Performance-Based Design of a Main Exhibition Hall and Its Ecological Connectivity with Surroundings

Abstract

This study aims to verify which the performance-based design was successfully applied in the construction of the main exhibition hall of the first Hebei Garden Expo, China. Based on the idea of “equality and connectivity” among humans, buildings, and the environment, the exhibition hall was designed using digital shape generation technology, and a special double-skin structure was selected. A bright exterior glass curtain wall separated from the cell-shaped reinforced concrete (RC) structure, not only made the exhibition hall fit into the scenery so well, but also presented an adhesion area with functional links to the RC structure. Joints of the steel tubular truss and the glass curtain wall were optimally designed by means of finite element simulations. During the service of more than a decade, extension of space, function of interactivity, and energy conservation required for a green infrastructure were achieved, highlighting the ecological connectivity of the exhibition hall with the surrounding landscape. The exhibition hall performed synergy of structure and architecture functions and it is still a landmark building in Shijiazhuang, showing an excellent application achievement of the performance-based design.