“The Pods”sPorT AcAdemy

The drAwing office (chesTerfield) lTd,

TeklA sofTwAre in PrAcTice:

Bim in The PodsAn iconic sPorTs fAcil iTy

s The drawing office (chesterfield) ltd won the multi-material category of Tekla Uk model competition 2010 with their 3d building information model of the new sports Academy, “The Pods”, in scunthorpe. This is one of the first projects in the Uk where this type of building technique has been used for a major leisure project.

novel And comPlexs The distinctive, organic and fluid-building form that comprises a series of linked structures emerges from the landscape and integrates with it in an innovative and gentle manner. The structure combines glulam timber members and galvanised steel nodes in a novel and complex triangular geodesic-organic-domed shell structure, where each timber member is of a different length and links to the nodes at different angles. A secondary timber triangular structure infills the primary structure.

A timber roof cassette system provides the envelope. The sports Academy will offer a 25m swimming pool and learner pool with spectator facilities for 150 persons. There will be a six-court sports hall, dance studio, and a health/fitness facility. The Pods also includes ancillary public areas, such as wet and dry changing facilities, café, crèche, function rooms and business operation areas. “it has been a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be involved in this iconic project,” says richard callaghan of The drawing office (chesterfield) ltd. who delivered structural detailing to the project.

modelling ensUred AccUrATe deTAilss “flexibility of the numbering system and easy visualisation of complex details in the ‘rendered’ mode are important functions in the software for us,” says richard. “Tekla’s web viewer application is a very important tool for collaboration with external parties. in this project we used Tekla structures version 12.1 as we were involved in the project from a very early date and preferred to run with this original version. for the sports Academy, we supplied all steelwork & glulam fabrication drawings, foundation and gA drawings for site, all weight/length reports, transport loading lists, nc data, exports in formats to be used by cladding, glazing and cover panel contractors.”

“By using Tekla, the duration of the detailing was condensed into a short period but we were confident that the time spent modelling would ultimately produce accurate final details”, says richard. “we were constantly in collaboration with the project team during the early stages of the project, but once criteria for the setting out was established, we also maintained regular links for checking individual details. with the nature of the setting out we regularly released web viewer models highlighting the complex geometry and interfaces. The project team were very impressed with the Tekla web viewer and commented how simple it was to install and use. we used an older version than the current one available but didn’t really miss any of the features which we had been using on newer projects. This project was very labour intensive as every connection was unique; a newer version would not have helped. we kept ‘The Pods’ as one single model rather than splitting into zones and therefore we had to use Tekla structure multiuser mode for the majority of the project’s duration.”

a Architects: s&P Architectsa structural engineer: Buro happolda contractor: Bowmer & kirklanda fabricator: B&k structuresa structural detailing: d.o. (chesterfield) ltdC client: n. linc council & yorkshire forward

renAissAnce of scUnThorPe cenTrAl PArks The open competition-winning scheme for the renaissance of scunthorpe central Park and the design of a new sports Academy seek to create a bold vision that will stimulate long-term regeneration. The landscape design strategy for central Park is focused on opening access to the park and encouraging safe movement across it.

The vision for the sports Academy is a series of unified spaces enclosed within an envelope of undulating domes that extends and enhances the landscape. The site is well located at the entrance to central Park. The sports Academy will compliment the surroundings and provide an iconic landmark to the gateway to the site.

“By using Tekla, the duration of the detailing was condensed into a short period but we were confident that the time spent modelling would ultimately produce accurate final details”- richard callaghan, The drawing office

(chesterfield) ltd

winner of The TeklA model comPeTiTions “The Tekla model competition is a fantastic idea because it encourages companies to showcase projects that they are proud of. having previously used other 3d modelling systems, within three months we were proficient users of the Tekla Bim software. on the occasions we need to contact Tekla for support, the staff are always able to help directly with our query or provide a solution very quickly. we do not have any issues at all with the support provided by Tekla Uk!”

“in addition to the sports Academy, we are proud of all our work and would also like to mention Audi west london; at £45m it is the largest Audi centre in the world which recently

was a winner in the structural steel design Awards 2010; and west ham Bus garage, which is a £30m

barrel vault green roof glulam structure that provides a capacity for 350 buses

and is the operating headquarters for east london Buses.

sTeelwork deTAilers since drAwing BoArdss The drawing office’s directors richard and gavin callaghan have been steelwork detailers since drawing boards in the 1980s. They are now a chesterfield-based subcontract structural steelwork and glulam detailing company carrying out the detailing of structural steelwork, glulam timber, and cross laminated timber structures. Their experience covers most sectors from multi-storey commercial structures to education, sports and leisure, airports, military, and hospitals, among others.

“we provide detailing only through to fully project-managed packages,” says richard callaghan, “for full liaison with all project team, including architect, engineer, client, and other trades, from concept through design development to complete site packages and erection drawings.

www.thedrawingofficechesterfield.co.uk

a 5 geodesic domes linked together forming a smooth seamless flowa 182 individual nodes each comprising 27 separate itemsa 1536 glulam timber membersa Approx 1% of the project assemblies multiple call off, remainder unique items (only 1 off)a model created ‘from scratch’ using levels and northings/eastings supplied by the consulting engineerC check of the d.o geometry by overlaying 3d dwg of the consulting engineers export9 9833 drawings and 64362 parts form the model from which the structure was created3 3d structural frame analysis using Autodesk robot millennium package

Tekla is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Tekla Corporation in the United States and other countries.

W with an ambition to multiply customers’ potential to think and achieve big, Tekla provides a Bim (Building information modelling) software environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers.

The highly detailed as-built 3d models created, combined and distributed with Tekla software enable the highest level of constructability and production control.

centralising building information into the model allows for more collaborative and integrated project management and delivery. This translates into increased productivity and elimination of waste, thus making construction and buildings more sustainable.

oUr AmBiTion is To mUlTiPly yoUr PoTenTiAl To Think And Achieve Big

T with its software, Tekla corporation drives the evolution of digital information models and provides thus more and more competitive advantage to the construction and infrastructure industries. Tekla was established in 1966, and today it has customers in 100 countries, offices in 15 countries and a global partner network.

Tekla software is used worldwide to model all types of buildings. visit our website to read more about Tekla solutions and references for building and construction.

www.tekla.com/uk