Changing the game at St Aidan's Sports Precinct with engineered timber

The appeal of mass timber and its reduced carbon footprint is evident in the development of an increasing number of sports buildings.  Northrop was involved in engineering the recently completed St Aidan's Anglican Girls School Sports Precinct in Brisbane. Based on the primary structural portal frame, 87% of the structure is timber.
 
The Sports Performance Centre features a 96 metre-long indoor court for a range of sports including basketball, netball, volleyball badminton and futsal, and also includes a flexible learning space for students, new amenities and offices. The design emphasises connectivity with a central café and courtyard. Due to its proximity to flood prone Oxley Creek, the precinct and its facilities were designed with careful consideration. To mitigate risks, buildings were elevated and the surrounding landscape adjusted, ensuring a balanced approach that maintains floodplain storage capacity.
 
The sports precinct features Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) portal frames spanning 25 meters. GLT, sourced from renewable timber, boasts a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional building materials. Its production consumes less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases. Incorporating GLT in the portal frames facilitated the creation of expansive open areas and extended spans, ideal for accommodating diverse activities in the sports precinct. This timber's efficient spanning capability enabled the development of flexible, spacious environments tailored precisely to the multifaceted requirements of school sports facilities.

Is timber the new steel? 

According to specialist timber suppliers Theca Timber, structures built with engineered timber impose 30% less dead load compared to similar concrete buildings, necessitating lighter foundations and enabling expansions through retrofits of existing structures. Prefabricated engineered timber elements contribute to quieter and more efficient and manageable construction sites, enhancing safety without the noise and complexity of wet trades or welding. Architecturally, the material offers high aesthetic appeal, brings ambiance to the designs and harnesses reduced stress levels that come with being in a natural environment.

Engineered timber differs from traditional timber materials in that it is manufactured and can be customised to meet specific needs. Some mass timber products are resistant to chlorine corrosion, making them suitable for constructing structures near swimming pools. Unlike steel structures, timber does not corrode. Moreover, engineered wood timber products like glulam minimise issues such as twisting, splitting, and shrinking, making them particularly appealing for applications in high-humidity environments.

Carbon Counting

For Jeremy Sue and the Northrop team working on the project, quantifying the environmental impact was essential. Through  careful planning and collaboration with Theca, efficient procurement was ensured and waste was minimised. A total of 135m3 of Spruce Glulam were provided, for portals spanning  25 metres, featuring tapered columns and beams. The choice of materials, including robust concrete columns integrated into the timber structure, exemplified the dedication to longevity and resilience against environmental challenges like flooding.  Timber is a renewable resource that sequesters carbon dioxide throughout its lifecycle, contributing to a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Lessons Learned

  • Engage early: Collaborating with timber experts early in the project streamlined planning and procurement, ensuring seamless integration of timber into our design.
  • Optimised material selection: The inclusion of green concrete within the timber structure not only enhanced durability but also addressed specific site challenges such as flood resilience.
  • Commitment to sustainability: Prioritise the importance of sustainability in construction. We set the precedent for future environmentally conscious developments!

Fun facts:

  • The structure was pre fabricated and assembled on site, not only does this method reduce dust, debris, and noise pollution on site, it is also faster and requires less labour than traditional building methods.
  • 87% of the structure is timber
  • Dream Courts portable timber floor system was used for the project to enable the removal and safe storage of the flooring should a flood event occur.
  • The architect who designed the building was an alumni of the school
The St Aidan’s Ambiwerra Sports Precinct demonstrates the potential of timber in large-scale construction, offering a blueprint for future projects aiming to balance functionality, sustainability, and aesthetic value. By all accounts the students are loving learning and competing in their engineered timber space! 
 
The project was a top 3 finalist in the Timber Design Awards ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Commercial Building’ categories. 
 
Project details
Client: St Aidan's Anglican Girls School
Services: Structural and Civil
Completion: 2024
 
Partners
Architect: Blight Rayner Architecture
Timber supplier: Theca
Property Development Advisor: DMA Partners
Builder: ATG

 

Contributor(s)
Principal | Structural Engineer | Brisbane Leader
Principal | Lead Structural Engineer
Associate | Senior Civil Engineer Group Manger
Author(s): 
Jeremy SueJosh NeilSam Killoran

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