Ultra low-vibration buildings: the Beecroft Building
Ensuring compliance with stringent building vibration testing requirements for a landmark physics facility: the University of Oxford, Beecroft Building
Client: Stantec structural engineers in partnership with Hawkins Brown architects
Sector: specialist low-vibration buildings
Our building vibration experts oversaw the design and delivery of vibration control requirements for the University of Oxford’s £50m Beecroft Building, home of one of the world’s most advanced theoretical and experimental physics departments. The finished building has been recognised with numerous RIBA awards, among other accolades.
From hospitals with vibration-sensitive instruments to nanofabrication facilities for chip manufacturing, we offer comprehensive vibration testing services, vibration analysis, modelling and design advice for specialist facilities. Contact us to find out how we can help with your building vibration project.
Project at a glance
- Project: Beecroft Building, University of Oxford
- Overall building budget: £50m
- Scope of work: vibration analysis, modelling and measurement
- Awards: Building received a RIBA National Award 2019, RIBA South Award, South Building of the Year
The challenge: assessing and advising on ultra-low building vibration design
The Beecroft Building, University of Oxford
ISVR Consulting was subcontracted to Stantec structural engineers, in close partnership with Hawkins Brown architects, to advise on and assess the exceptionally stringent building vibration requirements for the new building, covering all RIBA Stages 1 to 7.
When it comes to vibration control in buildings, this was an extraordinary challenge: providing a new building over a relatively small footprint, closer to a busy road than the previous physics facility, but with even more stringent building vibration requirements.
Road traffic vibration can easily penetrate the structural fabric of the building before ultimately inducing unwanted vibration in critical laboratory areas. The brief was to aspirationally meet VC-M in the most vibration-critical areas. VC-M (=0.012 µm/s in the frequency range of 1 to 100 Hz) is a factor of about ‘260’ lower than the previous historic ‘gold standard’ of VC-E (=3.13 µm/s in the frequency range of 1 to 100 Hz).
Vibration performance would however always be dependent on the changeable vibration conditions.
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“While there is a huge desire to achieve a steady vibration performance at all times and eventualities, this is not possible due to the changeable dynamic environment. Ultimately, there is always a fine balance between over-engineering and return value.”
Dr Christos Karatsovis FIOA, Principal Consultant, ISVR Consulting
Our solution: vibration analysis and modelling to advise on and validate designs
Our specialists in building vibration analysis, modelling and control brought their expertise to the project, advising on and assessing the project plans. The proposal was for the construction of Oxford’s deepest basement at 16 metres below ground, with the most sensitive laboratory areas in the basement ‘decoupled’ from the structure using individual pneumatically isolated keel slabs, some exceeding 50 tonnes in weight.
Through various modelling scenarios, we were able to validate that a reinforced concrete raft slab, exceeding 1 metre in thickness, would be needed in addition to the strategic location of piles for further vibration performance enhancements. The design of the keel slabs, and their associated air spring characteristics, was based on modelling to ensure that they would provide the desired vibration control.
In addition, we carried out extensive vibration testing throughout the duration of the project using specialist, highly sensitive vibration instrumentation to measure the in-situ performance against the various project criteria across the whole building.
The outcome: an award-winning low-vibration building
- Our expertise in modelling and vibration testing ensured the building achieved the stringent building vibration requirements for its specialist use.
- The Beecroft Building officially opened in 2018 and won the RIBA South Award 2019, RIBA South Building of the Year Award 2019 and RIBA National Award 2019, among other accolades.
“The environmental and anti-vibration performance of the high specification laboratories is amongst the very best worldwide.”
Citation from RIBA National Award 2019
Specialist vibration monitoring and consultancy for high-precision facilities
From concept to completion, our vibration consultants support research and laboratory projects that demand exceptional environmental control. We provide detailed vibration testing, analysis, and ongoing performance monitoring to ensure compliance with the most exacting VC-class criteria.
Contact our team to discuss your laboratory or research facility and learn how we can help you achieve world-class vibration performance.
