PROJECT SUMMARY
In 2023, we were awarded the contract for the definitive and executive structural design of the new Racchetti – Vinci Timber High School Complex in Crema in an RTP with Holzner & Bertagnolli srl.
The client requested that the building be constructed with timber structures, and it was naturally a great pleasure for us to strive to meet these requirements.
The building consists of 4 structurally independent blocks covering a total area of approximately 10,600 sqm, serving around 1,200 students.
Within the overall site, there is also a gymnasium of approximately 750 sqm featuring glued laminated timber beams with a 22m span, placed at a spacing of about 3m.
All blocks are characterized by an internal courtyard with a perimeter glazed corridor supported by glued laminated timber beams and columns.
Steel columns are present along the entire outer perimeter of the buildings, both for aesthetic requirements and to support the eaves.
The four blocks are also independent in terms of building services; for this reason, underground tunnels were designed to ensure access to the vertical shafts for ducting and systems.
The building structures were calculated to ensure R60 fire resistance, except for certain specific rooms which were calculated for R90 or R120.
The total construction cost of the work is approximately €30.5M.
STRUCTURAL MODEL
For the structural design of the Racchetti – Vinci Timber High School Complex, we created 4 distinct calculation models for the seismic verification of the entire building.
In this way, the buildings are seismically independent. The verification of the seismic joints allowed us to avoid pounding between the different blocks.
Each block features load-bearing CLT timber walls with a seismic-resistant function in both directions, while the floors were modeled and verified as a rigid diaphragm.
The calculation model is non-linear to better capture the deformations and stresses both in the structure as a whole and in the specific connections.
TIMBER STRUCTURAL DESIGN
The above-ground structure is constructed entirely with timber structures.
Extensive use of 140mm thick CLT structural timber walls is planned, for a total of approximately 10,900 sqm.
The internal shafts are constructed using glued laminated timber beams and columns.
The floors are designed using CLT timber panels with thicknesses varying between 100mm and 90mm, totaling approximately 10,500 sqm. The CLT panels are designed as continuous slabs spanning over glued laminated timber beams arranged at suitable intervals.
The following quantities of materials are planned:
- 700 m³ of glued laminated timber (partially GL24h and partially GL28h);
- 21,500 sqm of CLT timber panels for the construction of floors and walls.
For the foundation structures, the following are planned:
- 195,000 kg of reinforcing steel.
- 3,500 m³ of reinforced concrete.
PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENT
Fornale Engineering was responsible for:
- definitive structural design of timber structures for blocks 1-2-3;
- executive structural design of timber structures for blocks 1-2-3;
- coordination with the contracting authority and BIM modeling.
The reinforced concrete foundation works, the underground tunnels for services, and the gymnasium block were designed at both definitive and executive levels by Holzner & Bertagnolli.
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