The Potential of Prefabrication - HoHo Vienna | HASSLACHER group

The HoHo Vienna building is currently one of the tallest wooden high-rise buildings in the world – measuring 84 meters in height and consisting of 24 storeys. In total, 365 m³ of glued laminated timber (GLT, glulam) and 1.600 m³ of cross laminated timber (CLT) were produced, prefabricated, and delivered to site by the HASSLACHER group.


Image: Visibly exposed wood – HASSLACHER cross laminated timber excellent surface ceiling components. Image Credit: © HASSLACHER group | cetus Baudevelopment & kito.at

HASSLACHER Glued Laminated Timber - Block Gluing Process

The requirements for such high-rise building projects exceed the load-bearing capacity of conventional glulam in some cases. Standard glued laminated timber offers limited possibilities here, due to the raw timber’s limited width. For this specific case, we had the possibility to produce so-called "block-glued" components with a specially developed press-technology. These block-glued components were a necessary milestone in the development of the use of wood in multi-storey buildings, especially high-rise buildings, to meet the higher structural requirements.

Please find more information about Glued Laminated Timber here.

Image: The HoHo Vienna building is currently one of the tallest wooden-high rise buildings in the world – measuring 84 meters in height and consisting of 24 storeys. Image Credit: © HASSLACHER group | KiTO Michael Baumgartner

Utilising the Full Potential of Prefabrication

The HoHo Vienna is a fine example to showcase how high the degree of prefabrication already is. The HASSLACHER Group supplied the block glued glulam components, to which the steel anchors were already attached – ready to be precisely connected to the precast concrete elements on site. The joinery and surface finishing were also carried out in the factory, so that these load-bearing elements could be installed on site together with the cross laminated timber walls, which were also prefabricated by the HASSLACHER Group.

It is no longer a secret that wood is a perfect match for prefabrication: Prefabricated wood components can help solve many design and engineering challenges. In addition to material and time efficiency, reduced overall waste and cost control, prefabricated wood elements offer the advantages of high performing and energy efficient designs.

Benefits of Prefabrication

• Improved cost control
• Consistency in quality
• Quick and easy to handle on site
• Timely delivery
• Dry building site
• Reduced noise pollution
• Reduced waste on site
• Enables modular construction
• Enables BIM integration
• Reduction of potential manipulation damage

Image: Prefabricated HASSLACHER cross laminated timber wall elements are getting the final coating at the fully automated HASSLACHER surface refinement centre. Image Credit: © HASSLACHER group | TINEFOTO.com

Reduction of Manipulation Damage on Site Due to the Higher Degree of Prefabrication

Experience from daily practice shows that additional manipulations increase the risk of damage. The additional costs associated with this can be reduced as the degree of prefabrication increases. In addition, factory prefabrication is carried out under controlled conditions and under defined quality assurance measures. This also applies to the pre-assembly of steel parts. During the joinery, screw connections can be pre-marked in advance so that the exact position of the corresponding connector is already clearly determined. It is important that as few different types of screws as possible are used in the planning. The motto is: fewer parts means more process reliability.

Image: Prefabricated HASSLACHER cross laminated timber wall elements are getting assembled on site. Image Credit: © HASSLACHER group | cetus baudevelopment

HASSLACHER Cross Laminated Timber Excellent Surface Ensures Joint-Free Surfaces

HASSLACHER NORICA TIMBER is a pioneer in the development of different surfaces in cross-laminated timber (CLT). With its excellent lamellas, new standards are set in in the joints and crack formation areas. This is possible due to the blocked structure. During the structural design, the excellent lamella can be calculated in the same way as a conventional solid wood lamella. Additionally, and as far as the fire protection design is concerned, there is no longer the need to distinguish between an excellent lamella and a solid wood lamella. The new Excellent lamella also makes it possible to use different types of wood (Spruce, Fir, Larch, Pine, Arolla Pine, Birch, Oak, different types of hardwood on request) and the best wood qualities – and all in a cost-optimized way.

Benefits of Excellent Surface

• Freedom of design due to the variability in surface optics.
• The highest housing quality in the cross-laminated surface.
• The joint formation is considerably reduced.
• Almost no visible cracks in the cover lamellas.
• The excellent lamella can, if desired, also be glued on its narrow side.

Please find more information about Cross Laminated Timber - Excellent Surface here.