BRIMOS® Stay Cable Measurements
Sancho el Mayor is a 260 metre long cable-stayed bridge with 140 stay cables in the course of the AP15 motorway in the north of Spain.
The condition of the stay cables as well as the cable forces were already measured and analysed with BRIMOS® in 2002. In the summer of 2019 a detailed follow-up measurement and analysis were performed for condition assessment and an evaluation of all stay cables.
Client. Autopistas de Navarra. S.A.
In the scope of the comprehensive modernization works along the underground railway line U4 the restoration of some sections of the track superstructure and substructure including retaining wall as well as the installation of additional track connections is planned.
In the summer months the approx. 3.5 km long section between Karlsplatz and Längenfeldgasse was restored. In this section also the future junction U4/U2 Pilgramgasse is located.
The section "Station Pilgramgasse" comprises all the required building measures for the restoration and modernization of the underground railway line U4 as well as building measures which are necessary as preparatory services for the realization of a future connection to the underground railway line U2.
In the area of the station Pilgramgasse platforms and collectors of the U4 are modernized by structural renewal and repair works. In accordance with a future connection of the underground railway line U2 to the existing U4 route in the area of the station Pilgramgasse (U2/U4 connecting station) preliminary building measures for the future line U2 are implemented. These preparatory services are realized in order to be able to best use synergies from these two projects both from a technical and an economic point of view.
We are assigned with static and structural design in the project “Station Pilgramgasse”. For the handling of this project also BIM-compatible design was performed.
The whole section of U4 modernization was assessed with regard to the expected impacts due to noise and vibration (renewal of the track superstructure and substructure, track connections etc.):
- assessment of the renewal of the track superstructure and substructure
- definition of vibration measuring points for verification before and after reconstruction
- vibration measurements as verification
-prediction of the expected immissions in the adjacent buildings
- acoustic assessment of the new track connections
- verification measurements after the reconstruction measures in normal operation
APP . U2xU5 in 3D
Client. Wiener Linien
Services . static and structural design (submission, tender and detailed structural design), measurement, assessment and prediction
In June the so far greatest technical challenge regarding the construction of the new additional bridges for the Voest Bridge was successfully completed.
For this purpose, four large-size construction components with up to 92 m length and 1,400 tons weight were floated in or transported in and the bridge parts were lifted or hoisted to the already mounted bridge parts. The assembly of the pylon and the installation of the cables will be performed in August. The second bridge completion shall take place by the end of 2019 and in mid-2020 the Voest Bridge extended to eight lanes shall be approved.
Services were the check engineering of detailed structural design, shop drawings and assembly design for these objects. Furthermore four prestressed concrete bridges, three reinforced concrete bridges, two cycle bridges and a bridge extension as well as a multitude of small objects like abutments, underpasses, water protection plants and temporary construction pit systems as well as the respective supporting structures for construction were checked within the scope of this project. The erection of these objects is already in good progress.
Client. ASFINAG
Service. check engineering
On Saturday, 8 June 2019, the 26th and last Life Ball took place in and around Vienna’s city hall.
This year’s motto was: “United in Diversity . Walking on the yellow brick road towards an end to AIDS.”
As already in the past years VCE contributed to the planning of this event.
A traffic concept was prepared for the temporary traffic measures around the city hall in cooperation with the respective departments of the city of Vienna and the organizer. In this connection the required storage and manipulation areas were defined and the resulting traffic measures were developed.
VCE also took over the support according to health and safety engineering for the “event site” Life Ball 2019. The health and safety protection plan was prepared and the observation of the provisions according to the health and safety plan was ensured and documented by regular inspections.
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Client . Life Ball
Services . Traffic concept, planning and building site coordination
LINK . lifeplus.org/lifeball
On 25 May 2019 a new museum, the Lower Austrian gallery was opened. The new gallery becomes the centre of the art district in Krems ranging from the exhibition buildings Kunsthalle Krems, Karikaturmuseum Krems and Forum Frohner from Minoritenplatz in Stein over Museumsplatz up to the Dominikanerkirche in Krems.
The new gallery with its 3,000 m² of exhibition area comprises the art collection of the province of Lower Austria with approx. 60,000 objects on four levels and is connected with the Kunsthalle Krems via the presentation area on the basement floor. The outer panelling by means of zinc rhombuses guarantees an additional remarkable setting of the building. The otherwise windowless cladding is only opened in the attic by a viewing platform.
VCE was assigned with the services of technical and financial control. The project was handled considering BVergG 2006 (Austrian public procurement law), the project was awarded to individual trades.
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Client . Government of Lower Austria
Architect . Marte.Marte Architekten
Service . Technical and financial control
VIDEO . Lower Austrian gallery
LINK . www.ots.at/presseaussendung
LINK . noe.orf.at/news/stories/2974144/
On 4 April the foundation stone ceremony took place for the new Traude Dierdorf nursing home in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria).
In the following three years the Haus der Barmherzigkeit erects a new modern, completely barrier-free nursing home with nine assisted living groups at the existing site.
Furthermore, a kindergarten with four groups, a cafeteria, a chapel as well as a big garden area are established on the 18,000 m² big plot.
Photo from left to right: Jakob Dunkel (querkraft), Christoph Gisinger (HB), Mayor Klaus Schneeberger, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Provost Karl Pichelbauer, Member of the provincial government Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister, Florian Pressl, Lukas Pohl (both HB)
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Client . Institut Haus der Barmherzigkeit
Architect . querkraft
Services . Tender, project control, ambient noise measurement
LINK . www.ots.at/presseaussendung
LINK . noe.orf.at/news/stories/2974144/
We were able to extend our competence as engineering consultants with the framework contract “building safety inspections in Lower Austria“. The process of a building condition assessment including cost and risk estimate was developed for this project.
Within the scope of this project the facades and public staircases of more than 60 public buildings in Lower Austria were annually analysed and assessed.
Building safety inspection, assessment and action planning was completed for 2018. Further inspections and monitoring of actions and costs were commissioned for an additional period of 8 years.
Client . Lower Austrian government
Services . Structural assessment
The area between Schlossbrücke and Grünbergstrasse is the last part of the area in front of the Schönbrunn castle to be modernized.
A new coach and car parking area is being established between the underground railway and the Wien river on the one side and the Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse on the other. In addition the access from the underground railway exit to the castle is newly structured and a new arrival building is designed.
The existing parking spaces for coaches in front of the castle are relocated to the new coach parking area and therefore an undisturbed view on the castle building is enabled. A new car park is established on the existing parking area. The new coach parking area will have 48 parking spaces for coaches and the car park will accommodate 230 parking spaces.
By means of attractive green design – including approx. 300 new trees – and state-of-the-art lighting a parking area corresponding to the requirements of a World Heritage site is created.
The total costs are fully borne by the operating company of Schönbrunn.
Completion of the 1st construction phase “coach parking area” is planned by September 2019 and the completion of the “car park” by March 2020.
Client . Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H
Services . detailed structural project – technical surface and traffic design, tender, project management and site supervision
Civil engineering verification for the performed braking work of a buffer stop without headstock
Weichenwerke Wörth GmbH has developed a new buffer stop. A civil engineering verification of the braking work was the basis for the approval by a public utility.
