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Category 4: Special Projects
4
New Sports Centre - Genk, Belgium
SE
Owner
City of Genk
Architect
Bel architecten bvba
General Contractor
Cordeel
Engineering Office
Ney & Partners
Construction Period 04/2013 - 09/2015
The new sports centre for the city of Genk has a non-conventional layout
with two sports fields measuring 60 x 37 m² separated by a central utility
zone containing the lobby, cafeteria, changing rooms, etc.
The structure of the roof, the eye-catcher of the project, consists of three
vaults in which form, structure, ventilation, natural and artificial lighting,
acoustics, etc. come together in one integrated element. The exceptional
roof gives the building its own identity and complements the shell roof of
the neighbouring swimming pool designed by Paduart.
The steel structure is formed of a series of three three-hinged arches
which follow the shape of an ideal chain line. The span of 37 m crossing
the sports fields is realized by the trusses placed between the arches.
Special attention was paid to the fire resistance of the structure and
measures to prevent progressive collapse.
The program SCIA Engineer made it possible to easily and quickly model
and analyze several solutions. Because of this, it was possible, in the
early design phases, to make essential decisions in collaboration with
the architect, resulting in an aesthetically, structurally and economically
justified solution.
The program SCIA Engineer also made it possible to easily and quickly
visualize the internal forces and thereby the interpretation of the results
was simplified.
Contact
Raphaël Cornelis,
Jeroen Vander Beken
Address TerHulpsesteenweg 181
1170 Brussels, Belgium
Website
Ney & Partners is a structural engineering consultancy and architectural
office. An active vision of civil engineering that integrates different
disciplines is what motivates us. The foundation of a successful project
is the synthesis of all contextual elements. We do not view the boundary
conditions as obstacles but as fuel for our creativity. Our motto is ‘high
engineering’ instead of ‘high tech’: effective engineering that adds value
by eliminating the non-essential.
Ney & Partners
