Long span wooden rafters enable the curved shape of Clamart sports centre
​Images copyright Sergio Grazia

Clamart Sport Centre

Location France
Building Year 2016
Architect Gaëtan Le Penhuel Architects
Structural Design VS-A Group
Products Used Kerto LVL

 

​
​​

The Clamart sports centre – embodies the urban landscape

The construction of a new sports complex for the town of Clamart is part of a vast High Quality Environment urban development project: the reconstruction of the Trivaux-Garenne campus.

This broad-reaching project features a school campus and a large sports centre. In line with the local authority's wishes, the architectural and urban approach in Clamart project is based on a desire to recreate links between two highly contrasted urban environments: residential zone of detached-houses and a sprawling district of tower blocks from 7 to 12 storeys high.

The sports complex contains a dōjō, a gym, a track and field area and a tennis court, all within one floor. The original and innovative use of Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) enabled the best possible freedom of curvature to fulfil the architectural vision of the complex. Metsä Wood’s delivery consisted of Kerto® LVL rafters for the building’s frame and roof structure covering an area of 5200m2.

Want to know more about Kerto® LVL?

Architect Gaétan Morales

​Gaétan Morales is an architect at Gaëtan le Penhuel & Associés office since 2009. He graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Aarchitecture Paris-Malaquais. The design of the agency intends to reflect their common desire for an expressive architecture which affirms its uniqueness in his environment while keeping the quality of life and well-being of its occupants in mind at all times. All their projects are defined by this desire to create minimalist and pure lines, as they aim to build bright, quiet spaces. Morales was the Project Manager of the education and sports campus at Petit-Clamart.

Gontran Dufour

​Architect, partner and co-owner, VS-A - Structural Engineers
Lille, France 

After obtaining his Technological University Degree in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering in 1994, Gontran Dufour was awarded Architect D.P.L.G from the architecture school of Lille. Spending two years in various architecture agencies, he joined “van SANTEN et Associés” in 2001 where he developed the thermal research team of the office. In 2002, he created with Robert-Jan van SANTEN “van SANTEN & Associés” which became VS-A in 2010. He founded VS-A.HK together with Robert-Jan van SANTEN the  following year. He is also a frequent speaker on engineering techniques for building envelopes.

Antoine Roux – Engineer

​Antoine ROUX’s father and grandfather are carpenters. During holidays he used to work as a carpenter in the family business, and this is why he naturally followed the wood engineer studies himself.

In 2007 Roux graduated from ENSTIB, National School of Technology and Wood Industries, and then spent one more year doing Advanced Studies of Construction in Paris and completed a Master’s degree.

Since graduation, he joined the French-Swiss wood engineer firm Charpente Concept which is famous for references such as the “Palais de l’équlibre“ in CERN or the “Refuge du Goûter“ at 3’850m highness.

Today Antoine Roux is the director of Charpente Concept France and is active in promoting wood construction in France and Europe.

​

Design approach

​
Values guide Metsä Group's operations 
 

An authentic city of sports

The sports complex is shaped to follow the curves of the landscape. Designed to be an authentic city of sports, its rolling shape fits the intended use and the official dimensions of sports activity areas.
Different sports are brought together under one gigantic envelope. As if bent out of shape by its many uses, the building fits into the surroundings beautifully. 

The design work carried out by VS-A Structural Engineers was based on the definition of the architectural image and ensuring it matched the technical, structural and financial requirements of the project.
The technical solution connected the façade and roof together with a continuous structure. The solution required to optimise the shape of the structure while preserving the geometrical shape.

Talking Wood with architect Gaétan Morales

Why Gaëtan Le Penhuel Architects and VS-A engineers have been choosing Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) as the building material for the ambitious Clamart Sports Centre? Gaétan Morales, project manager-architect of the sports hall explains that Kerto® LVL enabled long spans and complex curves for which the sports centre is now famous for. Use of engineered wood frame also proved to be economical, structurally efficient and visually attractive. Watch the video below.

More information

​

Long span wood frame

Values guide Metsä Group's operations 
 

Due to its complex geometry, the roof and framework design of Clamart sports complex involved challenging technical and aesthetic requirements. Major technical challenges raised  from the double curve in certain areas in the roof. Curved Kerto LVL forms the oval opening for the track and field area.
In Clamart project, Kerto LVL replaced glulam, which is generally used for building long curved beams. The use of Kerto LVL enabled greater architectural liberty, allowing wide spans, and optimising the wooden structure itself. The form of the beams enabled optimising the material as much as possible and limit waste due to precise cutting.

The dimensions of the complex are approximately 130 m x 40 m, with a maximum height of 10.35 m above the gym space.

More information

​

Load bearing structure

Complex Curved structure with Kerto LVL

The geometry of the wooden roof structure is extremely variable and complex. The metal façade transfers loads to the wooden frame, but do not contribute to the overall stability of the building. This was solved by a grillage frame structure made of Kerto LVL beams. The structure transfers the loads from roofing, while imposing the desired architectural form.