VCE was assigned with the performance of the required measurements, the evaluation and the preparation of the civil engineering verification as well as the programming of a calculation tool.
The tests were performed on a storage track and were classified into the following steps:
Client . Weichenwerke Wörth GmbH
Service . Measurement and instrumentation, evaluation, civil engineering verification
Austria Campus is a business site with a total area of 200,000 m² consisting of all in all six office blocks. The Campus is part of the Nordbahn quarter created on the area of the former northern railway station and one of the biggest structural engineering projects currently realized in Europe.
VCE first carried out a TDD (Technical Due Diligence) in the course of transaction for the construction sites 5, 8 and 6 and subsequently the building project was supported in the scope of a construction monitoring order. After the conclusion of monitoring, VCE has still been involved in technical consulting.
The construction sites 5 and 8 have already been completed and Bank Austria has moved in. The construction site BF6.1 was also completed and put into operation by the hotel operator “rooms”. The construction sites BF6.2 and BF6.3 are currently in the completion phase.
Client . AOC Immobilien
Services . TDD and construction monitoring
Take a break and join us on our journey to the North Pole!
At VCE challenges of various levels of engineering tasks are on the daily agenda. But deep down VCE is also a home for creative minds. In the course of a “Santa’s Workshop” BIM competition they let their imagination run wild.
Join us on a short tour: Video Santas Workshop
Representatives of the owners, architects, structural engineers and contractors of the submitted projects came to Helsinki to receive the award.
In the category “Building” the EUROPEAN CONCRETE AWARD 2018 went to the project “ÖAMTC Mobility Centre”, Vienna, Austria. The load-bearing structure of the building has a number of specific features rarely encountered in such a density or combined in such a way. In addition to these facts the whole project team worked with BIM.
LINK . more about the project
LINK . ecsn.net/ecsn-award
LINK . öbv article
Which load pattern do you use for track design? In rail track engineering it is common to apply load models developed for design and assessment of bridges as an approximation of loading regimes for rail tracks. VCE’s client questions the traditional approach and is interested in developing realistic load models for track designers.
Multi-body dynamic simulations have been performed to model the dynamic interaction of the coupled vehicle-track-soil domain. Comparison of numerical response quantities with readily available data extracted from measurements of the project VDE 8.2 reveals the superior quality of the novel methodology.
VCE proposes a novel load model consisting of both a realistic load pattern and spectra of dynamic amplification factors. This study contributes to the existing body of modifications to the next generation of modern track design codes. Theory, findings and possible applications will be published on the client’s website in the first quarter of 2019.
Client . RSSB – Rail Safety and Standards Board, U.K.
Service . Development of a Methodology to Determine Loading Regimes for Track Designers
The project consists of the new construction of a new secondary school and the annex to an already existing elementary school.
The new school for 10-14-year-olds is designed as compact structure with five floors. Two gymnasiums are joined on the back side in an independent building part. The project additionally offers a sequence of open spaces suitable for pupils and instruction due to the placement of the structures.
The structure of the elementary school annex is compactly connected to the existing structures with three floors and complements the available space with the required educational and secondary rooms.
Operation in the new classes will start with the beginning of the school year 2018/19.
Client . Vienna Municipal Authorities MA 56 represented by WIP Wiener Infrastruktur Projekt GmbH
Services in consortium with CPPA & Fellerer Vendl . Design-build, static and structural design, health & safety engineering, site supervision, building physics, check engineering according to the Viennese building code, safety building book, cost control and tender
The healthcare facility Josefhof, located on the outskirts of Graz, is the competence centre for in-patient health promotion and prevention of the VAEB (insurance institution for railways and mining). The facility is currently being extended from 70 to 120 beds. The new building consists of three elongated terrace-shaped structures comprising 120 barrier-free rooms as well as guest rooms offering a variety of functions including a outpatient clinic with examination and treatment area, seminar and fitness rooms, indoor swimming pool and sauna area, canteen with an open-view kitchen, dining hall as well as the required administrative and technical areas. The building has been partially constructed in a modular timber design.
Current works include a timber slatted façade, various floor coverings such as tiles, terrazzo tiles and wood flooring as well as a outdoor area with a pond.
Auftraggeber . VAEB Insurance institution for railways and mining
Leistung . Project management in Joint Venture with Ritter
With a total output of 714 MW, the world's most efficient offshore windfarm will be built off the east coast of the UK. The windfarm consists of 102 7MW turbines and an offshore transformer station built on jackets at a water depth of 37 meters.
VCE was commissioned with the planning, installation and commissioning of a metrological condition monitoring system for nine turbines and the transformer station. This includes the installation of numerous sensors in the jackets (foundations), the towers of the turbines and the offshore station, including associated measurement technology, remote data transmission, automated data analysis and web user interface.
Client . East Anglia One Limited (IBERDROLA & Scottish Power Renewables)
Services . permanent Structural Health Monitoring
On 2 June 2018 the Life Ball celebrated its 25th anniversary under the motto “Sound of Music”.
VCE supported the initiative with the free-of-charge service of design and building site coordination according to the building site coordination law for the “event site” Life Ball 2018 in the area of Rathausplatz and in the event rooms of the city hall.
Client: Life+ association for direct support of HIV-positive persons and persons down with AIDS
Service: Health and safety engineering
The former post office building was erected in the course of the last 2-3 centuries and was repeatedly reconstructed and extended. The building is situated between Postgasse and Dominikanerbastei, under which the former Viennese city wall was located.
Apart from the establishment of a hotel and flats in the existing structure the attic shall be converted. In this process the existing roof structure shall be maintained and an underground car park shall be built in Dominikanerhof. Furthermore respective installations are established in all courtyards. Due to the complex design the project is processed with BIM by VCE.
The demolition of non-load-bearing walls and superstructures is currently completed. The project is already approved and we are at the beginning of the detailed design phase.
more information . BIM and Postgasse
There are 12 classes of an open secondary modern school in Carlbergergasse 72 in 1230 Vienna, which was built in 1999. An annex to the existing school building will be realized for the creation of additional rooms. The annex comprises the new construction of 9 elementary school classes with all-day care including side rooms and an underground gym hall as well as the extension of the existing secondary modern school by 4 classes including side rooms. The open areas of the school are appropriately designed for pupils and instruction.
The annex is situated on the available hard court so that it can be connected to the existing building on two sides.
The project is in the basic design stage at the moment. Construction start is planned on 15 October 2018. Operation of the newly erected school building shall start in August 2019.
Client: Vienna municipal authorities MA 56 represented by WIP Wiener Infrastruktur Projekt GmbH
Services as subcontractor for Klammer * Zeleny Architekten ZT GmbH: Design-build, static and structural design, tender / cost estimation, building physics, site supervision, health & safety engineering, check engineering
Structural Health Monitoring System & Load Testing . Two suspension bridges with O-shaped pylon are erected in the scope of the “Lusail Development Project”. The lengths of the two bridges amount to 204 and 186 metres. Both structures have six lanes each.
