Steel Structure for Greater Bay Area University in Dongguan

Located on Weiyuan Island in Dongguan, Guangdong, the Binhaiwan Campus of Greater Bay Area University is a major public university project designed to support advanced research and education in science and engineering.

The first phase covers approximately 327,000 square meters, with a total construction area of about 185,000 square meters. As part of the campus construction, the steel structure works cover 7 major structures and 25 smaller structures, with a total steel quantity of more than 2,000 tons.

The project includes a wide range of steelwork, from conventional steel frames and pipe corridors to large-span and special-shaped structures. This variety required close coordination between steel fabrication, transportation, and on-site installation.

800 Tons of Cantilever Steel Truss

One of the most challenging structures is the grandstand and sun-rain canopy of Building No. 29.

The canopy uses a large cantilever steel truss structure, with a steelwork weight of approximately 800 tons. Its large scale and cantilevered design placed demanding requirements on fabrication accuracy and site installation.

For this type of structure, even relatively small dimensional deviations can create difficulties during assembly. Therefore, accurate fabrication, connection positioning, transportation planning, and installation sequencing were particularly important.

The project team paid close attention to component dimensions and connection details during fabrication, while the site installation was organized according to the structural characteristics and erection sequence of the steel truss.

Working Through Dongguan's Rainy Season

Weather was another practical challenge on the project.

Dongguan experiences a long rainy season, with some months recording more than 20 rainy days. Rainfall is often short but intense, which can quickly affect lifting operations and other outdoor steel installation work.

Instead of relying on a fixed daily schedule, the project adopted an intermittent construction approach. Heavy rain meant that outdoor work was paused when necessary, while lighter rainfall allowed suitable operations to continue.

This flexible approach helped the team make better use of available working windows without compromising construction safety and installation quality.

A Complex Steel Structure Project

With more than 2,000 tons of steelwork across 32 major and minor structures, the Binhaiwan Campus project required more than simply supplying steel components. It involved coordination across engineering, fabrication, logistics, installation, and changing site conditions.

The approximately 800-ton cantilever steel truss at Building No. 29 was a key part of the project, demonstrating the importance of precision and careful erection planning in large and complex steel structures.

The project is a practical example of how steel structures can meet the architectural requirements of large public buildings while adapting to demanding construction conditions.