Spark

Warsaw, Poland

Project details
Architect

Kuryłowicz & Associates

Duration

2016-2020

Services provided by Buro Happold

Building Services Engineering (MEP), Structural engineering

Set to become the new home for construction giant Skanska, the Spark commercial development sits in a sought after location between Wolska, Karolkowa, al. Solidarności and Towarowa streets.

The project features a high-rise tower reaching to 130m, and two smaller buildings standing at 40m high.

Seeking to become an integral part of the city’s community, the Spark complex also features a public square, amphitheatre and outside working spaces. Buro Happold was commissioned to carry out structural engineering, building services engineering and 3D modelling.

Challenge

Spark will be the new headquarters for all of Skanska’s staff in Poland, so the project needed to offer a flagship working environment, as well as a high level of flexibility so that the spaces could be redesigned as the organisation’s needs grow.

Achieving a LEED Platinum rating and WELL certification is an essential element of the work. Our team needed to carefully consider the use of systems to ensure that the buildings are as efficient as possible.

The Spark complex features over 70,000m² of commercial space across three office buildings. Image: Skanska

Solution

In order to achieve highly flexible office spaces, it was necessary for our team to minimise the number of columns to allow for possible future changes to the floor space. Following structural analysis of the project, we introduced transfer structures and long span slabs. The span exceeds the capabilities of traditional reinforced concrete structures, so many elements are post tensioned to allow flexibility.

The development is located between two existing apartment buildings, so we needed to ensure that Spark did not prevent daylight from reaching them. The form of the top of the high-rise tower was designed to follow the path of the sun to avoid excessive shading of the existing buildings. This was a significant technical challenge for our team, as we not only needed to achieve the complex geometry of the design, but we also had to ensure all services could be accessed across all floors. We used bespoke 3D modelling software to enable us to carefully plan the structural elements and MEP systems for the tower.

To enable the client to achieve a LEED Platinum rating, we proposed integrating a number of systems, including a free-cooling system that reduces the need for mechanical cooling during warmer seasons.

3D modelling enabled Buro Happold to deliver a technically challenging structural design that follows the movement of the sun. Image: Skanska

Value

Located at the heart of Warsaw, Spark reflects both classic and forward thinking design, offering a development that benefits both its staff and the local community. Taking the user experience into full consideration, the offices and their internal spaces have been designed to be fully accessible to employees as well as local residents and people with disabilities, leading Spark to becoming the first commercial building to be awarded a ‘object with no boundaries’ certificate.

With people and the environment at the heart of its design, the project has already been awarded a number of accreditations, including LEED Platinum, WELL certification and a ‘object with no boundaries’ certificate. Image: Skanska

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