Degree of Freedom has designed the complete structure for the Borgafjellet school in Oslo, Norway. A total of 2750 cubic meters of structural timber has been used to allow for a healthy environment for the 420 pupils and their teachers.
Borgafjellet school is a two-story building with a multi-pitched roof over a timber structure formed with glulam columns and beams and CLT slabs and walls bearing on optimized strip foundations in reinforced concrete. The need for the use of timber in this project was clearly defined at the start of the project for both load bearing and non-load bearing elements for the sake of a healthy environment. Furthermore, the ventilation method lets fresh air in through automatically controlled windows, improves air quality, and effectively regulates the temperature.
A dominant feature of the building is its main atrium with 17m long glulam beams supporting the roof and allowing for an extensive open area below. Degree of Freedom has, in addition to performing regular structural engineering tasks with an important optimization process, prepared a complete BIM model for the load-bearing structure to LOD/MMI-400. This means that all timber details are incorporated in the model, including tolerances, so that the supplier of the solid timber and glulam can fabricate directly from the model. Moreover, the reinforcement of the concrete foundations is also included in the BIM model and bending lists can be directly exported.
The construction has been divided into two main phases to fit the challenging schedule which was successfully met with the collaboration of all the disciplines. A coordinated team effort was dedicated to fulfilling the high acoustic demands whilst keeping the main architectural concept for a visible timber structure.
Structural engineering during detailed design. Timber production model LOD400, according with supplier requirements. Technical assistance during construction.
