The primary objective of the intervention is to recover the gymnasium of the former Raphael school in a state of abandonment as it was occupied by indigent families until recently and its subsequent transformation and redevelopment as an “Exhibition Space” inserted within an area located in Via tuscolana where there is already a “Raphael” Municipal Library.
Therefore, the primary objective was to complement the Library with an exhibition space, strategically located as it is easily accessible by both public and private transportation, as it is close to many bus lines, metro, and close to Ciampino Airport.
With a view to giving new life to this preexisting building, regulatory upgrading, restoration, and extraordinary maintenance were required.
In the de facto state, there are two main entrances located on opposite sides of the building, having openings of different sizes and placed at a higher floor level than the facing street level. The latter is very irregular, with continuous elevation changes and having discontinuous terrain.
The presence of this height difference, which is not solved with any ramp or pathway for people with reduced or impeded motor or sensory abilities, does not suit the function of the property and the regulations regarding the removal of architectural barriers. The project also aimed to address this issue.
The height from the floor level of the former gymnasium area to the roof is about 6m, while for the other rooms it is about 2.90 m. It consists of an area of about 200 sq. m. of archive room (former gymnasium), of n.2 Offices, No.1 consultation room, No.1 toilet area, No.1 technical room all for an area of about 110 square meters.
In terms of finishes, internally, the floor is square tiles for almost the entire surface of the property. The rooms are all suspended ceilings, although at different heights.
Externally, the main facade features precast concrete panel cladding.
There are three bathrooms, one of which is disabled, totally disused.
The electrical system, which serves the property, is dated and does not comply with current regulations; in addition, in all rooms, the lighting system is also not very functional and needs a complete overhaul, especially in view of the new image and the re-functionalization of the rooms.
Natural lighting and ventilation are provided by the presence of large French doors and numerous windows that can all be opened.
The project aims to make this space a crossroads of opportunities, making it a lively place for intergenerational socializing and discussion, including through the involvement of young people, as well as a center for community and personal services.
The design idea was to give a new role to the now dilapidated former gymnasium, making it an exhibition hall so as to enhance the cultural hub (in connection with the library to date), in the network of the Jubilee welcome and reception system.
Civil works descriptions
The project includes a series of interventions aimed at updating a structure now in a state of disrepair, whose facilities are obsolete and not in line with current regulations. The main goal is to create a cultural reality that can perfectly meet the needs of the tourist demand that is increasingly oriented toward diversification of services.
As a basic idea, there is the idea of reviving a space, thinking of it as a cultural reality, dedicated expressly to exhibitions and displays and able to accommodate and enhance any form of art, thus putting it at the service of the community.
To make this desire a reality, the first intervention to be envisaged concerns the foundations; in order to increase the structural safety of the building and reach safety levels set by the earthquake-resistant regulations, it will in fact be necessary to work on the foundation slab.
The Exhibition Hall will be the result of a renovation of the former gymnasium (once serving the neighboring school), which will be fully renovated and equipped with new facilities and equipment.
The project does not plan to bring all rooms to the same height, but rather to make all rooms accessible, including to people with impaired or reduced motor and sensory abilities.
The following main environments are planned:
The main entrance where visitors will enter will be complete with a checkroom (with special lockers) and restrooms, which will allow for controls on inflows and outflows; in fact, an access control element and a reception desk will be provided.
The exhibition hall will be the main room, the hub of the Cultural Hub, designed as a single open space will be able to accommodate aggregative, entertainment, sports and cultural functions, with a versatility of space that will make it adaptable to any kind of situation. The exhibition spaces themselves blend with the office, dining and hospitality spaces. The reception spaces are positioned at the large windows to make the most of the light effect, and at the same time the entrance is made through two large entrance portals; it is precisely the large ribbon windows that define the only double-height space (that of the exhibition hall).
The refreshment room took into account an organization and distribution of space within the room, providing for the arrangement of several small tables where people could stand and some vending machines. This makes it possible to establish a convivial space in line with the project’s spirit of welcoming and sharing.
Serving the main rooms is a bathroom block, divided into men’s, women’s and equipped with a disabled bathroom.
Replacements of wall and floor coverings and a total overhaul of electrical, mechanical, and sanitary water systems are planned in all rooms.
The suspended ceilings, present in all rooms, will be demolished and rebuilt to allow for the passage of plant networks.
It is also planned to replace interior and especially exterior window frames with higher-performance frames with a view to improving interior thermohygrometric conditions.
Externally, numerous interventions are planned, especially regarding access to the property from the street. In fact, to date it is impossible to reach the gymnasium by a linear, walkable road, so it was necessary to provide a paved path connecting the entrance located on the road, to the entrance of the building. This driveway will be constructed to be permeable. This route is designed to allow, in the event of an emergency situation and need, the passage of emergency vehicles.
The remaining outdoor areas pertaining to the building will be left green.
