PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
The timber engineering firm Fornale Engineering was commissioned to execute the detailed structural design of the kindergarten with timber structure to be built within the Guardia di Finanza Academy in Florence.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The kindergarten covers a floor area of approximately 770 m² and is single-story.
There is a central block with an atrium and winter garden overlooked by office spaces, cafeteria, and kitchen.
Beyond the atrium, the classrooms and children’s rest room extend lengthwise.
The first part of the building has a low-slope metal roof, while the floors are inclined at the classrooms.
FOUNDATION STRUCTURES
The building is to be erected in an area where a building for Guardia di Finanza cadets had been planned.
Deep foundations with piles and previously tested top beams/pile caps had already been constructed.
Re-verification of all existing structures and previously installed piles was performed with an adequate confidence factor.
We designed a distribution slab on these beams and subsequently planned reinforced concrete retaining walls.
SUPERSTRUCTURE
The superstructure consists of timber frame walls with OSB3 bracing panel on one side only.
C24 grade timber studs, double-layer with 8×16 cm cross-section, were used.
The walls were placed on reinforced concrete curbs.
Passive fire protection systems were designed to ensure R60 structural fire resistance.
ROOF FLOORS
The roof floors are low-slope type with a large opening at the winter garden.
The glulam timber roof floor was designed for the entire building.
In classrooms and rooms where fire reaction requirements did not apply, the floors were appropriately designed to remain exposed.
Along the corridors and in the atrium, a membrane suspended ceiling is provided.
