Tekla Software in practice:

The Pods
Sport Academy
The Drawing Office (Chesterfield) Ltd,
BIM i n t he po d s
a n i co n i c Spo r ts Fa c il ity

s The Drawing Office (Chesterfield) Ltd won the multi-material

category of Tekla UK model competition 2010 with their 3D building
information model of the new Sports Academy, The Pods, in
Scunthorpe. This is one of the first projects in the UK where this type
of building technique has been used for a major leisure project.
Novel and complex
s The distinctive, organic and fluid-building form that
comprises a series of linked structures emerges from
the landscape and integrates with it in an innovative
and gentle manner. The structure combines glulam
timber members and galvanised steel nodes in a novel
and complex triangular geodesic-organic-domed shell
structure, where each timber member is of a different
length and links to the nodes at different angles. A
secondary timber triangular structure infills the primary
structure.
A timber roof cassette system provides the envelope.
The Sports Academy will offer a 25m swimming pool and
learner pool with spectator facilities for 150 persons. There
will be a six-court sports hall, dance studio, and a health/
fitness facility. The Pods also includes ancillary public
areas, such as wet and dry changing facilities, caf, crche,
function rooms and business operation areas. It has been
a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be involved in
this iconic project, says Richard Callaghan of The Drawing
Office (Chesterfield) Ltd. who delivered structural detailing
to the project.

a
Architects: S&P Architects
a Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
a Contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland
a Fabricator: B&K Structures
a Structural Detailing: D.O. (Chesterfield) Ltd
C Client: N. Linc Council & Yorkshire Forward
MODELLING ENSURED
ACCURATE DETAILS
s Flexibility of the numbering system and easy visualisation
of complex details in the rendered mode are important
functions in the software for us, says Richard. Teklas Web
Viewer application is a very important tool for collaboration
with external parties. In this project we used Tekla Structures
version 12.1 as we were involved in the project from a very
early date and preferred to run with this original version.
For the Sports Academy, we supplied all steelwork & glulam
fabrication drawings, foundation and GA drawings for site, all
weight/length reports, transport loading lists, NC data, exports
in formats to be used by cladding, glazing and cover panel
contractors.
By using Tekla, the duration of the detailing was
condensed into a short period but we were confident that the
time spent modelling would ultimately produce accurate final
details, says Richard. We were constantly in collaboration
with the project team during the early stages of the project,
but once criteria for the setting out was established, we also
maintained regular links for checking individual details. With
the nature of the setting out we regularly released Web Viewer
models highlighting the complex geometry and interfaces.
The project team were very impressed with the Tekla Web
Viewer and commented how simple it was to install and
use. We used an older version than the current one available
but didnt really miss any of the features which we had been
using on newer projects. This project was very labour intensive
as every connection was unique; a newer version would not
have helped. We kept The Pods as one single model rather
than splitting into zones and therefore we had to use Tekla
Structure multiuser mode for the majority of the projects
duration.
 By using Tekla, the duration
of the detailing was condensed
into a short period but we were
confident that the time spent
modelling would ultimately
produce accurate final details
- Richard Callaghan, The Drawing Office
(Chesterfield) Ltd

RENAISSANCE OF SCUNTHORPE
CENTRAL PARK
s The open competition-winning scheme for the
renaissance of Scunthorpe Central Park and the design of a
new Sports Academy seek to create a bold vision that will
stimulate long-term regeneration. The landscape design
strategy for Central Park is focused on opening access to
the park and encouraging safe movement across it.
The vision for the Sports Academy is a series of unified
spaces enclosed within an envelope of undulating domes
that extends and enhances the landscape. The site is
well located at the entrance to Central Park. The Sports
Academy will compliment the surroundings and provide an
iconic landmark to the gateway to the site.
Winner of the
Tekla Model Competition
s The Tekla model competition is a fantastic idea because
it encourages companies to showcase projects that they are
proud of. Having previously used other 3D modelling systems,
within three months we were proficient users of the Tekla
BIM software. On the occasions we need to contact Tekla for
support, the staff are always able to help directly with our
query or provide a solution very quickly. We do not have any
issues at all with the support provided by Tekla UK!
In addition to the Sports Academy, we are proud of all
our work and would also like to mention Audi West London; at
45m it is the largest Audi Centre in the world which recently
was a winner in the Structural Steel Design Awards
2010; and West Ham Bus Garage, which is a 30m
barrel vault green roof glulam structure
that provides a capacity for 350 buses
and is the operating headquarters for
East London Buses.
 a 5 geodesic domes linked together forming a smooth seamless flow
a 182 individual nodes each comprising 27 separate items
a 1536 glulam timber members
a Approx 1% of the project assemblies multiple call off, remainder unique items (only 1 off)
a Model created from scratch using levels and northings/eastings supplied by the Consulting Engineer
C Check of the D.O geometry by overlaying 3D DWG of the Consulting Engineers export
9 9833 drawings and 64362 parts form the model from which the structure was created
3 3D structural frame analysis using Autodesk Robot Millennium package

STEELWORK DETAILERS SINCE

DRAWING BOARDS
s The Drawing Offices directors Richard and Gavin
Callaghan have been steelwork detailers since drawing
boards in the 1980s. They are now a Chesterfield-based
subcontract structural steelwork and glulam detailing
company carrying out the detailing of structural steelwork,
glulam timber, and cross laminated timber structures.
Their experience covers most sectors from multi-storey
commercial structures to education, sports and leisure,
airports, military, and hospitals, among others.
We provide detailing only through to fully project-
managed packages, says Richard Callaghan, For full
liaison with all project team, including architect, engineer,
client, and other trades, from concept through design
development to complete site packages and erection
drawings.

www.thedrawingofficechesterfield.co.uk
Our ambition is to multiply your
potential to think and achieve big

W With an ambition to multiply customers potential to think and achieve big, Tekla provides a BIM
(Building Information Modelling) software environment that can be shared by contractors, structural
engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers.
The highly detailed as-built 3D models created, combined and distributed with Tekla software
enable the highest level of constructability and production control.
Centralising building information into the model allows for more collaborative and integrated
project management and delivery. This translates into increased productivity and elimination of
waste, thus making construction and buildings more sustainable.

T With its software, Tekla Corporation

drives the evolution of digital information
models and provides thus more and more
competitive advantage to the construction
and infrastructure industries. Tekla was
established in 1966, and today it has
customers in 100 countries, offices in 15
countries and a global partner network.
Tekla software is used worldwide to
model all types of buildings. Visit our
website to read more about Tekla solutions
and references for building and construction.

www.tekla.com/uk

Tekla is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Tekla Corporation in the United States and other countries.