project

Oriam, Edinburgh – Long-Span Tensile Fabric Roof over Indoor 3G Pitch

Membrane
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General information

  • Home page
    https://www.architen.com/projects/oriam-sports-performance-centre-fabric-roof/
  • Location address
    Oriam, Heriot-Watt University Riccarton Campus, Edinburgh, UK
  • Location country
    United Kingdom
  • Year of construction
    2016
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Heriot-Watt University
  • Function of building
    Sport
  • Degree of enclosure
    Fully enclosed structure
  • Climatic zone
    Temperate - cold winters and mild summers
  • Number of layers
    mono-layer
  • Type of application of the membrane
    covering
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Daylight gains
    • Rain protection
    • Wind protection

Description

Oriam is Scotland's national performance centre for sport, on Heriot-Watt University's Riccarton campus in Edinburgh. Its indoor 3G pitch hall measures 116m by 76m in plan and is roofed in PVC-coated polyester membrane. At the time of completion it was described as Europe's largest-span tensile fabric roof over an indoor 3G pitch. The hall can be subdivided into smaller team areas, and the membrane forms both the overall enclosure and the primary waterproofing layer.

The roof is made up of 16 large membrane panels tensioned over a series of diagonal arches, creating an undulating barrel-vault form. The arches give the panels height and curvature, which provides the stiffness the membrane needs, and make covering such a large clear span lightweight and cost-effective compared with conventional roofing.

The material was chosen with athlete performance in mind. PVC-coated polyester is light and flexible, so it accommodates structural movement and deflection across the long span. Its translucency also brings natural light into the hall, which reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day and gives an even, glare-free light over the pitch.

The building won Project of the Year (Leisure) at the 2018 CIBSE Building Performance Awards.

Client: Heriot-Watt University. Architect: Reiach and Hall Architects. Main contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland. Membrane roof design, fabrication and installation: Architen Landrell.

Description of the environmental conditions

Enclosed indoor sports hall in a temperate, often wet and windy Scottish climate. The translucent PVC-coated polyester membrane is the primary waterproofing layer and provides natural daylight across a 116m x 76m indoor 3G pitch, accommodating movement and deflection over the long span.

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    PVC - coated polyester fabric
  • Material coating
    PVC-coated polyester

Main dimensions and form

  • Total length (m)
    116
  • Total width (m)
    76
  • Form entire structure
    Anticlastic

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Permanent

Involved companies

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