TECA
AECC Aberdeen
The New Aberdeen Exhibition and Convention Centre (AECC), now renamed as The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) is a new exhibition centre developed by Aberdeen City Council and Henry Boot Developments to replace the old AECC.
Location: Aberdeen
Client: Robertson Construction
Cost: £333m
Completion: 2019
Blyth & Blyth were appointed by the Main Contractor, Robertson Construction, to provide the Civil and Structural design of the Arena, Conference Centre, Sub-terranean Car Park, Hilton Hotel and design of highway and infrastructure works for the entire site.
Blyth & Blyth also provided structural engineering design certification (SER) services.
The new arena at TECA has a maximum capacity of 12,500, and in conjunction with the conference halls and subterranean multipurpose space, provides an exhibition space far greater than the current AECC. This allows it to compete nationally and internationally for new events, as well as by broadening the appeal of the north east to a global audience.
The highways and infrastructure was designed to accommodate up to 17 development plots for retail and commercial properties within the site curtilage along with the main Exhibition and Conference Centre itself, to date one of these development plots has since been completed and provides an additional 150 bed hotel space for the Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The development when fully complete will provide over 60,000 m2 of retail space, 6000m2 of leisure facilities. To facilitate these future developments two highway bridge culverts were designed by Blyth & Blyth, one of which incorporated the diversion of the Green Burn and its tributaries. The diversion of the burn resulted in an environmental improvement for the watercourse and a reduced flood risk.
Various highways retaining walls and a Strathcona feature bridge were also designed as part of the development, re-using material from the Rowett Institute previously on site to form the Strathcona feature bridge.
Key challenges
Highly value engineered design for buildings and piled foundations
Risk category – 3 building structure for an occupancy of 12,500 people.
Design of large column free spaces with long span roof (>88m) truss structure
Design for structural vibration
Diversion of ecologically sensitive burns at the site.
Fast paced design and construction programme
Design of highway structures to adoptable standards
Design of new junctions with trunk roads
Liaison with statutory bodies/agencies and assisting the client with obtaining necessary permissions.
Results
Optimal, efficient and sustainable solution achieved by reducing consumption of steel and concrete.
One of the largest arena buildings in Europe with long span roof.
Innovative piling soultion resulting in the fastrack construction programme, and on-time, on-budget completion.