At the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai’s infrastructure, the Conference and Exhibition Centre (COEX) plays a pivotal role in hosting global events and delegates. Spanning 240 meters in length and 120 meters in width, the structure houses an expansive exhibition hall, a sweeping arrival plaza, and a large concourse under a striking steel canopy. While the architectural language is one of openness and scale, the structural challenge lay in designing and verifying connections that could support such a bold, column-free space—efficiently, accurately, and in line with sustainability goals.

Structural Challenges in Connection Design

With a mostly steel-framed design, COEX demanded structural solutions that were not just strong and code-compliant, but also lightweight, fabricable, and reusable. Several members had been previously fabricated for another purpose and were repurposed for this structure. That meant connections had to adapt to existing geometries—introducing constraints that ruled out standard detailing practices.

Three primary challenges defined the engineering brief:

• Optimizing designs for fabrication and installation under a compressed schedule.
• Managing high axial forces with pinned connections that would not transfer moment or induce unintended restraint.
• Integrating reused steel elements with new connection geometries and load paths.

Advanced Analysis as a Catalyst for Smart Design

The engineering team at Tony Gee and Partners took a digital-first approach to solving these connection challenges. Instead of relying on conventional spreadsheets and over-conservative assumptions, they turned to advanced modeling and simulation tools to gain insight into stress flow, deformation, and local behavior at the joints.

“Central to this process was the use of IDEA StatiCa Connection, which enabled engineers to perform detailed checks of each critical joint based on the actual forces present in the model. Rather than relying on idealized, textbook connection assumptions, the team could simulate true stiffness and behavior using component-based finite element analysis (CBFEM). This allowed precise verification of axial and shear forces—even in reused steel members with unconventional geometry.“

Pin vs Fixed: A Design Constraint with Structural Consequences

A key design decision was that all connections were to be treated as pinned, in line with the global analysis model assumptions. However, when dealing with high axial loads and reused elements, the risk of unintended fixity or local bending had to be eliminated.

“With IDEA StatiCa Connection, the team was able to model connections explicitly as pinned, confirm that no unintended moments were introduced, and ensure local stability without compromising the global analysis assumptions. This level of verification was particularly valuable in proving to stakeholders that reused steel components could safely carry new loads, with full code compliance and traceability.“

A key application of IDEA StatiCa Connection on the project was the verification of the main truss-to-column connections, which were among the most critical joints in the structure. These connections had to transfer significant axial forces while behaving as pinned, in accordance with the global analysis model. Using component-based finite element analysis, the engineering team was able to accurately assess load transfer, bearing behavior, and weld performance at these nodes. This level of detail was essential to confirm structural integrity without introducing unwanted stiffness or overdesign.

Fabrication-Driven Detailing

With steel elements arriving pre-fabricated, and many connections having non-standard geometries, the usual approach of detailing from scratch was not viable.

“Using IDEA StatiCa Connection, engineers could not only validate the structural performance of each connection but also generate detailed 3D visualizations and code-check reports. This enabled smoother communication with fabricators and allowed decisions to be made quickly and confidently—even for unconventional node arrangements.“

Sustainability Through Smart Engineering

The reuse of structural steel in the COEX Centre was not just a material choice—it was a design principle. Without advanced software capable of handling non-standard geometries and load paths, the engineering team would have had to reject reused elements, resulting in more material waste and higher costs.

“IDEA StatiCa Connection played a direct role in enabling this sustainability goal by allowing precise modeling of real-world conditions, instead of defaulting to worst-case assumptions. That meant optimized, safe, and resource-efficient designs.“

Engineering Impact

The COEX Centre stands today as a functional, future-ready facility. But behind its steel canopy and open spans lies a process of design verification and optimization that allowed it to be built faster, more efficiently, and with reduced environmental impact.

• Overcame complexity of reused members
• Delivered pinned connections with confidence
• Enabled fabrication-friendly detailing
• Verified compliance with international standards

“For structural engineers facing similar constraints—tight timelines, non-standard components, or the need to verify reused material—IDEA StatiCa Connection proves not only to be a design tool, but a risk-reduction strategy. It turns ambiguity into clarity, and complexity into certainty.“

Whether retrofitting with legacy steel or detailing new builds with aggressive geometry, modern engineering demands more than traditional calculation methods. It demands tools that can keep pace with the reality on-site. And that’s exactly what delivered success at Dubai Expo’s COEX Centre.

Want to ensure your steel connections are optimized, verifiable, and ready for fabrication? See how advanced structural analysis can transform your projects today. Try out a demo of IDEA StatiCa to find out for yourself.