Location: Genoa
Year: 2019
Client: Municipality of Genoa
Services: Executive Architectural Project
Executive Structural Project
Executive Plant Design
The project involves designing a new grandstand inside the 'Villa Gentile' athletics field in Genoa Sturla, as the previous structure was now in a serious state of disrepair.
The new structure, designed in accordance with the 'CONI regulations for sports facilities' guidelines of 6 May 2008, has a rectangular shape with a longer side measuring 28.50 m and a shorter side measuring 9.80 m. It is positioned to ensure proper visibility for all spectators, thus complying with CONI regulations for the field's view, including for people with motor disabilities.
Compared to the previous grandstand, the new project is moved to the left so as to position the building on axis with the long jump track.
This new layout is dictated by the need to maintain the warm-up track (or path) that runs around the entire athletics field and passes behind the structure, near the access points to the newly designed building.
The grandstand is enclosed at the rear to create rooms that will serve the facility, including: storage, a utility closet, a referees' office, and an MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) room, as well as spaces for spectators, such as men's, women's, and accessible restrooms.
These rooms are created beneath the grandstands, utilizing all available space, even in the section with the sloped slab (or oblique ceiling). The internal height of the rooms varies from H=3 m in the flat section down to H=2.61 m, maintaining an average height greater than 2.70 m, as required by regulations (or as per standards). The only habitable spaces with a lower average height are the sanitary facilities (or restrooms), which have a minimum height of 2.20 m.
The structure is partially constructed in situ (or cast in place) regarding the foundation, columns (or pillars), and beams, and partially prefabricated for the tiered seating elements (or steps), the landing (or small platform), and the stair steps.