Kun-young Chiu & Associates, Inc. - Valdosta State University Physical Education Complex

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION COMPLEX

VALDOSTA, GEORGIA

Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia - For: IPG, Inc.

"The Outstanding Engineering Project of the Year" by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers

Engineering Excellence Award from the Consulting Engineers Council of Georgia

At 105,600 square feet, the two story P.E. Complex is designed to provide a total physical education program for the college. The complex houses a multitude of functions including a basketball arena with 6,000 spectator seats (expandable to 7,500 seats), classrooms, offices, weight and training rooms, locker rooms, four lane jogging track and concession area. The combination of a reinforced concrete mezzanine and a steel framed roof had a balancing effect on the construction schedule. The resulting structure is a dynamic combination of structural grace and functional elegance.

The design was adopted for P.E. complexes at Augusta College in Augusta, Georgia, and Middle Georgia College in
Milledgeville, Georgia.

Project Highlights:

The structural design was further complicated by the placing of a 2810 sq.ft. huge and heavy mechanical /electrical room at the center of the arena roof. The room consists of an 8" thick concrete floor; several inertia pads for the gigantic fans and mechanical units to serve the entire complex.
The 45,000 square foot, two way roof truss system is boldly supported by reinforced concrete columns, four feet in diameter, located at the four corners of the arena and is designed to accept future expansion.
The symmetry and simplicity of the structural system is further enhanced by inverted, pyramid shaped steel framed column caps.
The state-of-the-art flexible bearing pot was used at the base of the pyramid allowing it to twist and rotate for thermal variations.

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