TECHNICAL REPORT

HEALING WOUNDED SITE THROUGH MOVEMENTMixed Development of Cardiff Centre For Built-Environment (CCBE), Com-

mercial Outlets and Urban Parks

Teck Kang Poh

CONTENT

Chapter 1: PROJECT OVERVIEW 3 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 Site 5 1.3 Strategy 7

Chapter 2: TECTONIC 13 2.1 Precedent Study 14 2.2 Concepts 16 2.3 Materials 18

Chapter 3: STRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION 19 3.1 Structural Organisation 20 3.2 Construction Sequence of New Extension 21 3.3 Exploded Axonometry 24 3.4 Construction Sections 25 3.5 Construction Sequence of the Adaptive Reuse of the Existing Warehouse 29 3.6 Construction Sequence of Railway Embankment 31 3.7 Development Phases 32

Chapter 4: ENVIRONMENTAL 33 Chapter 5: FIRE SAFETY 39 Chapter 6: VEHICLE ACCESS AND SUPPLY 44

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

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INTRODUCTION

In the primer, I did investigation on simulation of people movement pattern and how it can be used to inform in my subsequent design thesis processes. To test it on the design stage, the chosen site is very important. It should be a brownfield or disused site in a city quarter, where it is segregated from the city centre by railways and highways, and hence how the site can be linked back to the city and healed through people movement will be the main theme of the design processes.

The methodology of this design project is to use my primer as the apparatus or tool to simu-late people movement pattern when design and architecture elements are introduced. From the simulation I can determine how well a designed space might be, and subsequently the movement pattern and the parameters applied will be the backbone for my subsequent design processes. Al-though the simulation may not be empirical, but the idea behind it is to get rudimentary ideas and impressions on how the people might use the place, therefore, the movement pattern simulation can be used as an important design starting point.

However, the design project will not be based solely on the simulation, rather, it will also be looked from multiple readings of the site, and subsequently the corresponding strategies from the site analysis will be integrated together with the simulation to produce well-thought and context-sen-sitive design precursors.

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SITE

The chosen site is located along southern edge of city centre in Cardiff, segregated from the city centre by elevated railway tracks. During industrial age when Cardiff Bay (Cardiff Docklands) was at its zenith, the area from the site till the tip of the docklands in the south housed thriving com-munity and numerous basins, docks and canals, which were the backbones of the port of Cardiff Docklands. Cardiff Docklands was the biggest coal exporting port in the world, with railway used to transport coal from inland to the port for exporting. Railway tracks and docks were the common sight during its heyday, alongside with the thriving community in Butetown.

However, after the collapse of coal industry in the late 50s, the port deteriorated and subsequently largely became disused. In the late 80s, a major redevelopment for the area called Cardiff Bay started. It is a controversial redevelopment, as the built environment of the port was changed be-yond recognition, with canals and docks filled up and railway tracks removed, replaced by mostly typological housing blocks, despite introduction of some state of the art architecture. Now, its original characters were the remote past, with little traces of the past. The area is now so alien-ated from the city centre and its history, where both city centre and the docklands were once con-nected, sharing the same characters and purpose.

Due to the unsuccessful of Cardiff Bay development to heighten the awareness of Cardiff built envi-ronment and its heritage, hence, the project should be design to address this issue, and is aimed to increase appreciation towards Cardiff surviving heritage buildings as well as subsequently increase awareness and participation of local population in Cardiff present and future built environment.

The site is sandwiched between Cardiff Docklands and the city centre. Therefore, it is the best site for a project to re-link both sides of the city, and to act as the incubator for the ‘renaissance’ of Cardiff built-environment. And to re-link means to heal the wounded site with people movement through the site.

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The site, where city centre is located across the railway at the North. Around the site are office buildings (Callaghan Square) to the West and proposed Capital Quarter Devel-

opment to the East of the site

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SITE MACRO STRATEGY

Macro Strategy - Tram Station

A new tram station will be built on the site, to serve patrons from surrounding developments, as well as the local population. At a larger scale, it will increase the accessibility to the site from larger extent of the city

Macro Strategy - Green Belt

Recreational green belt will be created starting from the site to Cardiff Bay along the railway track to the bay. This requires the reclamation of brownfield site and rail embankment for green spaces.

