Report: Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel Construction Project Analysis

This report analyzes the construction of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel in Bergamo, Italy, focusing on the challenges and innovative solutions employed in the project. The report details the use of computer-aided design (CAD), prefabrication, and GCArt&Design technology to overcome challenges related to intricate designs, stakeholder collaboration, and achieving energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing results within budget and time constraints. The project involved Nemesi & Partners as architects and Styl-Comp for precast components. The report highlights the innovative use of precasting concrete panels with detailed designs, which were transported and handled using special tools. The report also discusses the benefits of these innovations, including cost savings and reduced workplace risks, and suggests potential improvements through the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for enhanced project management and life cycle management. The report provides a detailed overview of the project's objectives, challenges, the solutions implemented, and the potential for further enhancements through the use of BIM.

The Productive Construction Project
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Executive Summary
This paper reviewed a unique construction project, the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel, located in
Bergamo in the North of Italy. The project was undrtaken by Nemesi & partners, who are the
architects and construction achieved by Styl-Comp, which made precast components. The Ospedale
Giovanni XXIII Chapel has been described as being an exceptionally beautiful and often leaves
visitors breathless. It is constucted using concrete, galss, steel, and other materials; the concrete wals
are particulalryy detailed and intricately desgned works of art. Achieveing the design objectives
within time and budget was a challenge, as was how to get the detailed designs onto concrete panels.
Because the project involved many stakeholders, including designers, collaboration was important,
and this was always going to be a challenge given even artists worked on the project. These
challenges were overcome usng computer aided dsign, precasting the concrete panels and achieving
the detailed designs on the concrete panels using GCArt&Design technology. The panels were built
off site using a special process and transported and handled using special tools to protect the artwork
and keep them safe untl the building roof was complete. The processes are innovative, helping achieve
up to 23% savngs, ad enabling timely project delivery, while ensuring reduced wokplace health and
safety risks. The innovations can be improved using BIM that will also enance project management.
All components can be prefabricted to further cut costs have better control over the project.
1. INTRODUCTION (TIMES NEW ROMAN BOLD 14 ALL CAPS
This paper is an analysis of the construction of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel in Bergamo,
Italy. The paper discusses the building in brief, as well as the company involved, the challenges faced,
innovations to solve these challenges, before discussing their benefits and how the innovations can
further be enhanced; conclusions are then drawn.
1.1. Nemesi & Partners
Nemesi & Partners is an urban design and architecture firm founded in 1997; the company is located
in Milano, Italy. The design project undertaken by Nemesi & Partners was done with the help of Styl-
Comp which did the precasting (Stelsel, 2015).
1.2.Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel, Bergamo, Italy.
The construction project is a futuristic chapel located in the foothills of Bergamo in Northern Italy; the
chapel has been described as being exceptionally beautiful and often leaves visitors breathless. The
building has a stylish but simple outer design but inside is a small paradise. The chapel is part of a
hospital dedicated Pope St. John XXIII; designed by architects Aymeric Zublena, Pippo and
Ferdinando Traversi. The building makes a very strong architectural statement while providing a
peaceful inner prayer sanctuary and was built using graphic concrete panels with delicate floral
designs that create an impression that is airy, light, and calm(Archello, 2020).
1

Figure I: The Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel-Source Archello
Figure II: Graphic concrete panel inside Ospedale Giovanni XXIII-Source Archello

Figure III: Interior of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII-Source Archello
Figure IV: Interior of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Showing natural Lighting-Source Archello