Problems arose in the course of erection, construction was stopped and the structures were partly demolished again. After redesign by the designer VCE was ordered to design, install and operate a permanent monitoring system with numerous sensors on the structure for the construction phase of one of the bridges. The objective is measurement and monitoring of the structural behaviour during construction and the examination of the planning assumptions. The services also include the measurement and instrumentation of a terminal static load test.
The extension / rehabilitation of the Voest bridge in Linz started at the beginning of 2018.
Two bypass bridges were erected and a multitude of further objects were reconstructed or newly built (bridges, underpasses, abutments) in the first section in lot AST Hafenstrasse – Junction Urfahr.
Client . ASFINAG
Service . Check engineering
LINK . orf.at
LINK . asfinag.at
Civil engineering structures must be regularly subjected to complete visual and close condition tests regulated in guidelines, rules and standards. In particular in case of big bridges this is only possible in a limited manner and is connected with high efforts and expenses for access technology and operational constraints.
The objective of the EDISON project is the support of conventional bridge inspections and the (partial) replacement of the latter by use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In the project various UAV based sensor systems (e.g. high-resolution cameras, multi-spectral cameras, stereo cameras, ground radar, thermography) were further developed and tested at the Falkenstein railway bridge.
The launch of the approx. 500 km long traffic project Nürnberg-Berlin (VDE 8) is planned for 10 December 2017. This project shortens the travelling time from Munich to Berlin by railway to only four hours. The section Ebensfeld – Ilmenau (VDE 8.1) is a double-track electrified railway route for the high-ranking passenger and freight traffic with a length of approx. 66 kilometres and a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
VCE carried out the track system in form of a ballastless track of the sections VDE 8.2 (in operation since 12/2015), VDE 8.1 Lot Centre and Lot South on a length of approx. 160 km.
Services: Approval design, detailed structural design, as-completed drawings, participation in launching, bridge checks, noise protection design incl. foundation and noise assessment
Rail instead of road transport – project for a faster and more effective transportation of container goods from the factory to the railway via freight vehicle without transaction at a terminal. The first test transport of the combined freight transportation independent of a terminal was carried out in southern Burgenland (Austria) with the well-established MOBILER-System of the Rail Cargo Group. Containers can be handled quickly and straightforwardly between freight vehicles and railway-cars almost everywhere by means of special container shifting systems – by one single person, without any assistance and without costly terminal equipment.
The project “Combi Coop II” was nominated as one the 5 top candidates of the 2017 VCÖ Mobility Award in the category “Energy-efficient freight traffic”.
Project partners are nine companies from the southern Burgenland region as well as a forwarding company.
Client: Project funded by AWS (Austria Economic Service)
Service: Traffic design
A shared zone was established in front of the new vocational training school in Waldegg in compliance with the citizens. The shared zone has a length of 315 m and an area of 5850 m².
For an improvement of recreational opportunities part of the existing park got a facelift by additional seating furniture and a small lake.
In due time for the opening of the shared zone on Sunday, 17 September 2017, the reconstruction of the provincial vocational school and the object for assisted living were completed.
Architect: Architect Weidinger
On 2 September 2017 the new extension of the underground railway line U1 will start operation with 5 new stations. VCE had the tasks of check engineer, railway consultant (§31a und §34b) and construction coordinator for lot U1/10 (Troststrasse), check engineer and railway consultant for lot U1/8 (Alaudagasse) and designer for lot U1/13 (turnout facility Favoritenstrasse).
The construction methods comprised the whole spectrum of civil and underground engineering (earthwork, cut-and-cover method, bored piles, relocation of installations, underpinning and protective screen of buildings with jet grouting, tunnel construction with shallow excavated cross sections of up to 120 m² under existing buildings) as well as of interior fitting (steel construction, glass structures, masonry) and could be successfully implemented meeting the respective deadlines.
The scope of services of VCE also comprised track design in the area of the turnout shaft Volkspark (U1/8), noise and vibration protection design of the lots U1/8 and U1/13 – U1/15 as well as traffic design in the area of the lots U1/13 – U1/15.
Client: Wiener Linien GmbH & Co KG
Services: Check engineering, Site supervision and safety on site, Structural design of superstructure, Structural design, Traffic design
The project Meerwind South / East consists of the two offshore wind parks Meerwind South and Meerwind East, which were planned and constructed 23 km north of Helgoland island in the North Sea and are maintained from Helgoland. The wind park comprises a total of 80 wind energy plants with a performance of 3.6 megawatt each. The network is supplied with a performance of up to 288 MW via a transformer platform.
The foundations (mono-piles and transition pieces) of all 80 wind turbines are equipped with a condition monitoring system by Airwerk GmbH for permanent condition monitoring and monitoring of the ageing behaviour (fatigue). All measurement data are transmitted to an onshore server, analysed by software routines and all results are made available to the client in a web-user interface.
Client: Airwerk GmbH
Services: Software for data transmission, software for data analysis, web-user interface, support in the preparation of the monitoring reports for the authorities
The project provides for the new construction of a school for children aged 6 to 14 as well as an annex to an already existing elementary school building.
The new school for 6 to 14-year-olds is designed as compact structure with five floors. Attached to the back side is a structure with two half-buried gym halls. A side wing consisting of a waste disposal room and a flying roof creates an atrium as well as a rest zone on the flat roof of the first floor. The open spaces of the school are suitably designed for pupils and instruction.
The three-storeyed structure of the annex to the elementary school is compactly connected to the existing building and complements the available space with the required educational and secondary rooms.
Both school buildings are currently in the detailed structural design phase. Construction will start on 17 July 2017.
Client:MA 56 (Vienna’s municipal authorities) represented by WIP Wiener Infrastruktur Projekt GmbH
Services in consortium with CPPA & Fellerer Vendl: static and structural design, design-build, coordination of construction works, site supervision, building physics, check engineer according to Vienna’s building code
Four underground railway lines are being constructed on a total length of 172 km in Doha, Qatar, in the scope of phase 1 of the Doha Metro project. At the end of May track slab design was approved by the Design Verification Engineer DVE. Furthermore the noise and vibration assessment was completed and the effectivity of the mass-spring systems was verified in a 1:1 in-situ test.
The track system is currently under construction. It is designed as ballastless Porr slab track system including light and heavy mass-spring systems as required. All in all approx. 80% of the precast track slabs have been already produced and are being installed continuously. The section comprises tunnel, at-grade and bridge sections. In addition turnout areas and the associated transition areas on ballastless track were developed and planned. The track design was revised and adapted for the installation of the slab track system.
VCE carried out noise and vibration assessment determining emission reduction measures (e.g. mass-spring systems) for providing the protection targets regarding vibrations, ground-borne noise and airborne noise. In order to verify the effectivity of the proposed mass-spring systems, true size mock-ups were installed, tested and their performance was verified.
The section of Phase 1 is to be put into operation in 2020, in due time before the start of the Football World Cup in 2022.