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Edge Condition Analysis

The diagram across shows existing edge condition of the site. The red coloured annotation represents the obstructive and repulsive elevated railway tracks and viaducts which divide the site into two. The blue coloured annotation represents the attractive nature of the Bute dock feeder canal as water element which is currently under-utilised. The black coloured annotation represents heavy traffic street boundary which is repulsive, with sound and noise pollution.

Edge Condition Strategy

These edges should be intervened and utilised while retaining its char-acteristics. The spaces beneath the viaduct to the northern edge will be adaptive reused for shops and gastronomy outlets. The elevated railway track in between both ends of the site will be transformed into a urban green belt, which will continue along the railway track down to the bay. The pedestrian routes will be designed to weave through the site.

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Site Structure Analysis

The diagram across shows the structure of the site. It is orthogonal in nature, with the elevated railway track and road disrupt the site struc-ture.

Site Structure Strategy

The site structure should as much as possible be taken as the precur-sors behind the formation of the structure grid of the schematic de-sign. Curve structure line towards the south edge can be interpreted with curve concrete load-bearing wall, forming a sweeping wall along the busy road.

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Vistas Analysis

Due to the centrality of the site within the context of Cardiff city, gen-erous provision of views from the site to its surrounding (the bay, Bu-tetown, city centre etc) are important features. This nature of the site should be exploited as much as possible to add value to the urban de-sign of Cardiff city through introduction of urban meeting spaces for local population and tourists with views out to different parts of the city. The diagram across shows important features within the site vicin-ity and parts of the site which offer important views. Pockets of spaces with different views will be dotted around the scheme.

Vistas Strategy

Pockets of spaces with different views will be dotted around the scheme, contained within continuous important routes and spaces. Some of these viewpoints will have to be elevated so as to cross over the rail embankment and provide elevated bird’s eye view to the sur-rounding.

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Sun Exposure Analysis

The diagram across shows the existing sun shadow range and exposure throughout the whole year. Due to the south facing nature of the site, quite a big portion of the sites receive a lot of sunshine throughout the year. Can be seen here that area to the north of the railway em-bankment and the existing warehouse receive minimal sun exposure, while open space next to Bute Street and the canal receives a lot of sunshine.

Sun Exposure Strategy

These bright areas will be fully utilised as public squares and green spaces.

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Alsphaltsurface

Gravelsurface

Grass & Gravelsurface

Ground Texture Analysis

The diagram across shows the existing ground texture, where the west side of the site is covered with alsphalt for car parking, while the el-evated railway is covered with vegetation and the east side is covered with gravel. The character of the ground texture is combination of na-ture, rustic and new surfaces.

Ground Texture Strategy

The strategy is to unite all these different ground textures with new surface treatment of vegetation, while retaining original characters of each surface. For example, vegetation will be introduced into both gravel and alsphate surfaces by means of planting etc. The main aim of the strategy is to reclaim the brownfield site texture with greenery.

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TECTONIC

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Precedent Study

Maxxi, Rome

The most imposing feature of Maxxi is the curves and axes. These lines respond to the existing orthogonal site structure, producing another intriguing reading of the site. To celebrate these lines, Zaha Hadid introduce interesting skylight which runs along the line, with fins which is as deep as 1.5m, but houses different layer of glazing, sun shading, and louvre. The idea of compacting several feature inside the fins is very holis-tic. People movement is also very celebrated here, with bridg-es and walkways interweaving in the main full storey foyer, leading to different destinations.

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Caixa Forum, Madrid

This complex poses intriguing question on how new structure is introduced in the old facade and lifted the facade up to open ground floor to the public space, and thus creating a continu-ous public space which runs from outside to inside.

Tate Modern, London

Again, internal public space is celebrated here, with the down-ward slope and expansive ground floor public space, with func-tions on one of its edges ‘hanging’ out from the structure.

Copper Square, New York

The materiality of preforated steel cladding used in this proj-ect is interesting as seen from far, it looks like solid concrete panels, but up close it is transparent, and even so when at night. Preforated metal mesh can be used to play transpar-ency and opacity on the facade, as well as providing environ-mental benefit of sun shading for south facing facade.

