Large span sport centers with anti-seismic and bioclimatic behavior in Greece

Greece is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe. In the second half of the twentieth century, there was a need for large covered spaces, mainly for sport’s needs, such as gyms and swimming pools, but also for other operational purposes, such as shopping malls. The author of this article studied such structures, trying to achieve, in addition to anti-seismic behaviour, maximum bioclimatic comfort with minimal energy expenditure. Typical examples of these architectural compositions are, for example, the Olympic-sized gymnasium in the lagoon of the extremely seismic Argostoli city, or the equivalent in the lagoon of Lefcada city. In the swimming centre in Pallini, Attica, a large span roof was designed and constructed in a way that it can be opened at will, for its maximum bioclimatic function. In addition to large static spans and dif icult environmental conditions, buildings were studied and built to protect other, more vulnerable, structures, such as the protective, glulam and steel, roof with a static span of over 40 meters, covering the, pre-existing reinforced concrete two-story ski centre at the top of Mount Parnassos. Special design of the load-bearing components of these structures was required, along with a parallel study of original methods of connection systems, as well as methods of erection without scaffolding and in the shortest possible time. All of the above, always, with the modern search for “smart” methods of bioclimatic comfort without excessive energy consumption. Load-bearing members made of glulam, steel, CLT, as well as composites load bearing systems, were designed according to the requirements of the Eurocodes. Close collaboration between the Architect, the Civil Engineer and the Mechanical Engineer was implemented from the preliminary design stage. The implementation of these projects, often following Architectural Competitions, has proven that Modern Structural Systems, with the use of New Building Materials and the application of advanced methods, both in design and construction, can be fully economically competitive with Conventional Construction.