Contents• Introduction• Site Analysis• Structural Composition• Beam Calculations• Load Trace• Material Selection• ConclusionIntroductionThis report will study the structural composition of the commercial building we are working on in the part of the Studio 2 module. The building has a single storey basement intended for car parking, with 5 upper floors including a cafe and open plan offices. This report studies firstly the site on which the building is located, secondly, the structural composition of the building, thirdly the load trace and finally, the materials used as well as the reasons for their choice. Site Analysis The proposed commercial building is to be located on a site at 45 Dominick Street, Shandon, Cork City. Results of site investigations indicate that the water table is high. The site itself is 0.3 acres with adjoining buildings on 3 by 4 sides. The main entrance to the site is via the southern boundary which leads onto Dominick Street, a narrow public road which measures 4, 5 m in diameter at its narrowest point. The northern boundary has a second entrance with a 6.3m wide passageway leading to Church Street, which is a wider street (9m at the site entrance). This second entrance could be used as an access point for large machinery and for the delivery of materials and equipment to the site. Structural CompositionThe basement is excavated using permanent embedded retaining walls formed using concrete secant piles around the perimeter and excavating the soil between. The secant piles remain a structural element of the building. The basement slab is cast in place with integral foundations to support the cast in place columns supporting the ground floor slab which is also cast in place...... middle of paper..... This is more possible with steel than with other methods.7. Long-term retention of strength properties8. Does not burn9. Not vulnerable to attack by insects or fungi. ConclusionThe structure of this building was designed taking into account a certain number of criteria. First and foremost, the client would need rapid construction in order to generate revenue. This resulted in the use of structural steel for the majority of the building above ground. The existence of underground parking resulted in the use of concrete as part of the structural composition of the building. Concrete was also used structurally in cores and floor slabs for its fire resistance and tensile and compressive strengths. In conclusion, the combination of both materials in this project was deemed appropriate as the aim was to utilize the advantages of steel and concrete in this project. building design.