PROJECT SUMMARY
In 2023, we were commissioned for the final and executive design of the new timber sports hall serving the Ghisalberti Institute in Cremona.
The building consists of two sections: the sports activity area and the changing rooms.
The main building has an area of approximately 950 sqm with a net height of 7 m, while the changing room area covers about 300 sqm with a height of 3 m.
STRUCTURAL MODEL
The structure is built entirely of wood, featuring vertical bracing panels interposed between the columns and a rigid CLT timber floor diaphragm.
The foundation structures consist of inverted beams connected to raised curbs to support the glulam columns and CLT timber walls above the external 0.00 level.
To ensure the column-to-ground connection without issues related to potential reinforced concrete errors, we decided to install specific “armatubo” sleeves during the pour for the subsequent casting of the column bars.
Along the two main directions of the building, seismic forces are balanced by the connection systems between the CLT panels and the concrete foundations.
The floor is made of CLT timber, as the panel acts as a rigid diaphragm for the transmission of floor forces.
MATERIALS USED
The timber sports hall is composed of CLT timber panels for the walls, glulam columns, and trusses.
The walls consist of 100 mm thick 3-layer CLT panels, while 60 mm or 80 mm thick slabs are used for the roofs, depending on the specific coverage.
A distinctive feature of the project is certainly the trusses of the roof deck.
These are 24 m long glulam beams, manufactured in the factory and then installed on-site.
Following the installation of the trusses, we proceeded with the secondary beams and subsequently the CLT bracing panels.
The same operation was carried out for the changing rooms, although the main beams there had more modest spans of around 11 m.
This was followed by the installation of the roof insulation layer, the substructure, and finally the standing seam metal roofing for low pitches.
PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENT
For this contract, our scope of work included:
- final and executive structural design;
- structural works supervision and testing assistance.
