Structural Engineering | Tag

The Role of Biomimicry in Disaster-Resilient Architecture

November 06, 2023

The terms resiliency and sustainability, although similar in meaning, refer to different design approaches in the context of architecture and cities. Sustainability involves the preservation of natural resources to uphold ecological equilibrium, while resiliency entails the ability to rebound, adapt, and persist in moments of adversity. These concepts greatly influence and complement each other, especially in cases of designing disaster-resilient buildings. Conventional design processes relating to resilient infrastructure have been based on principles of structural robustness and integrity as a measure against anticipated natural disasters. However, sustainable resiliency points at the opportunity of reinforcing buildings by embedding them in biological and ecological systems.

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The Digital Divide: Can Technology Support Vernacular Architecture?

October 16, 2023

The architecture and construction industry has undergone a transformation with the integration of various digital tools, now indispensable to the design process. The welcoming of technologies has effectively streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and elevated design quality. This digital shift, however, has resulted in a digital divide that goes beyond accessibility to tools and software. It also encompasses the crucial aspect of integrating traditional and indigenous communities into the urban development landscape. Can advancing technology support the growth of vernacular architecture? Can indigenous building practices find a place in the vision for a digitalized future?

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Hanif Kara: As Engineers We Are Still Judged by What We Finished, Not What We Wrote About

November 09, 2022

In the complex trade of architecture and construction, you are never alone. And behind every great building there is a strong team of professionals combining their expertise.

Hanif Kara OBE is a structural engineer and one of the founders of AKT II, one of the top engineering firms in the world. Based in London, he has been closely collaborating with some of the world’s most innovative architects, including Grafton Architects, David Chipperfield, Norman Foster, BIG, Zaha Hadid, Thomas Heatherwick, and many more.

Notable projects include the Kingston University Town House by Grafton Architects, the Bloomberg HQ by Foster + Partners and the Peckham Library by Will Alsop, all recognized with the RIBA Stirling Prize, and the recently completed Twist Museum by BIG, LSE Marshall Building by Grafton Architects, and 404 One Park Drive by Herzog & de Meuron.

Hybrid City Challenge

March 09, 2020

Metsä Wood’s Hybrid City initiative is searching for ways to make construction more sustainable while maintaining efficiency using current building methods. Improving sustainability is imperative: construction alone uses 50% of the world’s resources. However, the transition will only happen if construction companies can maintain efficiency. The world needs a Plan B.

Conventionally used materials such as concrete and steel dominate the construction industry, and construction alone uses half the world’s resources and causes 30% of all CO2 emissions. Responsible construction companies are feeling the pressure to meet the growing demand for more sustainable building. The answer to this need, without compromising

The Concept App, a Free Structural Engineering Tool, is Now Available on iPhone and Desktop

November 06, 2018

Vancouver-based engineering firm Fast + Epp has created a free tool, called Concept, for architects and designers to explore a variety of building materials. The interface allows the designer to explore the aesthetics of wood, concrete, and steel while also providing additional information about the composition and feasibility of these materials.

SOM: Art + Engineering + Architecture

August 07, 2018

The MAK Center for Art and Architecture in Los Angeles, in partnership with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), is hosting a panel discussion on the intersection of art, engineering, and architecture. Set in the beautiful outdoor courtyard of the historic Schindler House in West Hollywood, the event brings together a variety of experts to discuss historical and contemporary positions regarding this theme.

The Engineering Behind San Francisco's Safest Building

July 28, 2018

This article was originally published by Metropolis Magazine as "The Skyscraper's Innovative Structure is Changing the Game for Earthquake Design".

The most remarkable thing about 181 Fremont—San Francisco’s third-tallest tower, designed by Heller Manus Architects—is not the penthouse’s asking price ($42 million). Rather, it’s an innovative yet unglamorous structural detail: a viscous damper system that far exceeds California Code earthquake-performance objectives for buildings of 181 Fremont’s class, allowing immediate reoccupation after a seismic event.

SOM Scale + Form at the 2018 Venice Biennale

May 26, 2018

Today, a new exhibition opened in Venice featuring the work of the global architecture and engineering practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Presented at the European Cultural Centre, "Time Space Existence" is a collateral exhibition of the 2018 Venice Biennale of Architecture. The show includes work from leading architects, photographers, sculptors, and universities from around the world.

The Engineering Behind the Louvre Abu Dhabi's Striking Geometric Dome

December 28, 2017

Walking into Abu Dhabi’s new Louvre Museum, one is immediately greeted by a flood of dappled light created by the stunning, multi-layered lattice covering the interweaving interior spaces of the building. The intricate geometric dome is both reminiscent of traditional Arabic architecture screens and crucial in achieving Architect’s Jean Nouvel’s vision for a “rain of light.” But what went into the design and construction of the building’s most striking element, and how does it function structurally? Ateliers Jean Nouvel worked for over one year in close collaboration with BuroHappold Engineering to develop a design which is both an architectural and structural masterpiece. We spoke with Andy Pottinger, Associate Director at BuroHappold, to understand the dome in more depth.

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Arup’s Singapore Sports Hub Deemed Best in Structural Engineering for 2015

November 19, 2015

The Singapore Sports Hub, designed by DP Architects and Arup Associates, in collaboration with Arup as the structural engineer, has been awarded the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence, the highest award given out by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) at their annual Structural Awards. The award honors the best example of structural engineering design entered during the year.

The sports stadium features the largest free-spanning dome in the world, stretching 310 meters to cover the 55,000-seat stadium, and uses a “third of weight of steel normally used to span this size,” writes Arup in a press release. To provide shade during sporting events, the dome roof structure is retractable and features “an energy-efficient cooling system that delivers cooled air to every seat.”

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