Project specs
- Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
- Client: Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress GmbH
- Architecture: Gerber Architekten
- Services provided by WIEHAG:
- 80 m clear-span arched beams for one exhibit hall and three exhibition halls
- Total of 6,500 m³ glued laminated timber (spruce)
- Photographs: Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress GmbH, WIEHAG
Project description
With a self-supporting span of 80 metres and a length of 170 metres each, the arched beams support the roof structure of the four halls with a total area of 55,000 m² – or about ten football pitches. 6,500 m³ of glued laminated timber was used to span this enormous area. The individual components had a width of up to 54 cm, a height of up to 110 cm and an arch length of approximately 42 m. The arch half-pieces were then joined together in pairs during assembly to be able to span the 80 m wide halls. The assembly took place arch by arch, until each of the170 m long halls was covered.
WIEHAG Bioline 3-layer solid wood boards were then applied to the support structure and the entire soffit of the halls.
Using wood, a renewable resource, resulted in total emission bonding/savings of approx. 23,000 tons of CO2. To put this into perspective: In Austria, annual CO2 emissions per capita equal about 8.7 tonnes. The CO2 emissions saved are therefore comparable to those produced by 2,600 people in one year. The project was awarded the Energy Globe in 2005 for this achievement.