The main reason for choosing Kerto LVL as the building material is that it enables more freedom of curvature compared to glulam. Some of the members have very tight radius, which meant they could only be cut from 69 mm thick Kerto LVL Q-panels.

All the custom-made elements of the sports complex roof frame were designed one by one. The main challenge was to ensure that the elements supported the loads imposed by the shape of the roof.

More information

​

Bracing with diagonals

Values guide Metsä Group's operations 
 

Adaptable Kerto LVL Q enables an aesthetic and accurate solution   

The roof consists of a 3 m x 3 m grid structure, which is formed from primary rafters connected to each other with secondary rafters. The primary rafters are hollow, made of two panels assembled together using internal flanges. The gluing of the flanges produced the desired strength and stiffness of the beams. This truss type structure transfers horizontal bracing loads to the vertical concrete frame of the building.

The bracing is completed with a metal diagonal between every rafter. Certain areas in the structure were reinforced in order to optimize the cross sections and reduce the material cost of the diagonals.

​

Steel-to-timber connections

​

High performance of Kerto LVL Q is good for connections

The cross-bonded Kerto LVL Q has a high connection strength that reduces the amount of required connectors and thus the size of steel plates. All of this allows significant savings for the carpenter both in terms of material and in time.

The excellent mechanical properties of Kerto LVL Q, notably the cross veneers, can improve the resistance of fasteners. The hollow cavity of the beams was used to hide most of the steel plates and for embedded metal fasteners.  and hide metal fasteners (brackets, bolts, dowels).

The engineering office Charpente Concept designed high-performance steel assemblies, suited to Kerto LVL which for the most part were invisible. Detailed design work enabled structural engineers at Poulingue, the appointed contractor for the frame and roof, to erect the huge spans easily to their place in the structure.

More information

Arched box beams using Kerto-Q LVL panels
Arched box beams using Kerto-Q LVL panels

​The original and innovative use of Kerto-Q LVL offered the possibility of building long, curved box beams.

Kerto LVL can adapt to variable curvature
Curved columns using Kerto-Q LVL panels

Kerto® LVL can adapt to variable curvature. Some of the members have very tight radius, e.g. when columns transform to rafters. The members were cut from 69 mm thick Kerto-Q LVL panels.

Bracing wooden grillage frame structure with diagonal steel members
Bracing wooden grillage frame structure with diagonal steel members

​The diagonal bracing of steel members inserted in each “cell” of the roof structure  creates a continuous net, and thus transfer the horizontal forces between Kerto LVL box elements.

Connecting Kerto-Q LVL beams with high strength steel-to-timber connection
Connecting Kerto-Q LVL beams with high strength steel-to-timber connection

​The position of the joints has been selected optimizing the Kerto-Q panels and limiting the waste. Prefabricated dowel joints guaranteed smooth installation. Only a few bolts were installed on-site to facilitate operations.

​

Extensive 3D design

3d design for a complex curved timber frame 
 

Complex-technology project involving extensive 3D design work

The pre-design work done by VS-A set the basis for the structural design. In the execution phase, design office Charpente Concept adapted these principles to produce assembly details and construction drawings.

Gontran Dufour, associate director and joint managing partner of VS-A design office explains: "We discussed structural efficiency and produced analyses with our modelling and calculation systems to identify the most appropriate solution. In particular we worked extensively on the layout and all the design process was done in 3D, which was necessary due to the complex shape of the building. "

Antoine Roux from Charpente Concept explains: "This project is really exceptional, not just because of its size but also because of its shape. With its members’ curves, its dimensions and wide opening in the roof for the track and field area, very few pieces could be identical.”

He continues: "We had to size and design the whole building in 3D. It took 3,000 hours of design work to produce the 4,000 construction drawings. They can now be reused at different scales."
Cedric Roux, Manager of the Poulingue Design Office, concludes: "The 3D modelling process enabled us to export information of the elements to be used for manufacturing process. "

More information

​

Technical information

​

 

  • ​Surface area 130 m x 40 m = approx. 5,200 m² 
  • 18 m x 36 m oval opening above the track and field area. 
  • Over 500 m3 of Kerto LVL used 
  • 70,000 dowels and bolts 
  • 120 tonnes of steel 
  • 1000 steel assemblies, all different 
  • 4000 construction drawings / 3000 hours of work for Charpente Concept 
  • 12,000 hours of cutting and assembly of box beams 
  • Volume of Kerto LVL S used: 53 m3 / Volume of Kerto LVL Q used: 546 m3 
  • Height of largest rafter: 1200 mm 
  • Kerto LVL box beams with different curvature and assembled with continuity plates:
    • 562 secondary rafters with lengths varying from 2.8 m to 4.3 m 
    • 41 cross-members with a total length of 40 m 
    • 28 longitudinal columns with varying lengths between 5 and 8.5 m 
  • Maximum beam span: 30.4 m between supports

 

 

​

References related to building and construction

  • FMO Tapiola – wooden office building

    FMO office building was build with wooden structures and a woodn facade using Kerto LVL and Thermowood products

