Shaking up dance floor design with timber–concrete composites

Abstract

A cross-laminated timber (CLT) and concrete composite, referred to as TimCrete®, was constructed for dance floor and classroom spaces at a new school in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire by Ramboll. It is understood that this particular type of system using CLT and a concrete composite topping is a world first in an occupied structure. CLT is typically limited to approximately a 7·5 m span before vibration becomes a governing issue. The introduction of a composite concrete topping improves the stiffness and reduces the vibration response factor allowing greater spans, such as 10 m at Thomas Clarkson Community College, to be achieved.