Outdoor / indoor space created at the main entrance to the d-school
Glass panels layout and arrangement within a single-triangular steel grid
D-SCHOOL GRIDSHELL STEEL & GLASS ROOF STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
LEAF Structures ( LEAF ) was approached by KMH Architects for assistance with the design of the d-School ’ s feature roof element . Having looked at the initial design and renderings of the roof by KMH , LEAF was able to assist with design input for the design , supply and installation for the steel and glass roof .
Design This striking roof element is the 75m long glass-clad , steel gridshell structure . From early in the concept development phase this gridshell roof was identified as an important feature of the building . At the atrium , the gridshell acts both as a skylight , bringing light into the building and assisting with achieving the building ’ s green star rating and also as a canopy as it spans over the entrance façade , folding down to the ground .
From the atrium , the gridshell wraps around the eastern and western sides of the building to form two high level canopies , each supported by the level 5 concrete parapet and three steel tree columns . Since the d-school is located on a small triangular site with high foot
Initial rendering of the d-school illustrating the Gridshell roof structure
traffic passing the eastern and western sides of the building , these canopies not only function as beacons , encouraging students to enter the building , but also assist in beautifully rounding out the sharp corners of this triangular building .
A typical gridshell junction , consisting of one free form node and multiple steel beams
Structure To bring this concept to reality LEAF needed to leverage both its local and international knowledge and experience on how to design , supply and install free form gridshell feature elements . The detailed design was carried out on three continents by LEAF , with assistance from Novum Structures , with materials being sourced both locally and globally .
The gridshell structure is made up of 252 unique galvanised rectangular hollow steel beams with Novum custom cast end adapters welded to each side end . These beams are then site bolted to custom machined steel nodes .
To reduce reaction loads due to changes in temperature of the steel roof structure and simplify the installation , the gridshell structure was divided into three sections . Each section was designed to behave independently , without comprising the continuity of the overall gridshell structural system . Loading from the gridshell is passed into the concrete building structure via a series of pinned and laterally sliding connections .
The final form of the gridshell was tweaked in the detailed design phase to ensure there was adequate slope for drainage and to more evenly distribute the loading .
Typical gridshell node connection ( using Novum FF-System )
30 d-School