Introduction: Factories and industrial townships across India are dotted with predictable sheds, designed for speed and scale but seldom celebrated for design ingenuity. In this backdrop, the Lotus Footwear Enterprises Auditorium at Cheyyar SIPCOT, Tamil Nadu, emerges as an engineering surprise. Conceived as a large-span, column-free assembly space, this project by Metis Structures reimagines what industrial architecture can be.
Spanning 80 m in a single sweep, with canopies extending the structure to 90 m, the auditorium is not just about numbers, it is about what those numbers represent: economy, speed, and precision. Completed in just 90 days with 400 tonnes of tubular steel, this structure overturns traditional expectations from industrial projects, proving that innovation and efficiency can go hand in hand.
A DEMAND FOR SCALE AND SPEED
The project began with an unusually bold brief: a column-free 80 m auditorium for mass gatherings, designed with economy in mind and delivered against an unforgiving timeline. For Lotus Footwear, the goal was not only functional utility but also a building that echoed the scale and ambition of the brand itself.
The emphasis on unobstructed space, structural lightness, and rapid erection ruled out conventional approaches. Instead, the design team proposed a welded space-frame system, a structural innovation that was rarely attempted at this span for industrial purposes.
RETHINKING INDUSTRIAL TYPOLOGIES
In an industrial zone where pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) dominate the landscape, Lotus Footwear’s decision to invest in a custom-designed, welded space-frame auditorium is a radical departure.
Why not a PEB? The answer lies in the weight, cost, and timeline. An initial PEB-based estimate projected nearly 900 tonne of steel. By contrast, the welded space-frame solution cut the steel requirement to just 400 tonne, slashing costs without compromising stability.
What emerges is not merely a cheaper alternative but a smarter structural system that is lighter, faster, and more efficient.
“The Lotus Footwear Auditorium breaks away from industrial monotony, its 80 m clear span is a bold statement in structural ingenuity.”
ENGINEERING A DELICATE BALANCE
Achieving a clear 80 m span plus two 5 m canopies, all while ensuring stability and economy, required engineering finesse. The auditorium is composed of 11 welded frames, each weighing around 35 tonne, fabricated off-site and transported for installation.
The geometry of the space frame was carefully calibrated: four grids, 4 m wide and 3 m deep, locking together to form a robust yet lightweight lattice. Every weld, joint, and connection was designed to balance load paths, rigidity, and erection ease. The precision of this system ensured that despite its span, the structure could withstand the stresses of scale without excessive material weight.
Structural Consultant’s Voice:
“The structural delicacy of this project lies in balancing scale with stability. Achieving a 90 m span with only 400 tonne of steel demanded precision detailing and absolute control over fabrication and erection. It proves how innovative framing systems can redefine economy without compromising safety.”
- ARUN KUMAR, MD, Metis Structures
THE 90-DAY SPRINT
The auditorium’s delivery in 90 days is as remarkable as its scale. For a project of this complexity, timelines often stretch into months, if not years. But the construction strategy was crystal clear:
- Site Fabrication: Due to its span and curvature, the entire fabrication of the frames was done onsite by MRK Roofing which saved on cost.
- Just-in-Time Delivery: Frames were transported in a pre-scheduled sequence to avoid site congestion.
- Rapid Erection: Three high-capacity cranes lifted the 15-tonne frames into place with pinpoint accuracy, reducing on-site labour and execution complexity.
- Parallel Works: The RCC base and roofing systems were executed alongside frame erection, overlapping processes to compress timelines.
The strategy ensured that what might have been a logistical nightmare turned into a textbook case of modular efficiency.
Project Highlights
- Span: 80 m clear span + 5 m canopy on each side (total 90 m)
- Size: 90 m x 120 m
- Steel Weight: 450 MT (vs 900 MT in conventional design)
- Structural Modules: 11 welded frames (~35 MT each)
- Completion Time: 90 days
- Typology: Single-span welded space-frame auditorium
- Project Status: Completed
A SPACE THAT INSPIRES
While efficiency and cost formed the backbone of the brief, the experience of space was not ignored. The soaring column-free span creates a grand, open hall with natural ventilation and unobstructed visibility. For employees, the structure feels less like an industrial shed and more like a civic auditorium, a deliberate departure that reflects the company’s ethos of innovation and people-centricity.
The boldness of the built form also translates into a brand statement. Just as Lotus Footwear produces durable and scalable products, the auditorium reflects these values in its scale, precision, and forward-thinking design.
“From 900 tonne to 400 tonne, from months to just 90 days, this project is a proof that steel, when engineered smartly, can deliver economy and elegance together.”
A TEMPLATE FOR THE FUTURE
The Lotus Footwear Auditorium is not just a one-off success. It is a template for future industrial and civic projects where large spans, low cost, and fast timelines converge. By moving beyond PEB conventions, it demonstrates that welded space frames are a viable, replicable solution for projects that demand both speed and scale.
Its design has been vetted by Anna University, Chennai, and Prof. Dr. Muthuraj from Coimbatore Institute of Technology, adding academic credibility to its professional execution.
Why Lotus Footwear Auditorium Stands Out?
- 80 m single-span welded space frame — rare in Indian industrial design
- Steel tonnage reduced by 55% (900 MT to 400 MT)
- Record 90-day completion in an industrial township
- Modular frames of 25 MT each for precise and rapid erection
- Architectural uplift in a manufacturing-heavy context
CONCLUSION
The Lotus Footwear Enterprises Auditorium is both a structural achievement and a business statement. It combines economy with audacity, efficiency with elegance, and in doing so, sets a new benchmark for industrial spaces in India. Its successful delivery proves that design innovation need not be at odds with practicality, and that steel, when wielded intelligently, can transform the identity of an entire typology.
Editor’s Note
The Lotus Footwear Auditorium is an emblem of what steel can achieve when engineered with imagination and efficiency. It challenges industrial stereotypes and offers a replicable model for future projects. With its rare span, rapid execution, and remarkable economy, it is more than an auditorium. It is a giant step for structural design in India.
FACT FILE
- Location: Cheyyar SIPCOT, Tamil Nadu
- Client: Lotus Footwear Enterprises
- Architect: Pithavadian & Partners
- Structural Consultant: Metis Structures
- Fabricator & Manufacturer: MRK Roofing, Coimbatore
- Project Type: Auditorium (Welded Space Frame)
- Tonnage: 400 MT (tubular sections)
- Status: Completed