Service: Project development and system configuration, concept and detailed design total track system, alignment, noise and vibration protection design, measurements on site
Client: Porr Qatar Construction WLL
This year the charitable association LIFE+ organizes the AIDS charity event “Life Ball“, which is recognized worldwide, again. National and international non-profit organizations, which support persons affected by HIV, are funded with the net profit of the Life Ball. This year’s topic #Recognize the Danger runs like a creative thread through the weekend of events and welcomes the visitors as oversize figure at the entrance of Vienna’s city hall.
VCE supports the initiative with the service of design and building site coordination according to the building site coordination law for the “event site” Life Ball 2017 in the area of Rathausplatz and in the event rooms of the city hall.
Client: Life+ association for direct support of HIV-positive persons and persons down with AIDS
Service: Health and safety engineering
Stephansplatz is one of Austria‘s most prominent places due to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Therefore this important central square shall be completely refurbished and its surface redesigned. For this purpose 36,400 granite slabs and stones are laid. In addition 1,500 t of asphalt concrete and 5,500 t of drain concrete are installed. Apart from surface assembly a second drainage level for the protection of the subterranean structures (catacombs and Virgil Chapel) is established. Furthermore, essential parts of the installations are relocated or renewed.
The construction works started in March 2017 and shall be concluded by November 2017.
Client: MA 28 – Vienna’s municipal authorities for road administration and construction, in cooperation with Kirsch ZT GmbH
Services: Traffic design, project control, tender
Volkstheater will be completely refurbished in three construction phases in the summers of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The main objectives are an improvement of operation and increased comfort for the audience.
Currently the project is in the phase of basic design with advanced submission of architectural design. Furthermore there is continuous coordination with the authorities and the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
Client:Volkstheater GmbH
Services:Project management, static and structural design, tender / cost estimation, building physics, fire protection design
At the left bank of the Danube Canal, at river kilometre 7.355, serious settlements as well as material erosion due to scouring was determined for one abutment. Therefore a renovation of the side wall on a total length of approx. 130 metres was required. The remedial actions were implemented by an additional sheet pile wall.
The new sheet pile wall shall be completed in March 2017.
Services: Tender, structural design, site supervision, construction coordination
On 5 December 2016 the new ÖAMTC headquarters in Erdberg was put into operation.
ÖAMTC concentrated the former eight administrative sites in Vienna in one new building with a size of 25,000 square metres and established new headquarters with an office area, support functions, member service and a heliport. The new centre shall take care of approx. 75,000 members and clients.
The project was handled by Pichler & Traupmann architects as general design managers in cooperation with VCE. The building was continuously planned from preliminary design up to detailed design with a joint three-dimensional BIM model.
Services: Preliminary design, design, submission design, tender design, foundation concept, detailed project, detailed design, check engineering and notification of completion according to Vienna’s building regulations, project control
The project City Tower Vienna was successfully concluded in November.
In the course of the maintenance of the building the exterior toughened safety glass panels of the facade were exchanged with laminated safety glass. All in all approx. 7,250 m² or approx. 2,850 glass panes were substituted.
In parallel the total natural stone facade was inspected and refurbished. Furthermore safety measures regarding accessibility and guardrails were planned and implemented.
Client: City Tower Vienna Errichtungs- und Vermietungs-GmbH
Services: Design, tender, contracting and site supervision
Within the scope of the EU-wide Enviromental Noise Directive (END) enacted in 2002 strategic noise maps and noise action planning are published every five years (laerminfo.at).
In Vienna’s city region the noise of all roads, tracks and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) sites is visually represented on two-dimensional coloured maps. Furthermore the noise levels at principal residences are determined and summarized in tables, separated according to the sound source. The calculation comprises the total urban area of Vienna with 414 km² and contains more than 80 million calculation points.
Rail sources in Vienna’s urban area include ÖBB rail tracks, underground railway and tram lines of Vienna’s public transport services and tracks of local railway lines. Motorways and express highways as well as general public traffic routes in the city area are considered as road sources. In the city area of Vienna there are 28 IPPC sites (as of 2012), which are also displayed in the strategic noise maps.
Services: noise mapping, acoustic calculations of railway, road and site noise.
On 7 September a topping-out ceremony and an open building site day took place on the occasion of the completion of the preliminary structural works of the underground railway station Rotes Rathaus.
The project “Lückenschluss U5” extends the previous U5 Line from Alexanderplatz to Brandenburger Tor and merges it with U55 there. Apart from 2.2 kilometres of tunnel routes, three new railway stations “Unter den Linden“, “Museumsinsel“ as well as “Rotes Rathaus” are constructed in the centre of Berlin.
Seven centrally arranged supports carry a major part of the floor load in the station “Rotes Rathaus“. The column heads look like mushrooms due to their funnel shape and shall remind of the old vault of the medieval town hall.
Construction works and surface restoration shall take place after the completion of the structural works. The opening of the total route of the U5 is expected in 2020.
Client: BVG Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
Design of Station Rotes Rathaus: Collignon Architektur
Services: Services in consortium with artus Architekten and Schüsslerplan: Project control, site management, site supervision of structural works, finishing works, cable routeing
In the course of the structural survey of the Reichsbrücke it was detected that certain pot bearings had no sufficient sliding gap anymore. Therefore the existing pot bearings are dismounted and replaced with new cup and ball bearings in autumn 2016. The bearing exchange is carried out without any interruption of the traffic.
Services of VCE: Bridge inspection, tender design, structural design
Opening of the New Hoerbiger Site
The new building of the administrative and production site of the company HOERBIGER in Seestadt Vienna-Aspern was inaugurated after two years of construction.
A modern building was erected with the objective to bring together workers from production and employees from administration. Due to the utilization and the ecological objectives requested by the city of Vienna (Total Quality Building [TQB]) high demands regarding planning were given. The building stands out due to its three cantilevers in the entrance area as well as the green atrium and the open architecture.
Client: querkraft architekten zt gmbH
Services: internal design coordination, site supervision, traffic design, acoustic measurements, design and building site coordination as well as project management, basis for cost estimation
A pavilion named “Libelle” for future utilization for events is built on the roof of Leopold Museum.
Extensive measurements and analyses were carried out in May 2016 in order to be able to assess the impacts of the vibration intensive construction activities in the course of the erection of the level on the roof structure of the Leopold Museum on the exhibition rooms and art objects in the interior of the building,
In this process the vibrations occurring were determined during test drillings at the facade of the Leopold Museum at the positions with paintings deserving particular protection (Schiele, Klimt).
In coordination with the representatives of the client recommendations for safe assembly during the construction works were elaborated based on the results (relocation of especially critical objects, elastic storage of all wall paintings).
Services: Design management, tender processing, site supervision, construction coordination (construction site coordinator), check engineering, structural dynamics and vibration protection
to the Services "Dynamic & Vibration Protection"
The existing, approx. 95 m long, network arch bridge consists of a timber arch and a prestressed concrete bridge deck, which is suspended by means of 68 prestressed steel rods (MacAlloy system).
The aim of the current investigation was the measurement-based determination of the effective forces of all 68 rods of the network arch bridge during the individual construction phases and 12 months after completion with BRIMOS® Structural Health Monitoring.
