6 wooden carnival halls in Oldenzaal

Innovative design with Kerto LVL 

Designer Martin Kloppers from Max 3D was entrusted with the task of designing six halls, each with dimensions of 25x10m, totalling 1500m2. The six mono-pitched roofs, each standing at 10 meters in height and length, offer plenty of space for the construction of large carnival floats and allow abundant natural light to flood in, maintaining the structure's natural essence.  

By collaborating with structural engineer Bas Vreeswijk, they brought on board an engineer with a profound passion for wood and extensive experience working with Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL). Metsä Wood’s Kerto LVL was used for the entire structure, encompassing the roofs, walls, and floors.  

Load-Bearing Walls 

Kerto LVL-based elements were used for the load-bearing wall structure. These walls feature a 25mm Kerto LVL Q-panel on the outside, structurally connected to 45x300mm Kerto LVL S-beams. There are three ribs in every element, each with a width of 2400mm. The tallest walls reach 10 meters in height and have a maximum displacement of 17mm during extreme wind loads. The robust connection between the ribs and the plate enhances wind stability. The roof-to-wall connection uses straightforward screw patterns, ensuring that wind forces can be efficiently transferred through the walls to the foundation. 

Kerto LVL S-beams ensure structural integrity, managing both compression and tension, transforming the roof into a robust, wind-resistant structure. The rear facade features large openings for the installation of 9 meters wide windows, which requires the use of some steel in the rear facade, specifically in the form of a wind bracing system. This is the only steel used in this project in addition to the fasteners. 

Besides the walls, Kerto-Ripa elements are used for constructing the mono-pitched roof (10m) and the upper floor, with exterior insulation applied to the wall elements. 

Construction Speed 

All wooden floor, wall, and roof elements were engineered and prefabricated by the Belgian timber frame construction company Dupac and delivered directly to the construction site for installation. Consequently, the construction process was relatively swift, with the superstructure assembly taking just 12 days under the supervision of contractor Oude Roelink from Oldenzaal.  

Dupac specializes in the fully automated structural bonding of wooden elements and supplies the Kerto-Ripa elements, using Metsa Wood's technology, all of which are CE-marked. SHOC, with the assistance of contractor Oude Roelink, handled the further interior and exterior finishing.  

Sustainability 

The entire wooden structure enhances sustainability, adhering to circular principles. It allows for easy disassembly and reusability of all building components, preserving their value for potential future deconstruction. The use of PEFC-certified Kerto LVL amounted to 230 m3 of spruce wood, storing precisely 182 tons of CO2, according to Metsa Wood's carbon storage calculator.  

Kerto LVL is a top-quality engineered wood product with exceptional material-efficiency, strength and stiffness properties. It is 2.5 times stronger than standard sawn timber and 1.5 times stronger than structural plywood. The material is dimensionally stable, lightweight, and easy to work with. Its maximum size is 2.50 x 25m, and it is PEFC-certified. Kerto LVL applications include walls and floors for timber frame construction, modular construction, and solid wood construction. 

Kerto-Ripa elements are structurally bonded floor and roof elements based on Kerto LVL products, produced under controlled conditions and using certified adhesive technology. This allows for structural calculations to treat them as a cohesive unit, facilitating the attribution of structural diaphragm action to the element.