The Mikhailovskaya Dacha palace and park ensemble is located near St. Petersburg, not far from the famous Peterhof road towards the Baltic coast. The manor, abandoned in the 1990s, in the early 2000s, it was decided to reconstruct the Higher School of Management. The large-scale reconstruction project was developed by Studio 44 under the leadership of Nikita Yavein. The changes affected six existing buildings. The main educational building is located in the largest manor building - the former Stables building, erected in 1859-1861. designed by Harald Bosse.
The designers decided to compensate for the lack of space required for the full functioning of the university by means of new construction, which in no case should have competed with the historical buildings. At the same time, the authors tried to emphasize the modernity of the new educational blocks. This is how, perhaps, the most provocative part of the project appeared - a large metal dome in front of the main educational building from the side of Petersburg highway.
The oblong oval dome is mostly hidden under the ground so as not to obstruct the palace panorama. It is connected with the historical building by a long glass gallery. A conference hall for 450 seats is arranged inside the dome. On the sides are computer labs and classrooms. The outer shell of the conference hall, towering above the ground, is made of decorative triangular metal sheets and glass inserts.
The complex shape of the domed roof required special, modern technological solutions. The design of the Buzon supports allowed the architect to embody the bold idea of the architect. The Belgian company "Buzon Pedestal International SA", founded in 1987, manufactures adjustable legs, characterized by high quality and a wide range of models and accessories.
To erect a curved dome, it was required to "plant" it on a concrete base of the bearing surface. For this, a metal spatial substructure was fixed on the concrete base, on which the triangles of the metal cladding were then mounted. The installation process was greatly complicated due to the curvilinearity of the concrete base with structural stiffeners. However, the convenient and functional Buzon adjustable feet system has made the installation process much easier. At each reference point of the connection of the subsystem with the concrete base, the necessary adjustment of the support height was made with an accuracy of 1 mm. After setting the required height, the position of the supports was fixed with a locking key, which excludes subsequent rotation caused by loads or vibration. The slope of the supports was adjusted in the same way. As a result, it was possible to install the finishing layer of the roof in strict accordance with the design marks.
In addition to wide functionality, Buzon support structures are distinguished by high performance characteristics. The supports are made of modern and high-tech material - polypropylene. This material has been successfully tested to meet safety, compression, grip and lateral displacement standards. Supports made of polypropylene are distinguished by high moisture resistance and frost resistance, resist well to aggressive environmental influences, do not collapse or rot.
The temperature range for using such supports is wide - from -40 to + 80 ° C, which is more than enough even for the harsh Russian climatic conditions. Due to the design features, the BUZON adjustable supports, created on the principle of a screw jack, provide an effective even distribution of the load on the waterproofing layer of the roof. The twisting parts of the support and the system as a whole, which is a rigid structure, provide special strength and durability. Also, among the main advantages of the chosen design solution, it should be noted the ability to easily dismantle the coating in the event of a leak or scheduled repair work.
The metal sheets are assembled keeping the clearances required for free drainage. Water, falling on them, flows down to the waterproofing layer and then through the gutter enters the general sewer system. The same installation feature allows air to circulate freely under the surface of the coating, which contributes to the drying of the surface of the waterproofing layer. The free space between the waterproofing and the terrace slabs makes it possible to place all the necessary communications and decorative lighting. In addition, free ventilation excludes the possibility of creating favorable conditions for the development of harmful microflora.
Currently, all construction work on the construction of the conference hall has been completed. The university is already functioning and is recruiting new students.