2. THE PROBLEM(S)
The building was designed by different architects and they had to work with other artistic design
specialists as well as work with a precast concrete manufacturer. The objective of the design was to
obtain a building that was energy efficienct and ‘one with nature’ so that it could blend in well with its
surroundings. Further, the construction of the building (the chapel) had an objective of making an
architectural piece that stood out and was also beautiful and relaxing, to provide a suitable sabctuary
for hilding prayers (Archello, 2020). As with any construction project, various stakeholders are
involved, including architects, building economists, designers, structural engineers,
electricalengineers, contractors, and of course the facility ownrs. Collaboration in construction projects
is usually a challenge that adversely affects project execution (Mok, Shen and Yang, 2015). The
designers envisioned a building made with as much natural material as possible, but with beauty and
innovative designs used. Cost was an important factor as well, and the project was to be delivered
within time and on budget. Construction projects are notorious for failing, largely because of time and
budget overruns (Aljohani, 2017). One of the main causes for this is poor workmanship, poor
materials use, weather challenges hindering work on the site, and mistakes and changes to the scope
and schedule midstream that sometimes requires extensive rework. Achieving the building (chapel’s)
design objectives and visons, including making the chapel energy efficient and as natural as possible
was a significant challenge (Archello, 2020).
To ensure the building was completed on site and to meet the set design objectives, various
stakeholders, mainly designers, engineers, arcitecs, contractors, and atists were assembled to come up
with a design and a workable plan for building the chapel. The choice of material (concrete) and the
delicate and intricate designs on the building, especially the artworks required the highest standards of
collaboration and workmanship. Involving artists and using a diverse array of materials including steel
and glass required a high standard of collaboration and accuracy to ensure the design objectives were
met and there is no wastage (Deep, Gajendran and Jefferies, 2020). Getting the right intricate designs
of the building components, especially the panels on site would also be a challenge and this meant
having to make the design panels elsewhere and then bring them on site. The diverse array of materials
and futuristic designs for the building exteriors and interiors meant that the entire construction project
must be managed to the highest standards. How to achieve this, the desired design principles, within
time and budget was a problem, as well as achieving a green building was also a chellenge for the
design team.
The team used modern design princiles, including the use of computer aided design (Auto CAD and
Archi CAD) for the design of the building. This enabled the design to be evaluated, with three
dimensional (3-D) models which also enabled other components to be considered; the materials, their
quantities, and their cost. However, there was a challenge incorporating the artistic designs into the
initial design, although the use of the computer aided systems enabled their integration into the initial
design. The construction of the chapel would present a challenge in terms of how to get the designs
right, considering the bulky nature of concrete and other technical requirements, including curing time
that would result in the correct designs and other detailed decorations being gotten right. The building
uses colored concrete panels inside the chapel. The artworks were also supposed to be transferred to
the concrete panels, making the entire project complex and challenging. It needed the involvement of
all the stakeholders right from the initiation, and planning to the design and building phase, including
management of the chapel post construction. Consequently, innovative ideas were required; some of
which are ground breaking and represent a significant forward leap for the construction industry, being
able to marry classical art with engineering and construction. Another challenge was ensuring the
delicate art works were not damaged or degraded as the concrete cured and other compoents of the
chepl were built.
3. THE INNOVATIONS
The building (chapel) was constructed from a collaborative effort involving the use of computer aided
design tools for the design. This also allowed collaboration among the various stakeholders involved
in the project, ensuring all ideas were condensed into a single design concept with the stakeholders

