The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Assembly complex design modified further

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Friday, Nov 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Assembly complex design modified further

A. Srivathsan

Changes made to widen Wallajah Road, protect trees in the area

Chennai: The design for the proposed Tamil Nadu Assembly complex has been further modified.

The department building complex, convention hall and guesthouse complex have been moved further away from the road to accommodate 10-metre widening of Wallajah Road. The position of the Assembly complex within the site has been further changed to protect a few large trees.

The location of the convention hall and the guesthouse has been interchanged and the guest house brought closer to the department buildings. The 20-storied department building near the Assembly was earlier reduced and the façade curved to resonate with the building forms in front.

The Assembly complex will adopt energy conservation measures and green building concepts. The design, building specifications and the completed building will be submitted for evaluation by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Margret Bothig, senior architect and project manager with gmp Architects, Berlin, designers of the Assembly complex, told The Hindu that the objective was to get platinum rating, the highest amongst green building ratings. “The Assembly complex will harvest rainwater from roof surfaces and the site and reuse it for landscaping and flushing of toilets. In addition, we will use energy-efficient lighting system and air condition system to reduce consumption. We will go for local materials such as granite for walls and sandstone for floors, and wherever glass is used, it will be doubly glazed. In addition, a metal screen will protect the windows that will cast shadows and reduce the heat that is transmitted inside,” Ms. Bothig said.

The architects are in the process of appointing a consultant for this purpose.

When asked about the safety of Rajaji Building, Ms. Bothig said a trench introduced between the pile construction and the old building would prevent any damage to the old building. “This precautionary measure was thought ahead and introduced as a part of foundation report itself,” she said.

The detailing of the interior spaces of the Assembly complex would be undertaken soon. The design of the department complex was being finalised and would be ready for tendering soon.

The foundation stone for the Assembly building was laid in June. The original proposal had an area of 8 lakh sqft which was later modified to 9.5 lakh sqft. As a result, the earlier estimate of Rs.200 crore was revised to Rs.265 crore during technical sanction and, at the time of Cabinet approval, further revised to Rs.425 crore.

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