  • One Main office

  • Hurlingham Racquet Centre

    ​​​Racquet Centre construction with wood elements

  • Viikki wooden apartment buildings

    Viikki wooden apartment buildings were build using Metsä Wood Kerto LVL, Kerto-Ripa and glulam products

  • DB Schenker wooden terminal building

    DB Schenker wooden terminal building

  • Mega Market commercial building

    Kerto-Ripa was used for Mega Market construction

  • Metsätapiola - wooden office building

    Metsätapiola – wooden office building

  • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

    Kerto LVL used in Aylesbury theatre building

  • Tommi Mäkinen Racing building

  • My Green World exhibition centre

  • Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation

    Kerto LVL and Kerto-Ripa were used for framing of Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation

  • Metropol Parasol - one of the world’s largest wooden buildings

  • Kannustalo ready-to-move houses

    Metsä Wood delivers Kerto LVL, Glulam and timber to be used in Kannustalo ready-to-move houses

  • Daycare Omenapuisto

  • Karisma shopping centre

    Metsä Wood's products were used for Karisma shopping centre's interiors and exteriors

  • Diesel Benelux headquarters

    Diesel Benelux headquarters inside

  • Agricultural building, Koski Manor

    Kerto frame for barn Kosken Kartano, Kosken Asema, Finland

  • Ämmässuo construction-waste handling plant

    Ämmässuo construction-waste handling plant

  • Kerteminde children’s home

    Wooden construction materials make Kerteminde feel like home

  • Paris police department - wooden extension

    Paris police department's wooden extension

  • Immanuel Kirche - wooden structure that impresses

  • Straagaarden using nature's own resources

    Straagaarden, sustainable building using only nature's own materials

  • Cinema De Roma – thoroughly renovated

    Renovation of Cinema de Roma Antwerpen

  • Kaifu-bad – oldest spa in Hamburg

    Kaifu-bad in Hamburg

  • Schlagwerk – hall for producing musical instruments

  • Berlin-Britz – open air stage

    Berlin-Britz, open air stage made of Kerto and Glulam

  • Le Pavillion wooden office building

    Le Pavillon - office building with Kero-Ripa Roof

  • De Karel Doorman – 16 floors extension

    Karel Doorman - extension floors with wooden structures

  • Rakuunantie extention storey

    Apartment block extension storey with wooden structures

  • Cockfield Windmill – conversion to accommodation using Kerto® LVL

    Cockfield Windmill extension with Kerto® LVL

  • Extension to a building in Paris

    Six new apartments with Kerto-Ripa wooden extension

  • Clamart Sport Centre

  • Östermalm’s temporary market hall

  • Dome of Visions 3.0

  • Esperi Kapteenska assisted living facility

    MouldGuard plywood in roof structure

  • School centre dining hall in Schwäbisch Gmünd

    wooden roof structure

  • Pro Nemus visitor centre

    Pro Nemus -vierailukeskus puuarkkitehtuurin tyylinäyte

  • Kokoon modular housing

    Kokoon modular housing

  • SPA-Bungalow

  • Center Parcs Waterside Lodges

    Center Parcs

  • ClipHut construction system

    Clip Hut

  • Metsä Wood Pärnu Mill

    Pärnu Mill

  • Mjösa Tower

    Mjösa Tower

  • Dutch Stay Okay hostel

    Stay okay hostel
​

Search all references

Search
Hurlingham ​​​Racquet Centre construction with wood elements

2016 / Building and Construction

Hurlingham Racquet Centre

The Hurlingham Club Racquet Center got a light roof structure with Kerto® LVL elements. The sunken low-profile shape and a curved green sedum roof minimize the environmental impact of the building.

Read More

2010 / Building and Construction

One Main office

Wooden interior design of One Main office shows the astounding possibilities of Kerto LVL. The client’s vision was to make their office space convey true commitment to environmental sustainability.

Read More

2016 / Building and Construction

Clamart Sport Centre

The Clamart sports centre shows innovative use of Kerto® LVL. The complex shape was enabled by long spans, freedom of curvature and high connection strength.

Read More
Mjösa Tower

2019 / Building and Construction

Mjösa Tower

The world’s tallest wooden building, the Mjösa Tower – sturdy, high-quality floors with the help of Kerto LVL

Read More
Pärnu Mill

2018 / Building and Construction

Metsä Wood Pärnu Mill

Metsä Wood’s new birch plywood mill was inaugurated in Pärnu, Estonia in October 2018. Due to the tight construction schedule, the use of prefabricated elements was the best option.

Read More
Cliphut - a wood construction system

2017 / Building and Construction

ClipHut construction system

Using material-efficient Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) products makes the building process fast, light and green.

Read More
Blueprint Robotics

Industrial Applications

Prefabricated elements by Blueprint Robotics

The tailor cut and dimensionally accurate Kerto LVL beams make the production easy and efficient and the structure strong.

Read More
Plywood flooring from Bott

Industrial Applications

Plywood van flooring and interiors by Bott

Bott relies on Metsä Wood birch plywood in their flooring for vans. Tailor-made panels live up to the high industrial durability expectations.

Read More