The basis for investigation was geometrical information on all tie rods and the corresponding product specifications. According to the bending beam theory of mechanical engineering an analysis tool for the determination of the tension forces was established on the basis of the measured eigenfrequencies and applied in the course of the attendant dynamic construction element measurements.
Services: Methodology for the determination of the tension forces in the existing construction element series, dynamic measurement of all bridge anchoring devices, periodic determination of the tensioin forces in all hangers
Ashghal (Public Works Authority), the Qatari authority responsible for all infrastructure projects, realizes the so-called IDRIS Programme (Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy) for comprehensive extension and fundamental modernization of the sewage system in Doha in order to cope with the requirements of the considerably growing population.
In this project four micro-tunnel boring machines are used for the construction of the deep gravity sewer with an internal diameter of 1.6 m and a total length of approx. 21 km. All in 47 shafts with depths up to 45 m have to be established for the operation of the micro-tunnel boring machines and installation of the jacking pipes.
The services as Quality Control Engineer comprise the review and the approval of the design as well as the quality control in construction.
On 27 April 2016 the ground-breaking ceremony for the first shaft took place in Al Wakrah.
Picture above: Manoj Bajaj (HBK), Luis Fagundes (Ashgal), Sheikh Ali Bin Hamad Al Thani (HBK), Georgios Ntigkmpasanis (HBK), Bill VanWagenen (ch2m), Bassam Halabi (GHD)
Picture below - VCE Team v.l.n.r.: Roberto Bontoyan, Charlou Velasco, Ariel Papica, Ramil Macalalad, Cristian Giurgea, Houman Foroutan, Ernst Forstner
LINK TunnelTalk
After numerous adjustment processes the road surface project Herrengasse was released for implementation. The privately financed road project represents an important axis between Freyung and Michaelerplatz. In this section several palaces, hotels, ministries, Vienna’s first high-rise building and the Loos house are located. Apart from Herrengasse, Fahnengasse and parts of Wallnerstrasse are reconstructed as well.
With the implementation of the project this area receives an adequate surface for underlining historically important buildings. Apart from the new high-quality pavement (Austrian granite), lighting is also brought to the state of the art. The existing traffic organization is modified to a shared zone, which creates more areas for pedestrians and pavement cafés.
The preliminary works – installation of fixtures – will start at the beginning of April 2016, the actual surface works will start at the end of May 2016. The conclusion of the works is expected by mid-November 2016.
Client: HG+ Interessentengemeinschaft Herrengasse
Services: detailed design, tender design, project control, traffic design
In the scope of Phase 1 of the Doha Metro project four underground railway lines shall be constructed on a total length of 172 km. The track system is designed as ballastless track with Porr slab track system and some sections as mass-spring systems. The design comprises tunnel sections, at grade sections, tracks on viaducts as well as turnout areas and the associated transition areas. As basis of the layout of the ballastless track the available alignment is revised and adjusted by VCE.
VCE carries out analyses on the requirement of emission reduction measures (e.g. mass-spring systems) for providing the protection targets regarding vibrations, ground-borne noise and airborne noise. Extensive measurements were performed on site as a basis for these calculations.
The production of the track supporting layers manufactured as prefabricated parts on site has already started, whereas the installation of the tracks is expected to begin in autumn 2016. The route of Phase 1 shall be put into operation in 2019, in due time for the start of the Football World Cup in 2022.
Client: Porr Qatar Construction WLL
Services of VCE: Project development and system configuration, concept and detailed design total track system, alignment, noise and vibration protection design, measurements on site.
On 21 January 2016 the foundation stone ceremony for the new building took place with the participation of politicians, staff members of the hospital and neighbours.
Obstetrics and oncology have already been among the focuses of the St. Josef Hospital for some time. This specialization shall be even intensified in future. Core piece is an annex which shall be opened in 2018. The extension shall result in an increase of capacities from 2000 to 3000 births as well as in the realization of the development to a specialized clinic for oncology. Up to 2020 the existing building shall be also comprehensively rehabilitated. The reconstruction is carried out without any interruption of hospital operation.
Completion phase 1: 2018
Completion phase 2: 2020
Services: site supervision
The topping-out ceremony of the new ÖAMTC headquarters took place on 14 December 2015. After an intensive planning period and a record-breaking construction time the shell construction was completed shortly before the ceremony. Ernst Klobucnik (ÖAMTC - Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club), Franz Lederhas (Granit) and Architect Christoph Pichler (see photo) thank all the persons involved in the project for the excellent and close cooperation. In less than 8 months approx. 20,000 m³ and almost 4,000 t of reinforcement were used in the highly complex structure.
Services: Basic design / general design, construction design, detailed design, foundation concept, preliminary design, quantity survey, structural design, submission design, tender design
Low-cost residential buildings were developed , which can be quickly and easily assembled, with the company GHS Global Housing Solutions. At the moment the following models exist: Family Home for permanent solutions as well as the Emergency House and the Temporary Housefor a flexible use in disaster zones.
GHS Family Home: A GHS family home is a permanent and sustainable housing solution. The housing system consists of a high-quality synthetic formwork which is filled with concrete and should therefore endure natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes and be bulletproof.
GHS Temporary House: The GHS “temporary housing” programme is the fastest and most low priced solution for the humane accommodation of persons with an urgent need for housing. The basic model offers space for up to 20 persons. Thus existing family structures or similar social connections can be maintained. This housing type comprises four bedrooms, one kitchen, two separate & furnished sanitary rooms as well as one training classroom on approx. 136 m².
GHS Emergency House: The housing system was developed as emergency accommodation especially for disaster operation. The house is built on a wooden foundation so that it can be easily demounted and re-erected somewhere else anytime if necessary.
Services: structural design
On 1 September 2015 the first large-scale terrace was inaugurated in the Wien river valley. The project creates new open spaces in the built-up urban area. Furthermore a pedestrian bridge over the Wien river connecting the 5th and the 6th districts of Vienna was opened.
The terrace for urban live above the underground line U4 – near the station Pilgramgasse – and the Wienfluss is about 76 m long and 14 m wide and offers approximately 1,000 m² additional public space for the districts of Margareten and Mariahilf. The construction consists of prefabricated parts with topping reinforced concrete cover and a wooden surface. On the terrace there are outdoor furnitures and design elements.
Services: check engineering
In the competition "Pilotprojekt Joachim-Ringelnatz-Siedlung Süd" (Pilot project Joachim-Ringelnatz housing complex) announced by degewo Berlin (biggest housing company in Berlin with approx. 70,0000 existing flats) the bidding consortium with PPAG was ranked fourth and was therefore awarded a frame contract on the provision of architectural and engineering services (design management) for the next four years.
The first project to be carried out is a new building project with approx. 195 flats in Berlin, Wiesenschlag 3. Start of construction is planned in November 2017 and completion in 2019.
In the scope of this contract further projects shall be handled as design manager in the next four years.
Start of reconstruction and new construction of the historic building of the former marine barracks Tegetthoff.
