The building is supported on strip footings extending approximately 1 m below the current ground level to a firm sand layer beneath. These foundations were poured as mass concrete and follow the layout of the load bearing walls. A 250 mm thick reinforced concrete slab spans between these footings. For large spans, cost analysis was undertaken to determine whether adding an additional footing or increasing the slab reinforcement would be more cost effective for the client.
The masonry walls were analysed to determine which would withstand the wind loads and which require stiffening through the addition of steel windposts, where either the length or height of the wall was too great to safely transfer the wind load. To optimise the design, non-loadbearing walls contribute to the lateral stability of the structure. Detailed windpost fixing designs were provided, to ensure loads were transferred as expected.
