UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER AT M. J. SPORTS

COMPLEX, BELIZE CITY (BZ)

PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

1. CONSULTANT INFO

CONSULTANT PRAS TECNICA EDILIZIA Srl

PHONE (HOME OFFICE) +39 (0)6 6878374

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.  CONSULTANT INFO ..................................................................................................................... 0 

2.  TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. 1 

3.  INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 2 

4.  CURRENT SITUATION.................................................................................................................. 3 

5.  SCHEMATIC AND DRAFT PRELIMINARY DESIGN .................................................................. 12 

5.1  ARCHITECTURAL .................................................................................................................... 12 

5.1.1  SHAPE, VOLUMES AND AREAS ...................................................................................... 12 

5.1.1.1  PLAYING AREA AND SUPPORT SERVICES AREA ...................................................................................... 12 

5.1.1.2  ACCESSES ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 

5.1.1.3  THE ROOFING SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................. 17 

5.1.1.4  THE FLOOR ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 

5.1.1.5  THE WALL SYSTEM......................................................................................................................................... 18 

5.1.1.6  THE OPENINGS ............................................................................................................................................... 18 

5.1.1.7  PARKING AREA ............................................................................................................................................... 19 

5.1.1.8  GREEN AREA ................................................................................................................................................... 19 

5.2  STRUCTURAL .......................................................................................................................... 20 

5.2.1  Main framework .................................................................................................................. 20 

5.2.2  Foundations ........................................................................................................................ 21 

5.2.3  Support service area........................................................................................................... 21 

5.2.4  Roofing ............................................................................................................................... 21 

5.3  MEP .......................................................................................................................................... 22 

5.3.1  MECHANICAL .................................................................................................................... 22 

5.3.2  ELECTRICAL...................................................................................................................... 22 

5.3.3  PLUMBING ......................................................................................................................... 23 

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

AT M. J. SPORTS COMPLEX, Belize City
(BZ)

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3. INTRODUCTION

This report provides a preliminary overview of the information collected during the Site Survey in Belize
City by PRAS representatives and develops, together with the other documents and drawings of the
Deliverable, the New Preliminary Design, in order to point out the proposed solutions, including principles
and possibilities for technical solutions for construction.

The objective of the New Preliminary Design is:

 Propose one more comprehensive solutions reflecting the major elements of the program and to
represent the general technical measures envisaged and possibly the technical performance to
be achieved;
 Establish a provisional estimate of the estimated cost of works
 Clarify the general composition plan and volume;
 Appreciate the interior spaces and external appearance of the structure;
 To propose the technical provisions may be considered;

This report shall be read together with all drawings and documents of the Deliverable.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

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4. CURRENT SITUATION

The project site is located on the north side of Belize City, more precisely on the north western corner
section of the Marion Jones Sport Complex.

The project area is bordered to the north by a canal which divides the area from the Belize City Municipal
Airport compound, to the south by the new Grandstand, to the east by a section of the asphalted cycling
track and to the west by a cement drain-walkway, bordering the newly opened perimeter road, which will
be the access road to the facility aim of the project.

The site taken into consideration lies on an area of approximately 2,5 acres (10,120 sqm), two thirds of
it is covered by a mix of red, black and white mangrove, whereas the rest of the area, once a mangrove
swamp too, has been drained and filled and now stands free.

Image 1 Aerial view - Identification of the area

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 Image 2 Aerial view

Image 3 View 1

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 Image 4 View 2

Image 5 View 3

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 Image 6 View 4

Image 7 View 5

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 Image 8 View 6

Image 9 View 7

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 Image 10 View 8

Image 11 View 9

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 Image 12 View 10

Image 13 View 11

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 Image 14 Existing transformer

Image 15 Detail of the drain-walkway

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 Image 16 Detail of the drain-walkway

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AT M. J. SPORTS COMPLEX, Belize City
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5. SCHEMATIC AND DRAFT PRELIMINARY DESIGN

5.1 ARCHITECTURAL

5.1.1 SHAPE, VOLUMES AND AREAS

The plan of the building is composed of 2 rectangular areas, one of 48,0m x 32,8m (the courts area) and
the other of 37,6m x 10,2m (the service area), with external steel staircase adjacent to the latter.

The total surface is 2,150 sqm. Its maximum height is 12.35 m.

The main ground floor level of the building has been fixed at 1.5 m above the existing ground level, as
per Client's requirement, in order to avoid floods and,at the same time, allow the proper drainage of
rainwater toward the existing canals to the north and west of the plot.

5.1.1.1 PLAYING AREA AND SUPPORT SERVICES AREA

The building is basically made up of two spaces:

1) PLAYING AREA

The playing area (approximately 1,520 sqm) has been designed to meet the double requirement of
having 4 training basketball/volleyball courts and, when needed, the possibility of hosting regional
basketball/volleyball competitions on two main courts.

