TRUSS ROOFS ON THE EXHIBITION CENTRE OF VALENCIA

The large halls of the exhibition centre of Valencia are roofed with almost square roofs of 72 x 70 m. These roofs are composed of three superimposed spherical surfaces obtained as squares inscribed into one another so that the vertices of the smaller  squares are the midpoints of the larger ones. The hereby generated triangular spherical surfaces cover that part of the roof left uncovered by the layer above.

Each module is supported at eight points set on the perimeter. Only three of them, the central ones of three sides of the square, are connected to shear walls and thus able to transmit the horizontal forces from wind loads to the foundation. Circular columns support the other five bearing points.