JUBILEE CHURCH CURVED WALLS AND CANTILEVER EFFECT THE CONCRETE CLAD SHELLS

ARCHITECT: Richard Meier and Partner Architects LLP • The three large white shells on the south perimeter of the church curve up
LOCATION : Rome , Italy and over the main body or the "spine" of the church and are partial
PROJECT YEAR: 2003 concentric Spheres that are seemingly filled with an easterly wind.
TYPOLOGY: Church • Meier remarks. "Each shell is literally freestanding and cantilevered from the
ground." The shells are tied down to the ground to resist seismic wind loads.
MATERIALS USED: Precast architectural white concrete, stucco,
• Thus , the shells act as vertical cantilevers, and the ground as the fixed end
stone and glass, both translucent and transparent, Hemlock wood accordingly.“
• As mentioned above, wind load resistance is developed through a vertical
cantilever effect, acting across the full depth of the cross section.
• These walls are composed of inner and outer shells that are connected by a
diaphragm.
• To cope with the height of the sails– the tallest of which is 88 feet
or 26 meters high--and their double Curvature, Richard Meier
turned to Italcementi, one of the largest producers and
distributors of cement in Europe.
• For the construction of the shells , which are spherical, curing
horizontally as well as vertically, 256 double-curved ,
prefabricated elements were utilized.
• The joint between one block and another which is considered the
most distinctive and unique feature of the entire structure was
designed and carried out to allow connection between the pre-
tensioning bars and to ensure stable continuity to the structure.
• Each pre-cast block had to be lifted and set in place adjacent to
others with the greatest accuracy according to the sail's geometry
to permit interconnection of the bars.
• The pre-cast concrete segments were then post-tensioned in site.

THE CONCTRUCTION PROCESS-PRECAST BLOCKS AND PANELS

INTRODUCTION
• The Jubilee Church. formerly known as Church Dio Padre Misericordioso,
sits on a flat, triangular site.
JOINTS
• The building features concrete. stucco, travertine and glass.
• Going along with the construction system of the post-tensioned pre-cast
• Three dramatic concrete shells arc in graduated heights ranging from 56 to
concrete clad shells, Meier decided not only to expose the concrete, but also
88feet that elicits gliding white sails.
to articulate the joints.
• Glass ceilings and skylights span the entire length of the building filling the
• According to Meier "We wanted to express each panel, yet minimize the
space with natural light.
joints and keep them fight for weather proofing and for the expression of the
• At night, light radiates from within creating an ethereal presence.
shells.“
• AS Meier describes it :
• The joining pattern combines two distinct geometries: Horizontal radial lines
“Light is a means by which we are able experience what we call sacred…..In
from the three concentric spheres intersect the parallel vertical lines derived
the Jubilee church, the three concrete shells define an enveloping atmosphere in
from minor spheres.
which the eight from the skylights above creates aluminous spatial experience, and
• Joints at skylights. glass ceilings and window walls accommodate the
the rays of sunlight serve as a mystical metaphor of the presence of god...
independent movement of the stiff shells, which are mainly due to
temperature effects on their southern exposures and also by wind and seismic
loads.
• An arched steel truss held back with a series of horizontal rods, Supports the
center of the glass roof over the main nave.
• As mentioned before, the pre-cast concrete blocks had to be
maneuvered with extreme precision within a limited area of action.
• Italcementi, or rather GennaroGuala in particular, came up with a
solution, by developing a special, 32-m high curving gantry crane. This
machine allowed each precast block to move toward the exact X-Y-Z
axes.
• Interesting Fact: Italcementi actually developed and patented a new
type of cement-- Bianco TX Millenium - in response to Meier's
requested aesthetic quaality.Other than having great strength and more
efficient workability, Bianco TX Millenium provides an Extra quality:
when exposed to light, the photocalyst particles in the cement stimulate
a self-cleaning procession the surface so that the brightness and color
will not degrade over Time.
• Since the cement is formulated with photo-catalytic properties to
deliver self-cleaning power , the organic pollutants that settle on the
surface of the concrete are decomposed into oxygen, water, and carbon
dioxide.
• The outer sail is composed of 78 segments, the intermediate of 104 and
the inner, which reaches 26 meters, of 176 segments. The builder had
to invent a mechanism to manipulate the pieces and put them in place.
PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS-AIR
BARRIERS&SEALANTS DETAILS

Precast Concrete Panel - One-Stage Joints

A one-stage joint in a precast panel wall
THE MAIN STRUCTURE system. In the so-called face seal approach, a
single line of defense is employed against both
• The church has three curved walls resembling of a ship's sails, as it rain penetration and air leakage.
symbolizes "the ship in which the people of God sails. PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS-ATTACHMENT SYSTEMS&FIRE SAFETY
• "The church has large glass surfaces that guarantee a generous flow of
natural light, located both at the top and at the main and back Weld Plates Rebar and Grout
• The Jubilee Church's 9,000-square-foot massing is defined by three The most common method Used typically with slabs,
concrete shells , ranging from 56 to 88 feet in height. of attachment of precast reinforcing bars are spliced
• The shells, which are segments of a sphere , demarcate three distinct members is by use of steel into slabs and grouted in
spaces – the main sanctuary, the weekday chapel, and the baptistery, each weld plates. Typically, the place
Precast Concrete Panel - Two-Stage Joints
with its own entrance. precast members have
A two-stage joint in a precast panel. The outer rain
• Separated by vertical expanses of glass and skylights that span throughout embedded plates that can
seal serves to control water leakage due to kinetic
the entire building, the shells in appearance seem to be freestanding and to be used as welding surfaces
energy. Any rainwater that does penetrate the rain
be reaching over towards the "spine" wall, but in reality, they are for loose connecting plates
barrier drains to the outside, before it is able to
cantilevered onto the ground. or angles.
reach the air seal.

SEM-9,YR-5 C.PRIYADHARSHINI
SAP,VMRF CASE STUDY ON PRECAST BUILDINGS - INTERNATIONAL 3801610027