Portal de Murcia
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The slab of the head building has been tested with a load of 3,300 kilos.
The strength of the steel beams of the roof is also checked and wall and foundation tests are being carried out.
José Ballesta and Rebeca Pérez have supervised the works whose technical data are essential for the completion of the execution project of Phase 1 and the start of the works that "will allow to open and return the light to this historic building, after 37 years closed".
The load tests of the structure of the Old Prison prior to the start of the recovery works of this historic property began today, with the aim of evaluating the resistance and condition of the head building, whose slab has been put to the test with a load of 3,375 kilos.
The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, the Councilor for Infrastructure, Public Works and Services, Rebeca Pérez, and the councilor for Economic Promotion, Culture and European Programs, Jesús Pacheco, supervised this morning the work that will yield essential technical data for the culmination of the project for the execution of Phase 1 of the building, whose drafting is being finalized by the IH Arquitectos team and will be ready this September.
"These load tests will give way to the start of the recovery works of the building of the former Provincial Prison of Murcia, a building that has been closed for 37 years, and that will become a bright, open and participatory space, respectful of the Past and projecting towards the future to give back to Murcia what is theirs, "said José Ballesta, who added that" this strategic city project is conceived as a large public space of reference in the heart of Murcia, with a high social return , because it will remain open to all and will house permanent activity, without physical, hourly or generational barriers ".
A dozen technicians, architects, engineers and operators carry out these load tests that have started today and will end next week.
If the tests conclude that any structure or constructive element is not 100% safe, the structural alternative that allows to have the space with all the guarantees and technical demands will be sought.
The building of the former Provincial Prison of Murcia is classified as a Singular Element and is characterized by its architectural layout in cross plan, creating a set of separate rooms and landscaped courtyards.
It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, inaugurated in June 1929 and closed in 1981.
Header building and perimeter garden areas
Phase 1 of the project, which is being drafted by the architects Manuel Hernández and José Ibáńez, of IH Arquitectos, includes the rehabilitation of the head building or main access, located between the Plaza Circular and Primo de Rivera, and its surroundings, with landscaped areas and new pedestrian accesses from different sides of the building.
The works are scheduled to begin before the end of the year.
Phase 2, whose project will be put out to tender in the coming months, contemplates the rest of the architectural complex.
The load tests are carried out after being delivered, by the team of IH Architects, the basic project of the Old Prison, which comes to homogenize the two phases and which was presented last week.
Hydraulic jacks support a load of more than three tons
To evaluate the strength of the metal structure of the floor, a total weight of 3,375 kilos (675 kilos / m2, since the load has been distributed in a 5mx1m strip) has been increased.
The hydraulic jacks placed in the base will register the possible deformations suffered by the structure.
It is a cyclic procedure that begins with the measurement of the current state of the structure.
Then it is subjected to the load that marks the legislation, a weight that is maintained 24 hours, time after which a control measurement is made again.
If the results are not satisfactory, a new cycle is made that definitively determines the state of the structure.
Tasks in the walls and foundations
In addition to the load test test, the technicians of the Southeast Laboratory are conducting tastings on the walls of the building, to evaluate the composition and strength of the brick.
They are also conducting tests on the foundation to measure the consistency of the terrain and checking the strength of the steel beams of the roof.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia
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