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Concepts The tectonic ideas of the new wing of CCBE are derived pri-marily from the form of the structure design which in turn derived from the site strategies and simulation of pedestrian movement patterns. Due to the nature of the form which consists of interweaving curves, the sense of movement is heightened through the homogenous treatment of the fa-cade. Broadly speaking, the tectonic of each section consists of same elements and architecture language, and this section is replicated along the length of the curve. These sections are connected with movement guiding elements which run along the length of the curve on both horizontal and vertical faces.

One of the idea of the strategies is about elevated viewpoints. Therefore, the facade of elevated viewpoints which are dot-ted along the curve should be juxtaposed to the other part of the facade. The viewpoints which house gallery spaces of different development areas in Cardiff should be lightweight and filled with natural light, juxtaposed against massive audi-torium and other functions below which are enclosed by load bearing concrete walls. Therefore, it is an interplay of light and heavy, and transparency.

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The brick facade of the existing warehouse building bears wit-ness to the Cardiff past, therefore should be anyway retained and refurbished. Due to insufficient data on the building ex-isting layout, therefore, the idea is to rip off the interior and change the structure system, and hence creating a large inter-nal public space. The base of the facade is removed to create a continuous public space between inside and outside. The new structure system is designed to support and hold the fa-cade, therefore, changing the materiality of the load-bearing brick facade into cosmetic cladding facade.

The facade transition from concrete base to the elevated view-points should be gradual, hence emphasising on the transition from solid to transparent. Therefore, the choice of sunshade cladding should be the same colour tone as that of concrete.

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Materials

Primarily the materials consist of brickwork, con-crete, concrete cladding, and expanded metal mesh. These four materials will determine the tectonic of the project. The other materials are steel structure and glazing.

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STRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION

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Adaptive Re-use of the existing warehouse

New Extension

Structural Organisation

Two main areas of structure, one with adaptive re-use of the existing warehouse, which involve heavy reconstruction with new steel structure and interior; an-other being the new extension which primarily built of concrete structure beneath and lighter steel structure above.

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Construction Sequence of New Extension

The following series of diagrams shows the construction sequence of the new extension.

1st, construction of the load bearing walls and cores

2nd, construction of the concrete floor slabs

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3rd, erection of the main members of steel structure and the steel bridge spanning across the tram track below

4th, erection of fins of steel trusses which run along the curve of the plan

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4th, installation of the double glazing, expanded metal mesh and the fittings

Exploded axonometric of a section of the facade. The south facing skylight is fitted with Power Glaz BIPV pv cells which leaves gaps in between them to allow sunlight pen-etrate into the space. Expanded aluminium mesh is used as sun shading device.

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Exploded Axonometry of the Skin

South facing facade with expanded 1. metal mesh for sun shadingNorth facing facade2. Skylight with Power Glaz BIPV3. Glass roof of the bridge to Cal-4. laghan squareCourtyard curtain wall glazing5. Skylight to meeting rooms beneath6.

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Construction Section Through South Side of CCBE Gallery: Overview

The diagram shows construction section through the CCBE new extension which runs along the southern edge. Can be seen clearly the difference of structural system used for the top floors and the other lower floors. The top floor is gallery space for different development areas of Cardiff, the first floor is product gallery space and the ground floor is food outlet.

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1:25 Section: Top Floor

1 9.5mm Laminated Glazing, with Power Glaz BIPV on south facing pane Aluminium mullions at 30o angle on Fins* Steel grating for light diffusion Double Glazing: 4mm clear glass, 10mm cavity, 11mm laminated safety glass

2 Expanded aluminium mesh for sun shading with opening for views Aluminium mullions 9.5mm Laminated Glazing Double Glazing: 4mm clear glass, 10mm cavity, 11mm laminated safety glass

3 Vent

4 *Fins construction: -Steel truss consists IPE 200 for outer beam and 2 x parallel flange steel channel (100x50) each for inner beam -Both beams are tied together with steel plates in the middle -Steel truss is covered with preforated aluminium sheet (preforation to let air pass through) -Fins are tied to main steel structure by steel angles and steel plates -Fluorescent light tube runs along the inner beam

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1:25 Section: First Floor

1 24mm timber boarding 60mm screed with underfloor heating pipes 60mm rigid insulation Concrete slab

2 30mm glass-fibre-reinforced concrete cladding 20mm Cavity 2 x 60mm thermal insulation Concrete wall 3 Opening Construction: Glazing with side opening for ventilation, covered by preforated metal mesh for sound absorption and to reduce draught

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1:25 Section: Ground Floor

1 Suspended ceiling plasterboard Ventilation duct and service above

2 24mm timber boarding 60mm screed with underfloor heating pipes 120mm rigid insulation DPM Raft foundation on piles DPM Hardcore

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Construction Sequence of the Adaptive Reuse of the Existing Warehouse

The idea behind the adaptive reuse is just retain the brick facade while changing the interior layout and structure entirely, so that a full storey internal public space can be built.