The existing building is reconstructed into a modern residential building with 23 apartments with private bathing areas and landing piers at the Kuchelauer dock. Two bungalows are newly erected at the water side, furthermore two subterranean garages, a protection embankment against floods and a sealing slurry wall all around are built. The bulky attic storey is completely newly built in a very sophisticated style. The real estate is situated in a unique location in the 19th district of Vienna, with the Kahlenberg hill in the back and a view over the calm branch of the Danube. A general bathing area with generous boardwalks is established for the residents.
The new building is erected as separate structure at the campus of the University of Music and Performing Arts in the 3rd district of Vienna on behalf of BIG. The building will comprise three institutes of the university in its two underground and three above-ground floors with a concert hall, a sound theatre, a big recording hall, teaching studios, practice rooms and a cinema.
On 16 July 2015 planning was initiated by a kick-off meeting. At the moment user coordination is carried out and the concepts of the individual expert planners are worked out and coordinated. The submission of the preliminary design is planned for the end of September 2015.
Design management: Pichler & Traupmann Architekten ZT GmbH
Services of FCP: Design management internal coordination, static and structural design, commercial management, tender preparation, project leader and planning coordinator, check engineer
After having completed the service phases 1-4 according to HOAI, the building application for the new construction of the future headquarters of Funke Media Group in Essen was submitted on 30 April 2015 and the consortium AWG / VCE was commissioned with the services of the additional phases 5-7.
Construction starts in summer 2015 and will be completed in September 2017. Apart from the office premises of the publishing group a radio station, a media café, a day-care facility for children as well as a catering area for 200 persons will be located in the two building parts of the project in future.
Services: consortium with AllesWird Gut Architektur ZT GmbH, internal coordination of design management, structural design, measurement and analysis for vibration prediction
Three new traffic light symbols on the topic of diversity were designed for 49 selected pedestrian crossings in Vienna. The design shows one symbol each for red and green traffic lights.
Traffic safety – raised awareness during the red phase – and conveyance of up-to-date social topics (diversity) are the focuses of this campaign. It was important to us to represent the contents in a congenial and positive way. It had to be considered that the fixed size of the light signal diameter only allowed a limited illustration. A quick perceptibility of the contents without affecting traffic safety was essential.
The Public Works Authority (PWA) intends to provide grade-separated pedestrian bridges in different parts of Qatar. These facilities will provide a complete separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and will make it easier and safer for pedestrians to walk to a variety of destinations such as schools, shopping centres and public transport interchanges. The program will be a design & build project for the construction of a number of pedestrian bridges and in parallel, the planning and development of other pedestrian bridges. The complete superstructure inclusive the external cladding which has a acylindrical shape is made of aluminium.
On 3rd of April 2015 the complete superstructure was sucessful installed. At the moment finalization works like installation of lift towers, staircases are ongoing. Complete finalization is planned for May 2015.
Services: check engineer (CAT-III), MEP design services, consultancy services
LINK www.gulf-times.com
LINK www.ashghal.gov.qa
LINK www.mageba.in
The section U1/13 "Turnout System Favoritenstrasse" is part of the extension of the underground railway line U1 from the station "Reumannplatz" to the district Oberlaa. The Tunnel will be constructed on one hand with the open cut method and on the other hand with the cut and cover method. The temporary construction pit will be managed with several pile walls. In total, 870 bore piles will be deepened with a total length of approximately 12 km. Theexcavation at this construction stage amounts to approx. 80,000 m³. Currently, the last bore piles are produced and the excavation and structural works are running at full speed.
Services: structural design (submission design, tender design, examination of variants, detailed design); traffic planning
On 12 January 2015 the construction works for the future restaurant and communications centre of Wiener Netze (Vienna Public Utilities) situated centrally on the Wiener Netze site have started. The dining room and the cafeteria offer space for 530 seats, in the outdoor area there are an additional 80 seats. The 1,500 lunches per working day serve predominantly for the staff members.
Architect: Pichler & Traupmann Architekten ZT GmbH
Services: internal design management coordination, structural design, site supervision
In December 2014 the Drau river crossing of the Koralm railway line was completed and delivered with the assembly of the last noise barrier stays after two years of construction.
Starting with the competition VCE has successfully monitored this project during all its design and construction phases and has handled it to the full satisfaction of the client.
The residential building Huttengasse comprises 172 privately financed flats, 15 offices and a supermarket. The difficult foundation conditions due to the location of the structure directly above two tunnel tubes of the underground railway line U3 and the suburban railway line represented a special challenge.
Three of five building parts were already handed over to the owners in December. In January the delivery of the flats of the remaining two staircases will be completed. The construction works for the building in Huttengasse were started by Alpine in August 2012. After the take-over by Strabag in August 2013 the project was now completed.
Services of VCE: static and structural design, building physics, site supervision, notification of completion, vibration-related consultancy
The restaurant Steirereck in Vienna’s Stadtpark shall be re-launched. Actually the restaurant was extended by a pavilion into the direction of the park. “All-the-year garden operation” shall be provided.
The restaurant and the park are connected via the metallized facade and the windows that can be moved beyond the edge of the roof. The roof area is used as herb garden. The two newly erected basement floors accommodate the extension of the kitchen premises.
Architecture: PPAG architects ztgmbh
Services VCE: Technical and financial control
Up to 15 November 2014 section 2014 (Kaiserstrasse – Kirchengasse) is to be completed.
The surfaces in the pedestrian zone (natural stone) and the road surface in the shared space (natural stone) were newly designed. Existing concrete slabs were reinstalled in the footpath area of the shared zone. Furthermore a guidance system for the blind, new furniture including green space, bicycle stands and additional furniture were integrated into the road space on both sides. Lighting was renewed and the existing masts were newly painted. Parking spaces and regulations including service points will be established soon.
Services VCE: Construction phase design, cost determination, technical infrastructure relocation design, tender design, traffic planning
Starting in August 2014 the first load tests were carried out at the new route VDE 8.2 Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle. Subsequently test runs at different speeds up to a maximum speed of 330 km/h were performed with ICE-S trains.
In the scope of these tests VCE determined the longitudinal stresses of the rails at a total offive measuring sections on three viaducts (Scherkonde valley, Unstrut valley and Saale-Elster valley). Among other things, they served for the verification of the calculations carried out by VCE in the scope of track system design.
In a total of six weeks 16 new measurement systems with 130 strain gauges and approx. 3000 m of cables were installed. In addition a further section was instrumented with four accelerometers and 36 displacement transducers for the determination of track system deformation.
The measurements of the test and load runs with up to 330 km/h were subsequently supervised on site for a further four weeks. All in all the test runs showed that the behaviour of the track system is non-problematic.
Services VCE: Measurements and analyses of longitudinal stresses of the rails and track deformations
An approx. 15 km long cablecar with four stations starting near the historic seaport of Kotor over the nature reserve Lovcen Mountain up to Cetinje, the old capital of Montenegro, is to open up the touristic coast region with Montenegro’s hinterland. After a longer project standstill phase 2 (tender, detailed design) is started now.
Services of VCE: Overall design incl. tender and detailed design
The challenge: An office building with a listed facade shall be reconstructed into a hotel complying with present-day standards from an architectural, structural, engineering, building service and static point of view.
