2734x
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2019-01-21

Champagne School Building in Biel, Switzerland

The modular structure of the school will only remain for eight years at the present location. After this period, 36 timber modules, including the screw foundations, can be entirely removed and reconstructed at another location.

The engineers of Josef Kolb AG were responsible for the structural engineering and fire resistance design, and utilized RFEM for the structural analysis.

Structure

The supporting slabs and walls of the modular structure were designed with cross-laminated timber (CLT). All the modules were entirely prefabricated at the timber building company Renggli AG, including the building envelope, doors, light, heating elements, and so on. Due to this efficient construction method, the school building was assembled in four short days.

All structural connections and technical installations were designed as plugged, screwed, or coupled for efficient and easy disassembling.

The visually appealing flight of stairs attached to the building front consists of a glued-laminated timber truss structure. It is supported by T-beams and steel square pipe supports. The connection points consist of slotted sheets and guide pins. Metal profile gratings were used for the steps and stair landings.

The open staircase, along with the efficient modular construction of the building envelope, has proven to be not only functional, but cost effective.

Client Town of Biel, Switzerland
Architect Verve Architekten GmbH
www.verve-architekten.ch
Structural Engineering, Fire Resistance Josef Kolb AG
www.b-3.ch
Timber Structure Renggli AG
www.renggli-international.com


Project Specifications

Model data

Number of Nodes 144
Number of Lines 293
Number of Members 261
Number of Surfaces 28
Number of Solids 0
Number of Load Cases 13
Number of Load Combinations 0
Number of Result Combinations 5
Total Weight 18.846 tons
Dimensions 117.98 x 29.53 x 10.83 feet

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