1st, the existing brick facade is temporary hold up by steel structure tied to the facade. This then allow the existing internal structure to be demolished. A few existing walls are demolished and be replaced by new load bearing walls. This is because currently the warehouse is in haz-ardous condition, and reusing its structure might pose problems.

2nd, new structure is introduced to, with steel structure and trusses spanning the main space and holding up per-manently the facade. New concrete load bearing walls and core walls are erected right in the middle so as to stiffen the steel structure and provide support to the facade.

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3rd, new interior layout, secondary structure and floor plates are erected

4th, before the construction of the interior, the roof is erected to provide weather proofing for the interior works

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Construction Sequence of the Partial Reconstruc-tion of the Railway Embankment

1st, the train service will be temporary stopped to allow construction work. The rail track will be largely retained because it has same specification as the tram track (stan-dard gauge). The parts where access required by design to both sides of the site are excavated. Tunneling is not nec-essarily. Materials excavated will be recycled and used as hardcore for the erection of foundation of the other parts.

2nd, new concrete structure is erected, bridging the rail track back together, with access to both sides of the site beneath

3rd, top vegetation layers of the embankment is replanted and cover the concrete structure, and hence rail track is installed back.

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Phased Development

First phase involves the construction of the com-mercial outlets, public spaces, the elevated park and the tram stop, as to provide early revenue, and also to introduce new activities to the area and attract passenger inflow through the site.

Second phase involves the construction of CCBE, which will further introducing new activities to the site. This will be the main part of the devel-opment, where it will add social value and land value to the surrounding context.

First phase

Second phase

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ENIVRONMENTAL

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Boiler

Cold Water Feed

G e o t h e r m a l ground source

heat pump

PV Cells

Underground geothermal pipe loops

Heat recovery with air to water heat exchanger

Underfloor heating for space heating

Natural ventilation through facade

Mechanical unheated ventilation

Warm stale air extraction

Warm stale air extraction Outside cold air intakewarm air for space

heating and ventilationfor auditorium

Heatingand mechanical

ventilation

Hot water flow

Hot water flow

Hot water storage

The main goals behind the environmental strategy is to use passive ventilation and recover heat as much as possible, as well as holistically integrate semi transparent PV glazing which can provide solar energy to partially power the services of the building. Air conditioning service is re-duced only to auditorium where it is very difficult to regulate the climate of a big space, while other spaces will be heated by under floor heating and mostly passively ventilated through the facade. Hot water is heated by means of geothermal and boiler, coupled with recovered heat.

35Ground floor First floor Second floor

The plant room is located on ground level, with ver-tical distribution shaft next to it. Most ground floor spaces are mechanically ventilated, because of the air pollution from street level

First floor is passively ventilated through windows (refer to the structure section), and air extracted for heat recovery

Second floor is passively ventilated through double glazing, and air extracted for heat recov-ery

Orange lines- hot water pipes (for under-floor heating, WC and heat recovery from air to water exchanger)

Red- heat recovery system which includes air to water exchanger and ducts

Dark red- heated ventilation

Blue- mechanical ventilation, fresh air taken from the top of the shaft

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Ventilation and Heating Strategy across the New Extension

Cold air drawn in through facade, where facade is de-signed to regulate the air flow and reduce noise pollution from exterior, and to a certain extent, reduce pollution. The openings can be manually controlled. The cold air is heat up by underfloor space heating, and extracted out through ceiling, where its heat is recovered with the heat recovery system.

On the first floor (Product Gallery), the heated air is ex-tracted in duct work to heat recovery system.

On the second floor (Development Areas Gallery), the heated air is extracted through the double skin ceiling, where its heat is recovered through air to water exchang-er.

As for the ground floor which consists food outlet and its kitchen, mechanical ventilation has to be introduced.

