BG |
Abstract
The demographic change and the increasing awareness of sustainability are examples of changing social conditions, which affect the user requirements of multi-storey buildings. Resource conservation, recyclability, lifecycle costs and conservation of value, even under changing property conditions, are increasingly in the focus of planning. Among other things, the competitiveness of rented and usable space depends on whether the space-forming structures offer the necessary flexibility to adapt to these dynamic processes.
Experiences of the past decades show that the establishment of cost-effective mono-functional building structures and neighbourhoods, as they have been build in many cities since the 1970s, often result in an early vacancy up to a demolition, as a consequence of an insufficient adaptability of the primary structure. Because of these circumstances, the aim of the research project was the development of multifunctional building structures by using advantages of steel and composite constructions. In this manner, the long-term marketability and sustainability of the real estates should be increased.
Subject of the research project AIF-FOSTA P1118 was initially an analysis of the current situation of the real estate market and the causes of structural vacancy. Afterwards, already implemented revitalization projects were presented and the gained insights for object planning were summarised.
Based on the findings of previous revitalization projects, planning recommendations for multifunctional buildings are formulated. The requirements of different types of use, such as the clear storey height, the building depth or accessibility, are summarised. Overlaying these aspects results in the requirements of variable building structures. These are illustrated by designs of reference buildings with different degrees of variability.
Based on the object planning requirements, the constructive implications resulting from a multifunctional use were derived. The characteristics of classic and multifunctional floor systems in composite construction as well as the influences of fire protection, facades and foundations were examined. Parameter studies were used to assess the ecological, monetary and functional influences of the various building components. The effects of increased variability and lifetime extension were examined using the reference buildings as examples.
The economic efficiency of multifunctional buildings were analysed by means of stochastically modelled complete financial plans. The examples of the reference buildings were used to determine the return expectations based on the return on equity for different conversion scenarios. Finally, with the use of sensitivity analyses the effects of the individual input parameters were observed.
The investigations carried out show that suitable planning measures could increase the variability of building structures and offer the possibility of manifold use. Efficient load bearing structures in steel and composite allows the adaptability of the buildings without significantly increasing the ecological or monetary costs for the construction. If an extension of the life cycle is created by the increased variability, there are clear advantages. The economic feasibility studies show that a higher initial investment in many scenarios leads to a long-term increase in the return of invest and a reduction of the vacancy risk.