[Translate to Englisch:] Eisstadion St. Ulrich

Grödnertal

St. Ulrich ice rink

Pioneering work was required to build the ice stadium for the B-Group Ice Hockey World Championships in 1981 in Ortisei in Val Gardena. In just 6 months, a magnificent timber frame structure was built to cover the ice stadium, which had previously been open. The narrow access roads in Val Gardena and the local topographical conditions made building the hall a real technical challenge.

A massive landslide on the southern slopes of the Seiser Alm on June 10, 1999 destroyed this innovative showpiece after 19 years. All that remains are memories based on old records.

Task and realization

Short construction time
Difficulties in assembly

It had to be done quickly. Group B of the Ice Hockey World Championships was awarded to Val Gardena/Gröden and a worthy arena had to be built in record time for this unique event. Architecturally, a suitable roof shape had to be found that would blend in as harmoniously as possible with the wonderful mountain surroundings. This was achieved with a shed roof construction, whereby the roof surfaces were arranged alternately on the upper and lower chord levels. Skylight-like ridge openings characterise the roof landscape.

The main truss structure consists of six asymmetrical three-hinged trusses with a span of 54.8 metres and 12-metre centre distances. The system height of the girders was 3.5m and the distance between the ridge joint and the horizontal steel tension bands (4 x Ø 50mm ISTOR tension rods) was 11.5m.

[Translate to Englisch:] Referenz Eisstadion St. Ulrich

A physical
masterly performance

A temporary bridge had to be built by the Italian military to transport the truss girder parts. Due to the size of the individual components, the truss girders were assembled on site. This resulted in five-part cross-sections with a total construction width of 80cm. The static connections were made using over 5,000 pieces (Ø 30mm) of steel rod dowels. These were pre-drilled and hammered in on site. A feat of physical labour.

The secondary supporting structure of under-tensioned purlins was arranged in staggered heights in bays.

WIEHAG had to create its own assembly concept for the installation. Because the existing ice rink could not be driven on, travelling rails were provided for the solid construction supports, on which the beams lifted in at the front were positioned using travelling skids. Suspended from the cranes, the butt joints of the tension bands and tie rods had to be installed from movable scaffolding at a height of approx. 8.50 metres above the ice rink.

Bautafel

Client: Municipality of Ortisei; Hockey Club Gherdeina
Planning: Dipl. Ing. Zimbrich, Dr ing. Trafoier, Ing. Malknecht
Structural analysis and work planning: Ing. Hans Meinhart
Technical consulting and testing: Prof. Dr Richard Pischl
Construction period: April to October 1980
Scope of services WIEHAG: Engineering, production and assembly of the supporting structure
Glulam: 670 m³