Stahlbetonleichtbauexpertise für den Werkhof in Bludenz

The Institute of Structural Design was commissioned by Tomaselli Gabriel Bau GmbH, Baumit GmbH, and gbd ZT GmbH Dornbirn to play a critical role in the planning of a flat roof of 717 sq. m. in lightweight reinforced-concrete construction for the Werkhof in Bludenz. The institute’s team responsible for designing the supporting structure for the roof with an open span of fourteen meters and for developing a printing strategy for 3D printed void bodies brought its expertise to implementing a new construction method for the largest construction of this kind thus far anywhere in the world. The building project was completed at the beginning of 2023 and illustrates the promising possibilities of using 3D concrete printing for filigree and sustainable load-bearing light construction of reinforced concrete. “Graz light construction of reinforced concrete” is based on printed formwork and was developed and extensively tested at TU Graz as part of a research project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). One of its central elements is the use of 3D printed formwork that remains in the construction element as lost shuttering. The cubic volume of in-situ concrete constructions can thus be drastically minimized, and a solid slab of rectangular full cross-section can be transformed into a coffered ceiling of optimized cross section. In addition to the flow of forces, the weight and stability of form also play an important role during the printing process and the in-situ pouring of the concrete, simplifying, first, transportation and manipulation on site and, second, preventing deformations or cracks in the shuttering. The project’s rigorous use of 3D printing technology reduced CO2eq by 24 percent. In addition to the concrete saved by the void bodies, the weight of the structure could be reduced, and some of the rebar left out. The load-bearing structure for the roof alone saved 33 metric tons of CO2eq.

Project duration: Februar 2022 – März 2023

Funding: Stadt Bludenz, WERIT Handels GmbH Österreich, Bludenz

Project team: Atelier Ender, Nüziders BAUMIT GmbH Concrete 3D, Nüziders gbd ZT GmbH, Dornbirn Institut für Tragwerksentwurf: Georg Hansemann, Christoph Holzinger, Robert Schmid, Andreas Trummer, Stefan Peters Stadt Bludenz Tomaselli Gabriel Bau, Nüziders WERIT Handels GmbH Österreich, Bludenz