For the playing area it has been thought a rectangular shape of an appropriate size in order to host two
main courts for competitions and four training courts (with smaller dimensions) positioned perpendicular
to these (two on one side and two on the other). When needed, the main courts can be used in the other
direction and forms 4 more basketball/volleyball training courts. In this way we have a total of 4
basketball/vollevyball courts, which can be used for training.

In the playing area it could be also considered to install two telescopic bleachers located on the short
side of the playing area one opposite to the other and containing 252 seats each, which will be only used
for the competitions played on the main courts.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

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 Image 17 Playing Area - Plan

Image 18 Example of telescopic bleachers

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2) SUPPORT SERVICES AREA

This area is formed by a rectangular block (37.60 m by 10.22 m), adjacent to the playing area, organized
on two levels. This zone accomodates all those support services to the basketball and volleyball
activitites, both during training and competition.

Between the ground and the first floor, the Support Services block contains also the fixed bleachers, with
a total of 396 seats.

On the whole, including both the fixed and the telescopic bleachers, the arena has 900 seats.

Image 19 Support Services Area - Ground Floor Plan

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 Image 20 Support Services Area - First Floor Plan

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The following table lists all the building functions with their dimensional characteristic:

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

AT M. J. SPORTS COMPLEX, Belize City
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5.1.1.2 ACCESSES

The accesses to the building has been differentiated as follows:

- TEAM ENTRANCE: entrance addressed only to the players, both during competition and training. It is
located on the north side of the building and access on the ground floor to the changing rooms, and to
the playing area.

- STAFF ENTRANCE: entrance addressed to the local staff and to the organizers of the competitions. It
is located on the north side of the building on the ground floor and access to the staircase that leads to
the first floor, where the administrative, the basketball and the volleyball offices are located.

- PUBLIC ENTRANCE: this entrance is located at the first floor, it is reachable via the an external steel
staircase placed at the center of the west side of the building. In this area there is also a stair lift, that can
be used for the transport of disabled persons. This entry access to the main hall that works as a filter
between the outside of the building and the bleachers.

5.1.1.3 THE ROOFING SYSTEM

The roof of the building will be of "ventilated" type, its maximum height is 12.35 m, whereas inside the
building, above the playing area, is 8.00 m. The natural lighting on the playing area is guaranteed thanks
to the window and the grids located at the roof levels on each side of the building. The roof bearing
structure, is constituted by galvanized steel trusses, supported by reinforced concrete pillars.

The roof layers will therefore be made of:

 galvanized steel bearing structure: trusses

 secondary steel structure
 sandwich panels
 anchoring system with “clips”
 ventilated roof with aluminum sheet panels

5.1.1.4 THE FLOOR

On the building footprint at level 0.00 m a layer of lean concrete will be poured (in correspondence of the
upper layer of the foundations). Over this layer a waterproofing membrane will be laid in order to avoid
that water saturates the above layer made of dry ground, utilized to reach the internal floor level (1.50
m). This ground will be peripherally supported by masonry made of concrete blocks. Above it will be
poured a reinforced concrete slab (structural function) above which will be installed the different paving.

At the first floor the different types of pavements will laid on a slab of reinforced concrete.
CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT
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The floor cladding will be tiles in all the areas of the Support Services Area.

5.1.1.5 THE WALL SYSTEM

INFILL WALL

The infill walls are made of cmu (concrete masonry unit) blocks.

Image 21 Example of "cmu blocks"

The infill walls layers will therefore be made of:

 internal plaster
 hollow blocks (cmu)
 glass wool insulation
 hollow blocks
 external plaster

INTERNAL PARTITION WALL

The internal partitions are constituted by the aforementioned "cmu blocks".

5.1.1.6 THE OPENINGS

In the Support Services Area served by air conditioning, glass windows insulated units will be installed,
whereas in all the other areas, like the playing area, the entrance hall, the bleachers, etc., it has been
designed a system with both security glass window and louvers, which allow natural ventilation and light
without the risk of dazzling the players or the spectators. All the louvers will be fixed.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

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5.1.1.7 PARKING AREA

The parking lot surface is approximately 2,530 sqm.

The parking lot pavement will be realized with "chipseal" solution, which consist of a pavement surface
treatment that combines one or more layers of asphalt with one or more layer of fine aggregate.

5.1.1.8 GREEN AREA

Currently the area is covered for about two-thirds by different type of mangroves. The design consider
the removal of most of these leaving some on the east side of the building and some on the north side,
near the canal.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

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5.2 STRUCTURAL

The plan of the building is composed of 2 rectangular areas, one of 48,0m x 32,8m (the courts area) and
the other of 37,6m x 10,2m (the service area), with external steel staircase adjacent to the latter.