As extensive demolition works have already been carried out in the interior of the building, temporary steel reinforcement is currently required to protect the remaining approx. 32 m high reinforced concrete frame structure against horizontal effects like wind. In order to be able to cope with the new static system of the new building, special civil engineering measures with up to 7 m deep jet grouting columns have to be used due to the higher loads. The existing floors are reinforced by means of innovative carbon-fibre lamination corresponding to the new requirements.
These exciting and demanding works from a static and structural point of view will be completed by the end of the year.
Services VCE: design-build, tender, consultation, site supervision, site supervision of construction, of electrical engineering and HVACR, check engineering, structural design, building physics, fire protection design
A new office building with two basement floors and seven upper floors is built for the Chamber of Labour Vienna and Lower Austria in Plösslgasse in the 4thdistrict of Vienna.
At the moment temporary building pit support and underpinning measures are in progress. Construction starts in August and the completion of the building is scheduled for May 2015.
Sections O2-O3
The objective of the project Tram/Regional Railway in central Tyrol is the establishment of an efficient infrastructure for the local public transport.
VCE was assigned with the noise and vibration engineering design of fünf sections of the link Völs– Rum in the urban area of Innsbruck.
The services include a comprehensive survey of the buildings and the current noise and vibration exposure as well as the prediction of expected immissionsand the planning of any required measures.
The Neusiedlersee railway line connects Neusiedl am See with Pamhagen and serves for the development of the region of Seewinkel. In order to increase the attractiveness of the route, to enable a more flexible and efficient operation by remote control of the route and to facilitate operation management in general, the safety systems (signal boxes, signals, railway crossing safety systems etc.) are modernized. In the course of this project the railway crossings are adapted to the new railway crossing provision, which prescribes higher technical standards. Furthermore a passenger information system as is a standard also for ÖBB is established.
The project is currently being implemented. Construction started at the beginning of March 2014. The project shall be concluded by 31 October2015.
Services of VCE: supervision of the award procedure, technical consulting, technical and financial control of the total project, control of the authority procedures, support in the preparation of the submission documents
Mayreder Bridge is designed as a pedestrian and cycle path bridge for crossing the existing and future traffic routes in the area of the existing U2 station Aspern.
Currently variation studies are carried out for the project in order to find the optimum solution for the design of the northern forecourt.
Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2015 and it is to be opened and released to traffic in autumn 2016.
Architectural co-design: Treusch architecture
ÖAMTC (the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club) plans to pool its existing administrative sites in Vienna (Schubertring, Donaustadt, Schanzstrasse, Dresdnerstrasse) in one building and to establish headquarters with an office area, support functions, member service and a heliport for the accomplishment of its tasks. The site for the new project is located in Baumgasse in the 3rd district of Vienna.
The office Pichler & Traupmann Architects won the first place in the course of a single-stage anonymous design management competition. The project is executed in cooperation with VCE.
The time schedule plans the start of construction in 2015. All in all a modern working environment shall be created for approx. 800 staff members on a gross floor area of 27,000 m² up to the intended opening in 2016.
The fortress of Golubac including accessory projects shall be turned to a major tourist attraction of the region. For this purpose the historic and listed fortress of Golubac is revitalized and expanded by tourist facilities. Currently a road passes through the fortress (approx. from the 13th century). For touristic utilization of the fortress this road has to be relocated. In the course of this new road (length approx. 800m) a tunnel has to be built as well (approx. 200m).
For an increased touristic attractiveness of the region a new visitor centre with connected archaeological park is established. In addition the Danube bank in the area of the project is equipped with a pedestrian and cycle path.
Furthermore a pier will be erected, which should enable tourists and persons passing the fortress by boat to visit the fortress.
The construction and revitalization works are carried out in close cooperation with the authorities for archaeology and the department for monument protection.
The project is funded by the European Commission, the implementation of the project and the administration of the budget is performed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) – the Agency for Austrian development cooperation.
Architect: Marija Jovin, ALBO inzenjering
Visualisations © Boris Horosavin
The Railway Section Bruck/Mur – Graz represents a bottleneck in the course of the upcoming capacity extension of the railway connection Vienna – Klagenfurt (Zielnetz 2025+). To enhance the technical condition of the incorporated assets on the section according to a defined operational availability VCE developed an integrated life-cycle methodology in order to harmonize interventions of maintenance and replacements related to different asset classes (bridges, walls, electrical engineering, signalling and track work) to optimized maintenance treatment plans.
The core of the life-cycle methodology is a set of deterioration and prognosis models for all relevant facilities and asset classes. The main input parameters are real condition data (inspection) of all relevant facilities and asset groups which are compared to the expected theoretical ageing processes. Based on both the ageing models and the current condition tailored maintenance plans can be elaborated for every individual facility over the entire forecast period and in accordance to the internal maintenance policy stated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). Afterwards those maintenance plans are to be harmonized aiming on a defined operational availability (cross-asset approach). For that purpose, the derived interventions of different asset classes are rearranged following certain boundary conditions (condition, given availability).
Finally, the optimized maintenance plans and a condition prognosis in 2025 for the section Bruck/Mur-Graz were presented at the Austrian Federal Railways in December 2013.
Services: condition analysis; condition based deterioration model; maintenance planning; cross-asset optimization; condition prognosis 2025
On 22. November 2013 the last two platforms (8/9) of the new Salzburg main railway station were put into operation.
During the four-year reconstruction phase the important TEN junction became a modern through station. The reconstruction works took place under full operation of the station and were continuously supervised by the Austrian authority for the preservation of historical monuments.
The total reconstruction comprises 4,000 m² of leased areas, 3,200 m² of technical facilities/infrastructure and 2,800 m² of passage/ exploitation under the tracks in the new part as well as approx. 10,000 m² of useful area in the existing building.
The successful integration of both historic arched roof structures into the modern platform roof with approx. 22,000 m² was awarded the Austrian Design Prize and the European Steel Construction Prize in 2013.
Services for ÖBB infrastructure new construction project:
Services for ÖBB real estate project (station building):
On 5 October 2013 the 4.2 km long extension of the underground railway line U2 was put into operation. Every second train goes from Aspernstrasse to the stations Hausfeldstrasse and Aspern Nord on to the new terminal stop Seestadt.
The section U2/15 Aspern Nord of the U2-northern extension completely runs in elevated position and includes a representative two-storey station building with central platform.
Services – extension of underground railway:
In addition to the new section of the underground railway the tram line 26 was also extended by 4.7 km. The route comprises ten new stops and runs until the terminal stop Hausfeldstrasse.
Services – extension of tram line 26:
On 4 October the campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration(WU) was inaugurated. In a construction period of only 4 years a modern campus for the WU was established on an area between the exhibition center (Messe) and Prater with a useful area of approx. 90,000 m².
The core area is composed of the oblique Library & Learning Center (LLC) designed by the architect Zaha Hadid. All in all more than 25,000 people will frequent these six building complexes designed by six different international architects, in between generous open spaces invite people to pause.
Architecture:
Services: Technical and financial control
In the course of the project "Ersatzmaßnahmen Heiligenstadt" construction measures on the Handelskai marshalling yard designed by us will be completed this month.
