THE ELLINIKON: IRC FOUNDATION COMPLETED WITH RECORD CONCRETE – THE PIONEER THAT WAS USED
Another major construction event took place in Athens as the foundation of the IRC in Elliniko, the Integrated Tourist Complex with a casino in Elliniko, was completed.
The second phase of the foundation, which was implemented using the raft foundation method, was carried out. A total of 11,500 cubic meters of concrete were poured, breaking the record held until the day before yesterday by the Riviera Tower with 7,400 cubic meters.
The foundation of the IRC was carried out in two phases: the first phase of 5,500 cubic meters was 4 months ago and in recent days the second phase of the remaining 6,000 cubic meters. The project is being carried out by TERNA.
The impressive work was supported by several concrete pumps and the pouring of 11,000 cubic meters of concrete, supported by over 2,500 tons of steel reinforcement, setting a unique new record in building construction in Greece. The concreting was carried out by the ready-mix concrete units installed in the Hellinikon area by Lafarge Beton of the HERACLES Group.
The completion of the projects is expected in approximately three years and constitutes the largest private investment in a building project in the country, at a cost of approximately 1.5 billion euros by the GEK TERNA-HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL consortium for the new largest building complex in Greece.
The IRC Hellinikon will be a building with concrete cores and a metal core. It will rise to a height of 195.2 meters on the Attica skyline and upon completion will become the second tallest building in the country with 44 floors, behind the Riviera Tower, which is located approximately 500 meters away in the same area of Hellinikon.
The tourism-leisure building complex combines:
-5-star hotel with 900 rooms and 200 suites,
-casino,
-Exhibition and conference center,
-entertainment-sports-public gathering area,
-dining areas (restaurants-cafe, bar) and recreation
-shops
What is Raft foundation?
A raft foundation (or mat) is a type of foundation that extends entirely across the area of the building that supports heavy loads from columns or walls, similar to a slab on the ground. It is most often used with basement construction where the entire basement slab acts as the foundation.
The mat foundation is chosen when the building is supported by weak soil. This distributes the building loads over an extremely large area. This prevents the differential settlement that would occur with individual foundations.
This is the most suitable and economical type to use when the footprint of the building is relatively small or if the columns are close together. Let’s not forget that the IRC, in addition to being one of the tallest towers in Greece, is also the one that is almost in direct contact, it is so close to the sea. It is a coastal tower like the Riviera Tower where a similar foundation was made.