Structural design of a G+3 student apartment building Case of Gasabo, Gisozi Sector

Abstract

With the arrival of international students, the architectural and structural design of student apartments in regions like Gisozi presents several challenges. It is essential to develop infrastructures that meet modern living standards, emphasizing sustainable practices while accommodating cultural diversity, security, and educational needs for both international and local students. Achieving this balance within budgetary and regulatory constraints represents a significant challenge for architects and engineers. To address these issues, this project, titled "Architectural and Structural Design of a G+3 Student Apartment," was undertaken as a requirement for the Advanced Diploma program at ULK Polytechnic Institute. The project comprises two main components: conceptualization and structural design, both developed with a strong emphasis on user communication to ensure practical applicability. The building, located in Gisozi, Kigali, has dimensions of 22 meters by 19.20 meters and a total estimated cost of 1,255,483,719 Rwf. The structural design follows British Standards (BS 8110- 1:1997 and BS 6399-1:1996) and includes detailed plans for beams, slabs, columns, stairs, and foundations. Key features include slab reinforcement using T10@300 mm c/c with a slab thickness of 15 cm and an area provided of 262 mm2, and beam reinforcement of 3T16 top and bottom (603 mm2) with 8 mm diameter stirrups spaced at 200 mm. The beams have a total height of 65 cm and a width of 40 cm. The columns are reinforced with 4T16 from the third to the second floor and 7T16 from the first floor to the ground floor, with 8 mm stirrups spaced at 200 mm. The square footing measures 2.5 m by 2.5 m, with a depth of 0.6 m to support a load of 853.224 kN, reinforced with T25@125 mm, providing an area of 3930 mm2. The staircase, with a height of 3 meters, includes a landing at 1.5 meters, and features 19 goings and 20 risers, reinforced with T12@125 mm for the landing and T12@300 mm for the flight, providing an area of 377 mm2. Through this project, we aim to contribute to improving the standard of living for students in Kigali, particularly in the Gisozi sector, and thereby support Rwandan educational objectives.