The courts area is a one storey building, with a maximum height of 12,35m above the ground.

5.2.1 MAIN FRAMEWORK

The structure is composed by transversal frameworks of concrete columns supporting steel trusses. The
distance between two adjacent columns in longitudinal direction is 5,30m and their section is rectangular.
Concrete beams are placed in longitudinal direction above the columns and in correspondence of the
first floor, creating rigid frameworks in that direction.

Image 22 Scheme of the main framework

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

AT M. J. SPORTS COMPLEX, Belize City
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5.2.2 FOUNDATIONS

The columns are rigidly connected to the foundations. The foundation structure is composed by a series
of reinforced concrete footings standing on top of pre-stressed square concrete piles placed under the
main columns, which sustain the roof and a secondary system of reinforced concrete foundation beams
below the ground floor slab and connecting all the footings together. Under each footing an adequate
number of square concrete piles are provided. The use of the pre-stressed concrete piles is adopted, as
suggested in the Geotechnical Soil Survey Report, being this construction system the most commonly
used in Belize. The piles have an average length of 10 meters in order to reach the geological bedrock
level. By connecting all of the elements together an adequate stiffness of the foundation system is
obtained.

5.2.3 SUPPORT SERVICE AREA

The ground floor of the support service area hosts the fixed bleachers. The reinforced concrete beams
are shaped in order to accommodate the precast terrace steps of lightweight concrete which form the
fixed bleachers.

The support service area is placed along the west elevation. A concrete slab forms the first floor level
inside the building. The first floor slab is supported by the reinforced concrete columns. Reinforced
concrete beams are provided between r.c. columns.

The internal staircase is made of cast in place concrete whereas the external one,located in the west
side of the support services area, is made of steel and leads to the public entrance hall situated at the
first floor level.

5.2.4 ROOFING

The pitched roof is made of steel trusses, connected punctually to the lower frameworks in
correspondence of the columns and in the bay of the longitudinal beams. The trusses are braced together
by steel purlins. The horizontal robustness is obtained with steel bracing placed both on the pitches and
in the vertical direction.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

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5.3 MEP

5.3.1 MECHANICAL

Mechanical Services in the Building will be limited to the following items :

- A/C direct expansion systems for offices, meeting rooms, press area and similar spaces
- Forced ventilation, by means of fans and ducts, for the changing rooms, toilets and similar spaces

All mechanical equipments will be electrically fed and sound attenuated .

5.3.2 ELECTRICAL

The electrical system of the building will be starting from the adjacent transformer (provided and installed
by the local Electrical Authority ) and will generally include :

- LV cable from transformer to the Main Low Voltage Board of the building
- Main Low Voltage Board of the building
- Distribution Cables and related Cable trays from MLVB to the various secondary boards
- Secondary LV Boards located on every floor or on any dedicated area
- Electrical distributions from Secondary LVBs to all lighting systems, power sockets and power
connections for any electrical equipment
- Lighting fittings will be mainly LED technology for the Main Sport Hall and for the external parking
area, while for all remaining minor spaces the fittings will be Fluorescent technology with energy
saving device
- External lighting system for Parking area and roads will be Solar LED Self Contained fittings on
poles of approx. 5-6 mt high.
- Power sockets will be according to USA standard

In addition to what stated above, the building will be equipped with the following special services in
direct current :

- Public Address systems to be used for Sport competitions and/or for any type of warning message
to be sent into the building
- Data system conduits (no cables) to be installed in offices, meeting rooms, press area and similar
spaces , up to data sockets . These conduits will be taken to one rack room (IT) to be located at
ground floor (rack excluded from project )
- Telephone system also included for all offices, press rooms, VIPs areas, and similar spaces .
This system will be connected to the guard office where a telephone exchange panel will be
located.
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 - Smoke detectors and push button alarms connected to a control panel , located in the guard
room, with an acoustic/visual alarm system

5.3.3 PLUMBING

The building will be connected to the Municipality water main existing on the access road , next to the
Grand Stand , with separate meter .

Water distribution inside the building will be only for cold water, even if a complete pipework for future
hot water will be installed for the showers in the teams changing rooms . This hot water pipework will be
taken to the technical room at ground floor where, eventually, a boiler connected to solar panels could
be installed in the future (not included in the project).

Separate water connection will be realized to supply the fire fighting system ; internal wall mounted hose
reels and external ones will be connected to a point of charge from Fire brigades Truck. If needed a
pressurization device will be provided in order to guarantee the required capacity and pressure .

The sewage pipes from the building will be connected to the city sewer line that will be realized by the
Municipality on the mail access road to the site.

The storm water discharge will be done directly to the 2 canals existing along the main access road and
next to the future parking area .

CONSTRUCTION OF MEXICO SPORTS CENTER NEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT

AT M. J. SPORTS COMPLEX, Belize City
(BZ)

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