Two Timbatec projects nominated for the Swiss Arc Award

With the Wiesental School in Baar and the Buchholzstrasse residential development in Zurich, two projects involving Timbatec have been nominated for the Swiss Arc Award. Both structures exemplify innovative wood and wood-hybrid constructions, sophisticated structural solutions, and close collaboration between architecture and engineering. The nomination recognizes their high design quality and brings the projects to the attention of a broad professional audience. All nominated projects can be viewed and rated on the Swiss Arc Award platform: www.swiss-arc.ch

The East Wing of the Wiesental School in Baar is a school building that combines architectural quality with innovative engineering. Two floors of classrooms constructed using timber framing were built above a triple-court gymnasium with a span of 35 meters. The building thus provides space for more than 500 students.

For Timbatec, the further development of the structural system presented a particularly challenging task. During the planning process, the original concept was fundamentally altered: a double-track gymnasium was replaced by a significantly larger triple-track gymnasium. As a result, the structural concept that had already been developed had to be rethought. The glulam beams and load-bearing corridor walls originally planned could no longer meet the new requirements.

Timbatec therefore developed a new structural concept featuring a large primary and secondary truss system. The compression members were constructed of wood, while the tension members were made of steel. This hybrid structural system enables the economical and safe spanning of the gymnasium while minimizing deformations. The precise coordination of wood and steel components, as well as section-by-section assembly with targeted camber, were crucial to the project’s success. The project serves as a prime example of how challenging educational buildings can be realized through innovative structural engineering using wood.

The Buchholzstrasse residential development in Zurich’s Witikon neighborhood comprises a total of 127 apartments and consistently employs a high-quality hybrid timber construction method. The complex impresses with its precise architecture, careful use of materials, and a facade design that integrates wood as a building material visibly and naturally into the urban context.

Timbatec was involved in the planning process from the early project phases through to construction and, together with the project partners, developed the structural foundations for the hybrid construction method. This involved combining concrete slabs with prefabricated facade elements in a timber-frame construction system. Glulam columns integrated into the facade elements serve load-bearing functions and make optimal use of the respective strengths of wood and concrete.

Developing the facade structure was particularly challenging. The architecture called for a sophisticated design featuring vertical and horizontal wood formwork as well as finely crafted connections and transitions. At the same time, high standards regarding durability, building physics, and construction reliability had to be met. Precise detailed planning formed the foundation for the project’s architectural quality. The nomination for the Swiss Arc Award underscores the significance of this carefully developed residential building and demonstrates the potential that modern wood-hybrid constructions offer in urban settings.