Pre-existing boundary walls are found to be demolished or deteriorated in several places, so reconstruction is planned, like existing ones, where necessary.
Essential and unavoidable intervention is the inclusion of ramps at the two main entrances, such as to make the difference in height we find between the street level and the interior of the building surmountable.
Regarding the building envelope, it is necessary to provide for a total cleaning of all exterior vertical partitions, this due both to the presence of vandalism and from deterioration due to factors such as smog, rainfall etc.
The exterior windows and doors will be replaced entirely; they must conform to climate zone D, the chosen profile, made of pvc, will greatly reduce heat loss due to thermal conductivity, keeping the temperature stable inside.
It is also planned to replace the waterproofing membrane on the roof and to insert photovoltaic system, as per the attached plan:
The roof will be made accessible by means of a bodyguard ladder that a lifeline will be set up to allow access and handling on the roof, which is essential for the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems, ensuring their safety.
The “former gymnasium” building consists of. No.1 above-ground floor of useful height equal to 2.80 m where technical rooms, offices are located, while the main body (gymnasium), where the exhibition station will be built, is full height equal to 5.60 m. The load-bearing structure is of structural steelwork consisting of steel columns of type HE 120 A and different main beams of type IPE, UPN, as well as the presence of No.2 steel bracing consisting of flat elements located at two modules on two sides of the building. The floors, both those of the ground floor and the roof floor, are made of latero-concrete 16+4 cm thick (piñata + collaborating reinforced concrete slab), while the walls bordering the work are characterized by lightened block panels described in the graphic design drawings.
The surface-type foundations consist of inverted r.c. beams running along the x-direction, then along the perimeter of the structure with dimensions 50 x 80 cm, and a r.c. slab 20 cm thick. The roof is of a flat type, accessible for maintenance and future functions i.e., to prepare for the accommodation of photovoltaic systems and panels.
From a structural point of view, the preservation and consolidation of the original layout is planned.
Preliminary investigations revealed widespread critical situations in the layout of the building body.
According to the above, the property will be subject to the following structural work to adapt it statically and seismically, specifically:
The evaluation of the building capacity, in the two phases ante and post operam, was done by considering appropriate models representing its structural behavior.
Electrical installations
The plant solutions adopted are aimed at containing energy consumption, construction and management costs as much as possible, aiming at energy saving and ensuring thermo-hygrometric and acoustic comfort, including the principle of waste prevention, as well as the safety of the work against natural and man-made hazards and functional safety.
The work includes the installation of a new electrical and specialty system in the building and lighting of the pedestrian pathway located in the outdoor areas pertaining to the building.
The following plant equipment is provided:
– indoor lighting system;
– outdoor lighting system;
– socket system and motive power;
– Electrical generation plant, with photovoltaic panels;
– mechanical utilities power supply system;
– Equipotential grounding system;
– structured wiring system;
– public address system;
– CCTV system;
– Special installations (video intercom, burglar alarm).
The framework adopted for secondary distribution will generally be made of self-supporting 20/10mm steel sheet painted with epoxy powder enamel after degreasing, pickling and phosphatizing treatment.
The type of installation, (e.g., recessed, projecting, etc.) will be determined in accordance with the intended use of the room, the size of the switchboard itself, and the requirements of the DP; for recessed switchboards, a cover frame must be provided.
In selecting the, circuit breakers, consideration was also given to the need to ensure thermomagnetic selectivity among the various circuit breakers in cascade, so as to limit short-circuit tripping only to the circuit breaker protecting the line itself; this was made possible by using molded case circuit breakers with electronic-type thermomagnetic relays and verifying selective coordination also with circuit breakers with non-electronic or modular thermal-magnetic relays.
In the rooms subject to intervention, secondary distribution is provided for the supply of service sockets and utilities according to the intended use of the rooms.
The building’s existing Structured Cabling system consists of two separate, physically separated LANs in order to ensure maximum security and maintenance efficiency.
A new video intercom system was planned including equipment, installation, wiring, plumbing, hardware, labor, supply and installation with final certifications of suitability.
A photovoltaic production plant has been provided for the needs required by the regulations. The new facility consists of a photovoltaic array with a net area of about 87.89 sq m (146 sq m gross of the 208 available) installed on the rooftop.
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
The new system is of the direct expansion variable refrigerant gas flow type (commercially known as VRV/VRF heat pump) where the outdoor unit is installed on a basement outside the ground floor masonry. Indoor units are located in all in the exhibition hall (ducted units), offices, break room, and entrance hall (floor units); while there are electric radiators in the toilets.
Piping for the distribution system is installed on the ceiling in exposed pvc ducts. The pipes are made of preinsulated copper suitable for refrigerant gas passage.
Finally, there is a rigid PVC condensate drain line that collects the condensate from the indoor units and the outdoor unit in the roof and conveys it to a drainage point in the bathrooms (through the interposition of a siphon to prevent unpleasant odors in the room).
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