School Building Canopy, Goldach

The Project

The municipality of Goldach constructed three new playground shelters to enhance the existing school grounds. The goal was to create weather-protected gathering areas for students that support recess activities and outdoor instruction. The structures are clearly organized and designed to be robust and durable. Their open design preserves visual connections, and the shelters blend naturally into the outdoor space. Functionality, safety, and child-friendly use were central to the planning.

The Construction Method

The shelters were constructed using a slender TS3-PTS element support structure. The arrangement of the columns, limited to the outermost line, as well as the ratio of height, width, length, and TS3 panel thickness, creates a sculptural effect for the shelters while also allowing for a clear view through them. The roof generously spans the seating areas and provides reliable protection from the elements. The prefabricated components enabled a short construction period and precise on-site assembly.

The Challenges

Construction took place during school vacations, but the site could only be cordoned off to a limited extent due to access roads and the public space, which placed high demands on safety, logistics, and scheduling. Noise and dust emissions had to be minimized. Thanks to the high degree of prefabrication and the small number of components (2 TS3-PTS elements per shelter), construction time and disruptions were significantly reduced.

Construction data

• 3 playground shelters (6 meters x 12 meters)
• 3 sets of 2 TS3-PTS elements (3 meters x 12 meters)

Architecture

Amplatz Architects & Planners, Bahhofplatz 8b, CH-9000 St. Gallen – Lukas Mosimann

Timber construction

Eilinger Holz AG, Langrütistrasse 9, CH-9403 Goldach

TS3-PTS Element: Black ForestTimber Structures , LLC