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Ventilation and Heating Strategy across the Audi-torium and Level Above

Mechanically heated air is drawn into the auditorium through spaces beneath the seating, then it is extracted through the chimney, where its heat is recovered by air to heat exchanger in the chimney.

The floor above shares the same strategy, where air is ex-tracted out through the chimney, and on the top floor, the air can be drawn in through the facade.

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Duct Sizing of Heated Air Intake in Audito-rium

The air intake in the auditorium involves heated air, therefore,

Maximum number of people in the auditorium is 200

with the litres/second per person method

8 l/s per person

hence, for a maximum of 200 people @ 8 l/s = 1600 l/s

total is 1600 l/s = 1.6 m3/s

auditorium is noise sensitive space, hence, 1.6 m3/s can be delivered to main ducts which can deliver air at maximum 5 m2/s

Hence, cross-sectional of the main duct delivering 1.6 m3/sheated air requires

(1.6/5) x 4 = 1.28 m2

hence, there can be two (1m x 0.65m) main ducts running to provide heated air into the auditorium.

Duct Sizing of Heated Air Extract in Product Gallery Space on First Floor

Maximum number of people in the auditorium is 50 at any one time

with the litres/second per person method

8 l/s per person

hence, for a maximum of 50 people @ 8 l/s = 400 l/s

total is 400 l/s = 0.4 m3/s

gallery is noise sensitive space, hence, 0.4 m3/s can be delivered to main ducts which can deliver air at maximum 5 m2/s

Hence, cross-sectional of the main duct delivering 0.4 m3/sheated air requires

(0.4/5) = 0.08 m2

hence, there can a (0.4 m x 0.2 m) main ducts run-ning to provide heated air into the auditorium.

(0.4/2) = 0.2 m2 of branch ducts

(0.4/1.7) = 0.235 m2 of diffusers

Duct Sizing of Ventilation only in Food Out-let and Kitchen Space on Ground Floor

The ac/h for commercial catering is 15 ac/h

with ac/h method,

total volume is 200m2 x 3.365m = 673m3

hence, for 30ac/h and we need 673 x 15 = 10095 m3/hr of air change

hence, in m3/s, air change is 10095/3600 = 2.8 m3/s

Food outlet is non noise sensitive space, hence, 2.8 m3/s can be delivered and extracted on main ducts which can deliver air at maximum 7 m2/s

Hence, cross-sectional of the main ducts for ventila-tion of 2.8 m3/s requires

(2.8/7) = 0.4 m2

hence, there can a (0.8 m x 0.5 m) main duct run-ning to ventilate the space

(2.8/3) = 0.933 m2 of branch ducts

(2.8/2) = 1.4 m2 of diffusers

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FIRE SAFETY

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The purpose group for the general gallery areas in CCBE is Assembly Recreation 5(d), where its direct travel distance for 1 fire exit is 18m while 2 fire exits is 45m.

The purpose group for the auditorium is 5 (c), where its direct travel distance for 1 fire exit is 15m, while 2 fire exits is 32m

Due to its location just next to the railway, the wall along the rail track has to be fire resistant throughout, hence, no openings.

The following diagrams show the radius of travel distance from fire exit on each respective floor. Some travel dis-tances are different due to the different purpose group while some are different due to availability of two fire exits.

The long length nature of the top floor gallery means that fire stairs have to be inserted along the length.

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15 m

15 m

18 m

18 m

18 m

Ground floor

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18 m

18 m

18 m

18 m

15 m

18 m

First Floor

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18 m

18 m

18 m

18 m

45 m

18 m

45 m

Second Floor

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VEHICALE ACCESS AND SUPPLY

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Vehicle Access Barrier

7.5 m

3 m

5 m

Morning Delivery (blue lines) and Disposal (Or-ange line) Vehicle Ac-cess

Eventhough the whole cir-culation of this project is designed specially for pe-destrians and cyclists only with very little street lines provision for vehicles, but care and consideration have always been emphasized for the vehicle access issue. For example, the width of the path on which vehicle can travel on in this project is between 5 m - 7.5 m.

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Vehicle Access Barrier

Plant Rooms Mainte-nance Vehicle Access

Access for plant room main-tenance vehicles

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Utility Supply Diagram

Utility (electric, gas and wa-ter) from the main grid is connected to plant rooms before redistributed to oth-er parts

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