Innovative Natatorium Wood Truss System
Revery’s major innovation for the new Guildford Aquatic Centre in Surrey, BC, was the design and prefabrication of 22 custom V-shaped wood trusses that had all ducting, lighting, acoustic absorption, and sprinklers coordinated and preinstalled in a factory locally and were then transported to site. These trusses were then craned and dropped into place which not only avoided the set-up of time-consuming and expensive scaffolding, but also significantly reduced the time for sequencing and construction of the roof. This innovative approach meant the roof assembly, complete structure, services and membraned roofing were completed within 10 days, allowing the interior work to begin much earlier than anticipated - a huge benefit given the project’s expedited schedule.
Furthermore, the wood trusses have many benefits, among them corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance, and being of a renewable material that sequesters carbon. They also add a visually interesting texture to the white interior and carefully conceal unsightly services to create a calm, reflective experience from the water. With its built-in catwalk, this prefabricated assembly also provides staff with ease of access for any maintenance or operational adjustments.
