proj10 - School at Santo André

The new buildings are distinguished by the specific nature of their use which, by its diversity leads to the creation of spaces and / or buildings of different nature (demanded ceiling height, the partitioning of internal areas, the intended lighting characteristics, etc.) that solely involve the choice of different structural solutions for each case. Blocks J and L, with 875m² area of deployment, include spaces for the multipurpose room / auditorium (equipped with a telescopic system of benches) and the teachers room (with classrooms, break room and meeting rooms) . Block I, with 600m² area in plan, is destined for the library and its archives. Block N, the cloister which makes the covered interconnection between several blocks, with overall dimensions of 46.0mx30.5m is a meeting area for students with lockers arranged along its outer perimeter. Blocks G and H, include the new gym and the gyms locker rooms with 715m² area of deployment. The heterogeneity of the buildings with regard to spans and involved loads (e.g., areas of the gym and auditorium) necessarily imply the execution of spans of high dimension. However, it is intended to adopt uniform construction systems towards a more effective constructive, economic and of overall coordination of the works, in convergence with the wishes expressed in the architectural solution. The need for uniformity leaded to a geometric regularity of the new constructions that was always developed along two orthogonal directions matching those defined by existing buildings and that "fit" between them. Inside each building the supports are materialized by steel columns (when visible) or in concrete (when embedded in the walls) in order to achieve spans with maximum dimension of about 7.50 m. Along the outer edges of the covered upper passages isolated steel columns are introduced, arranged in a regular metric, giving support to the concrete peripheral beam.

For the upper closing of the volumes it has been adopted, in general, RC flat slabs with perimeter beams 20/22cm thick supported on the vertical elements. In the areas of greater ceiling height,  inside blocks H, I and J (the so-called "metallic glasses") and in the Gyms roof (Block F), due to the desired spans (between 10.0 and 20.0m) and the high height of the roof, a coating solution in light steel plates (double plates separated by steel beams integrating the thermal and acoustic insulation; the bottom plate is perforated for improved sound absorption) supported in IPE 180 beams 2.50m apart, connected in turn to primary beams 5.0m apart. These beams are made of welded steel plates to form I section profiles. In the case of blocks H, I and J the beams are supported at its ends in steel RHS120x6.3 props that integrate the solution of the closing wall of the "metallic glasses" above the concrete slab. The walls, also clad with steel plates with insulation are formed by RHS props 2.50m apart connected by horizontal RHS60x5.0 beams that support the plates. The bracing system is completed with the placement of steel bars forming "crosses" along the periphery of the steel roofs, coplanar with the IPE180 beams.

Given the large extension of the whole building complex in plan, the various blocks were as much as possible, divided between them and separated from the existing buildings by expansion joints - integrated in the architectural solution and not visible - to avoid the problems arising therefrom (thermal expansion, shrinkage, etc.). In the relation of the new buildings with the existing buildings it was took into account the foundation system of the latter, which took two different standard situations: (i) where the new foundations will not interfere with existing ones, or (ii) or where the new footings overlap with the existing ones, case in which the two are linked in-between. The concrete structures always play the role of horizontal bracing of the buildings they belong and the steel columns resist only to vertical loads, thus allowing them to be quite slim and for simple joint connections.