Cavatina Hall

A task for the orchestra of steel construction specialists from the ZEMAN Group

In September 2020, companies from the ZEMAN Group, Zeman HDF and Waagner Biro steel and glass, received an order from the real estate company Cavatina Holding S. A., Krakow, to erect the steel structure and building envelope for the new “Cavatina Hall” music hall in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. The main challenges here were the extremely complex geometry of the steel structure, the spiral-shaped glass shell and the tight schedule – which was ultimately met.
The concept for the entire building was created by Cavatina Holding’s in-house architects. The semi-circular shape of the concert hall inside is reflected on the outside in the compact, sound-insulating concrete structure, which is clad in a complex steel structure with an unusual spiral-shaped glass shell.

Complex geometry in the shape of a snail

The geometry was planned three-dimensionally and a complete model was created that included the concrete body, the steel structure, the glass panes and the associated connections. Thanks to the precise 3D planning, on-site adjustments were reduced to a minimum, as it was possible to access the exact parts prepared at the factory. To achieve this, the manufacturing tolerances had to be reduced to a minimum.
The scope of work of Zeman HDF and Waagner Biro steel and glass is divided into two building sections: the glazed envelope of the stairwell with 246 panes and the almost organic-looking glass envelope of the dome with 641 panes. Triangular and also three-sided insulating glass panes were used for the staircase to maintain its shape, whereas this was not necessary for the cathedral as it is open at both the top and bottom. The laminated rectangular glass panels of the dome are point-fixed in the corners and serve not only as an architectural feature but also as wind protection when guests enjoy the concert breaks on the top terrace.
The total glazed area is 1,800 m² and is supported on 1,800 steel elements connected by 870 steel nodes. The total number of glass panes is 887.

Cavatina Hall, the new landmark of Bielsko-Biała

The town of Bielsko-Biala is actually known as a skiing and hiking center. Now Bielsko-Biala is also being developed into a cultural center. A six-storey multifunctional building was erected near the main railway station, which contains high-class offices, modern meeting rooms and cafés with terraces. The main attraction of the building is a concert hall with the highest acoustic standard for 650 listeners. There is even a recording studio integrated into the music hall. Of course, there are also recreational areas around the building that invite you to linger.

More information

• Cavatina Hall in SOLID 12/2021 “BEST OF – the showcase projects of the construction industry”
• Cavatina Hall project on the Cavatina Holding website
• Download the project folder from the Cavatina Holding website
• LinkedIn article about Cavatina Hall from the ZEMAN group

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