Redevelopment of the ‘Ex Aermacchi’ area, Varese
The recovery project of the building known as “Hangar 1952,” that is a part of the redevelopment of the “Ex Aermacchi” area in Varese, is focused at the transformation of the former industrial warehouse into a sports center with an olympic swimming pool, padel courts, and gym facilities.
The sports center will be developed over three main levels and a mezzanine floor.
The basement will house technical rooms and ancillary spaces; the ground floor will accommodate the olympic pool and other basins, while the first floor will host the padel courts and gym areas.
The basement will be built below the existing construction by digging to a depth of approximately 4.00 meters from the present floor level, while preserving the existing structure.
The first floor will be built entirely anew, around at the level of the existing overhead crane.
Part of the ground floor will be occupied by spectator stands, that are accessible from the mezzanine level (which will be extended only over a small portion of the building footprint).
From a structural design point of view, the construction can be divided into two parts: the lower one, from the foundations up to the 1st level deck, and the upper part, which mainly regards the roof.
The lower section houses the swimming pools, thus creating an highly aggressive environment for the material durability.
To ensure the service life of the structure, the design choice was to use reinforced concrete elements only, incorporating the old steel structures into the new castings.
The structural system consists of rows of reinforced concrete frames, some built in and others hinged at the base, connected by a stiff slab capable to transfer horizontal actions to the corner walls.
The basic scheme is made more complex by the presence of other elements, such as intermediate level slabs, stands, curbs, and basement walls.
In the upper part, as required by the Heritage Authority, the existing steel structures have to be retained, although to be modified and strengthened because of the removal of the ties.
Ultimately, the structural works can be divided into four interacting areas of activity:
- strengthening of the existing foundations and construction of new ones;
- erection of the first-floor slab;
- strengthening of the roof;
- erection of the other structures.
Immagini © Piuarch