Services: Submission design, tender, detailed design, design of signalling and communications facilities, static calculations, coordination of construction works
Recently the construction works for the kindergarten Wilhelminen hospital started with the excavation of the building pit. The works are not easy as due to the local conditions and considering the existing tree population to be protected the space available is very constricted. A nailed up shotcrete wall for the protection of the tree population as well as the impressive almost vertical slope in the area are part of geotechnical monitoring. The incoming ground and strata water is currently pumped out in order to be able to construct the base plate as water proof concrete structure.
In a few weeks the 45 cm thick basement ceiling, which serves as sustaining floor for the upper storeys, will be concreted. This is required as bearers would be out of place in an exercise room.
Architect: SOYKA / SILBER / SOYKA ZT-GmbH
The existing Pavilion 4 of the geriatric centre Baumgarten in 1140 Vienna, which is a listed building, is currently reconstructed to a multi-purpose hall. The two existing brick masonry vault and the roof structure are completely demolished. In the interior several reinforced concrete frames and a new reinforced concrete floor is built. As only about a third of the existing pavilion is used as multi-purpose hall, the authorities required a complete separation of the two buildings. For this purpose a 4 cm wide earthquake joint is cut into the existing approx. 60 cm wide masonry by means of a wire saw.
On the 2nd of April the construction works of the project “nursing home Stephansheim“ will start. A new, modern and contemporary nursing home should be constructed on the area of the former indoor swimming pool until autumn 2014 and therefore replace the old building at “Stephansberg”. The winning project will be implemented by the architectural office “Duda.Testor.Architektur”.
The new building will follow the innovative concept of living communities with a central kitchen and a central living room in each apartment. In total nine living communities with overall 146 beds are planned.
The new line is a standard-gauge, double-track electrified railway line for high-speed passenger and freight traffic. It has a total length of 44 kilometres. The track layout is designed for a maximum speed of 300 km/h plus 10% reserve.
As part of the Traffic Project German Unity VDE 8.1 Ebensfeld-Erfurt the route runs from Coburg in the direction of Leipzig and crosses the Thüringer Wald by means of 12 tunnels and 14 viaducts. In Ilmenau the line is connected to the connection lot Nord. The section VDE 8.1.2 is equipped with a ballast-less track.
The design services comprise complete detailed structural design consisting of ballast-less track, ballasted track, noise-protection walls, buried cable works, accessibility for rubber-tyred emergency vehicles, rail expansion joints, turnouts and recalculations of bridges.
In mid-February 2013 VCE delivered the total approval design on schedule to the complete satisfaction of the client Porr.
The Gebäudeerrichtungs- und Betriebsgesellschaft m. b. H. plans the new construction of the WIFI-Technical Centre in the area of WIFI St. Pölten where the New Design University (NDU) is to be accommodated as well.
On 08.08.2012 the building permit was issued and the construction works will start in February with temporary pit support and drainage measures.
The bridge object Drau river crossing (MA26) is situated in the section Aich-Althofen a.d. Drau of the Koralm railway line Graz–Klagenfurt subsequent to the tunnel Lind and crosses the Völkermarkt reservoir immediately afterwards. Immediately after the Drau crossing the route leads to the tunnel Stein.
The bridge, which is constructed by means of the incremental launching method, is divided into 4 sections with the respective individual lengths of 150.0+125.0+200.0+150.0. The total length of the object amounts to approx. 600m.
After the preparatory measures for the construction have been concluded, the constructional works (bored pile works) will start at the beginning of 2013. The insertion of the superstructure will be carried out at the beginning of July 2013 and will be concluded by the end of the year.
The 12.8 km long Lainzer Tunnel is an integral part of the new railway route Vienna – St. Pölten. The railway traffic from the west passes through this tunnel below the city of Vienna.
The new high-performance route is put into operation starting with the timetable change in December 2012.
In the scope of the innovation test runs 2012 on the new route Vienna – St. Pölten extensive measurements were carried out at a total of 9 measurement sections.
The measurements comprise the recording of sound emissions on the free route and in the tunnel, the effectiveness of the floating track slab systems in Lainzer Tunnel, the dynamic interaction of bridge structures, the effectiveness of a noise protection wall near a track and the behaviour of the track system in case of velocities up to V = 330 km/h.
On the basis of the recorded measurement data important findings regarding safety relevance, effectiveness and efficiency could be acquired. The surveys prepared represent the basis for the start of operation of the route in December 2012.
On 26 August 2012 at 2 p.m. the new Frutz bridge was released for traffic after only 10 months of construction time.
The final completion of the bridge and its surroundings as well as the release of the pavements and cycle tracks on the bridge shall take place by October 2012.
On the 4th of July the construction works for the underground extension U1- South towards Oberlaa began.
Currently, at the construction section U1/10 – Troststrasse utility relocations are carried through, the foundation of the house is reconstructed and reinforced, the concrete pile walls are drilled out for the construction of the bay construction, confined water wells for the future dewatering System are extracted, and DSV-columns are dashed for the construction using NÖT of the station tunnel track 2.
At the Community Großhofen in Lower Austria, six new wind energy plants are planned and built.
The road building works in the area of the wind park (1st part) have been completed and the foundation works are in progress. The cabling works within the wind park have also been completed. Currently cables are laid along the 8 km long conduction route up to the transfer station in Grossenzersdorf.
On Wednesday, 30 May 2012, the residential building Donaufelder Strasse was inaugurated by the non-profit building and housing cooperative "Neues Leben". Dr. Michael Ludwig, city councillor for residential building and urban redevelopment, Ing. Heinz Lehner, district manager for the 21st district in Vienna, Norbert Walter, MAS, municipal council as well as Director Karl-Heinz Stadler, Chairman, took part in this festivity.
The design works for the project have already begun in mid-2011. The construction works for the ballast-less track are just about to start.
The construction works for the vocational school in Mistelbach were officially started on 12 March 2012. Currently the building company is carrying out excavation and temporary construction pit system works (retaining walls by means of soil nailing + shotcrete) towards the road. As a next step before the start of the concreting works of the base plate soil stabilization measures, i.e. deep compaction by means of grouted vibro-replacement stone columns, are taken.
The government building at Stubenring is the headquarters of the Austrian Ministry for Economics, Family and Youth (BMWFJ). The history of the building is closely connected to the Austrian history. In the listed government building erected in 1909 two attic storeys were converted.
A temporary port will be built in the area of the Marx-Engels-Forum for the large-scale project "Lückenschluss Linie U5" in the heart of Berlin. The port will be used for the transportation of construction materials. The port basin will be 80 m long and 9 m wide. In the scope of the underground railway construction a maximum of three barges will dock daily in order to remove approx. 160,000 m³ of excavated earth and to deliver approx. 18,000 precast concrete components.
After approximately 2.5 years of project development the foundation works for the new lifting bridge Botlek Bridge were started on Monday, 12 December 2011. The project is currently the biggest and most important infrastructure project in the Netherlands as the A15 motorway is the main traffic route to the Rotterdam Europort.