able to discuss and have a 3-D model representation of the finished product (Fleche et al., 2017; Xue
et al., 2018). Getting the artworks and intricate designs onto the concrete was another challenge solved
in an innovative manner using the GCArt&Design TM technology concept for the design. The
GCArt&Design technology enables images and artworks to be transferred on to concrete with high
precision (Graphic Concrete, 2017). The technology enabled concrete designs to be achieved. The
design for the panels and other structural members and components was also a challenge, especially
those to be used for aesthetics. The solution was to have them prefabricated in a precasting facility
after being measured to fit and the desired outcomes achieved (Archello, 2020). The concrete panels
and other features were then transported on site and assembled or put together. This ensured the
design process was well managed and integrated with the manufacture and initial construction of the
chapel, helping save costs and time (Tomek, 2017). To achieve elements of green building and
enhance the aesthetics of the panels used in the interior of the chapel, the chapel was constructed with
with large round openings to allow in as much light as was possible. The outside is made with mind
bending slim velarium panels that allow natural light and evoke a futuristic out-of-this-world design
concepts (Archello, 2020). Precasting enabled the concrete panels and decorative panels to be made to
the highest standard; the panels required extreme care during handling and transporting to ensure the
delicate art works were not damaged. At the site, and while curing, special care was needed and
precasting made this possible; dedicated handling and stripping frames were used in handling the
panels while special protection was applied to the decorative panels until the chapel roof was in place
to fully protect the panels (Stelsel, 2015)..
4. OUTCOME – LIST SPECIFIC BENEFITS INCLUDING ANY DATA ON SAFETY,
QUALITY, COST, OR SCHEDULE
The use of Computer Aided design principles, precast concrete manufacture, using the
GCArt&Design technology helped save significant costs in the construction of the chapel. The
computer aided design principles helped enhance collaboration among the various stakeholders and
helped ensure that the costing was accurate due to using computer models when making budgets. The
precasting shaved off an average of 23% off the construction costs while making sure that the project
is completed on time and on budget. Precasting and prefabrication are technologies that can help cut
costs and make construction more efficient(Hong et al., 2016). Precasting ensured the panels were
made to the highest standards and delivered on site just in time, helping avoid wastage and increased
handling and materials storage costs. Precasting also helps reduce workplace accidents and workplace
hazards because most work is done off-site in specialized facilities and only assembly takes place on
site.
5. POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT(S) ON THIS INNOVATION(S)
The innovations used in solving the challenge os putting up the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII
Chapel are indeed unique and ground braking. However, these innovations can further be enhanced
using new technologies and approaches. The most important innovation that can be added to the
companies involved is the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies (Ahn, Kwak and
Suk, 2016). BIM is a 3-D design principle that comes with intelligence; it enables 3-D models to be
developed on computers and enables seamless management of documents, including construction
documents, simulation, as well as coordination for the entire project life cycle and beyond (Guerriero,
Kubicki, Berroir and Lemaire, 2017). The life cycle in this context entails the initiation, project
planning, building, operating, and maintenance of a facility). As such, BIM helps integrate project
management principles into the project while enabling high level collaboration among the project
stakeholders (Liu, van Nederveen and Hertogh, 2017). It also enables document sharing that means
that all stakeholders can share their various documents, including construction site documentation to
enable all stakeholders have an input in the project. BIM enables building infrastructure designs to be
designed and documented with all details modeled using BIM to enable in depth analysis for design
exploration. Visualizations can also be created better using BIM to enable stakeholders, such as the

project sponsors, understand how a structure will look like in detail before being constructed. With
BIM, adjustments and changes in one aspect of a building also shows how it affects other related
building infrastructure elements; for instance if changes are made to the materials used, the effects of
such changes on other elements such as energy management and cost are also captured. This helps
ensure the project scope and schedule is tightly controlled as it significantly helps in avoiding scope
changes and mistakes that lead to expensive reworks (Borrmann, König, Koch and Beetz, 2018). BIM
is also a very useful tool for the life cycle management of the building, enhancing facilities
management and operation of the building as well as maintenance practices. Long after the building is
constructed, BIM data and information can still be used in manging the facility, including in energy
management. BIM also integrates well with project management because it is a one stop solution for
managing large and dynamic data volumes and information. BIM helps facilitate Integrated Project
Delivery (IPD), which is a proven method in the context of effective project delivery (Rowlinson,
2017). Such a project is complex and brings together several stakeholders including engineers,
architects, designers, project managers, practices, systems, suppliers, and project owners. BIM brings
all these various stakeholders together and this significantly improves project success, especially when
IPD and BIM are used together. The whole chapel or any other building can be fabricated using
precast materials and then on the site only assembly is done. This will further save costs, time, ensure
less materials wastage, less rework, and enhanced construction site safety.
6. CONCLUSION
The construction of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII Chapel is evaluated in this paper, especially
the futuristic design and the challenge of bringing it all together to achieve the desired design
within budget and on time. The chapek is a unique, beautiful, and breathtaking design as the
images above show. It was a chalenge to achieve the highly sought after collaboration by the
stakeholders and getting the intricate concrte designs right in the final structure. These
challenges were overcome by using computer aided design, using prefabrication technologies
to precast the concrete panels usng special methods incorporating GCArt&Design technologies
to transfer intricate designs to concrete panels, which were then assembled on site. These innovations
helped cut costs, ensure the stunning and detailed designs were achieved at significantly lower costs
by up to 23%. it also ensured the project was completed on time without any major incident with
respect to workplace health and safety. However, the innovations can further be improved using BIM
technology for greater collaboration and ensure a whole life cycle management of the chapel,
including maintenance and operation. BIM also enhances collaboration through seamless
documentation exchange, including construction documents and when used with IPD, greatly
enhances project management.
7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We acknowledge the invaluable help from our lecturer [] for [his/her] unwavering help, support, and
guidance. We also acknowledge the invaluable insights provide to use by Archello in providing us
details about the project.

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