The Arup Journal Issue 1 2018
The Arup Journal Issue 1 2018
1: Stonecutters
Island Sewage
Treatment Works,
located in Victoria
Harbour
2: The annual Cross
Harbour Swim was
halted in 1978 owing
to the poor water
quality in the harbour
1. 2.
Tsing Yi
Island. There it would be processed in built up over more than 20 years designing 3: As part of HATS 2A eight existing preliminary
one of the largest treatment facilities of water treatment plants in the UK. treatment works were upgraded and connected
its kind. Stage 1 of the project provided via new tunnels. The partially treated water is
treatment for about 75% of the sewage Awarded the contract in August 2007 by transferred to SCISTW via a tunnel running under
the harbour
from urban areas around the harbour, the Hong Kong Government’s Drainage
with an average dry weather flow (ADWF) Services Department, Arup’s commission
of 1.7 million m3 per day. included civil, mechanical, electrical,
geotechnical, tunnelling, hydraulic
Stage 2A was a commission to treat the modelling, process, environmental, control
remaining 25% of Hong Kong’s sewage, and automation engineering, as well as
bringing the treatment capacity up to a programme and project management. preliminary treatment works that carry
2.45 million m3 per day average and a out initial screening of the sewage were
4.1 million m3 per day peak flow. This Arup’s design included modelling the upgraded and connected via new tunnels
was achieved by taking all sewage from complete hydraulic system to optimise running along the western and northern
the Victoria Harbour area to the upgraded the waste water collection and conveyance coasts of Hong Kong Island.
Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works across the harbour, as well as the upgrade
(SCISTW) for chemically enhanced primary of the treatment works on Stonecutters The overall treatment process when finally
treatment (CEPT) and disinfection. Island, including the design and construction commissioned collects sewage from around
of one of the world’s largest underground Victoria Harbour to be treated at the
Arup tendered for Stage 2A of the project on pumping stations. As part of the project, preliminary treatment works, removing
the basis of the firm’s extensive experience eight of the existing Hong Kong Island large solids, before travelling via tunnels
5.
10,000m3 wet wells 10,000m3 wet wells Kowloon and the north-east of Hong Kong
Island, as well as the proposed upgrades as
part of Stage 2A.
To CEPT tanks To CEPT tanks
To estimate the sewage flow through to the
year 2030, Arup used data that projected
Hong Kong’s population and employment
Pumps Pumps for the next two decades. A geographic
˜ 20m information systems model was built and
calibrated using that data and the records of
historic flows. The hydraulic model assessed
the velocity and head losses through the
tunnel, waste water levels at various drop
shafts, tunnel size and depth of the main
pumping station under average and peak
flow conditions.
˜ 40m The average flow during the dry months
was calculated at 2.5 million m3 per day
for 2030. Typically, combined sewage and
storm water sewerage systems are designed
Side for peak flows equivalent to three times the 7.
chamber dry weather flows. However, in Hong Kong,
Via interconnection Pumps Pumps wet weather comes in the form of short flash
From Hong Kong Island ˜ 55m diameter
tunnel to main storms rather than extensive periods of rain,
pumping station 1 with some of the storm water contained in
Plan Section overflows, locally known as nullahs. Arup
established that to collect and treat 99.5%
6. of the combined waste water, the peak flow
would be 1.7 times that of the dry season.
6: Plan and section of the pumping station, infrastructure and detailing how the When designing such facilities, a tunnel of This was the first time a computer-driven
which has a volume equivalent to 38 standard contractors should phase the construction. this shape (forming an inverted siphon) is hydraulic model of this size had been
swimming pools generally avoided because waste can settle used and it proved very successful in
Hydraulic system at the bottom. To ensure that did not happen, terms of accuracy and helping with cost
After the initial screening, the partially the tunnel was sized so that the waste water efficiency. Ultimately, despite the project’s
treated sewage drops down 120m through velocity was fast enough to exit from the complexities, the model was accurate
shafts at each treatment works, entering riser shaft at the Stonecutters Island end to within centimetres. This system
a tunnel that crosses below the harbour, without solids settling in the tunnel along minimised the tunnel diameter, ensuring
before coming up through a riser shaft into the way. The system also needed to cope there was enough velocity to avoid any
the project to proceed in stages to ensure the the pumping station on Stonecutters Island with large differences in flow rates between settlement within the tunnel and minimising
system could remain online at all times, as for treatment prior to discharge into the summer and winter months. With wet any overflow.
there could be no interruption to the operation harbour. Arup modelled the hydraulic weather in the summer, resulting in high
of Hong Kong’s existing sewerage systems. system for sewage transportation from flow rates of water, and dry winters resulting This design balanced the land requirement,
Hong Kong Island to Stonecutters Island in the opposite, Arup designed the system so capital and operation costs against the
Upgrading the existing extremely congested (with the tunnel design by others). that the velocity of flow stayed within hydraulic performance and environmental
facility on Stonecutters Island also presented acceptable parameters all year round, with compliance requirements. A minimum
8.
difficulties. In the 1990s, the island was The design challenge was to ensure the minimal overflow. These two constraints capital cost saving of HK$480 million
expanded through land reclamation, waste water could travel to Stonecutters meant the tunnel had to be narrow enough to (£42.5 million) was achieved.
connecting it to the mainland. Arup had Island through the tunnel without backing maintain a flow of sufficient velocity to keep interrupting the existing treatment works. 7: The Stonecutters Island main pumping station
to find a way of increasing the capacity up or overflowing at the preliminary works the tunnels clean during the drier months, Pumping station As the overall project manager for the work, is one of the largest in the world, at 55m in
of the sewage treatment works within the and without solids dropping to the bottom taking into account the inverted siphon, The pumping station at Stonecutters Island Arup developed a procurement strategy, diameter and 40m deep
existing site boundaries. of the tunnel floor. Typically, sewerage but wide enough to not overflow during the is one of the world’s largest for sewage which included space planning and a 8: There are eight main pumps in the pumping
works use gravity to keep the flow of waste wetter months. To establish the most treatment works. It is 55m in diameter and detailed construction programme. By station motor hall
Working closely with the client, Arup constant, with the treatment works located efficient and cost-effective diameter for the reaches 40m below ground. Above ground, gathering information from various
proposed a procurement strategy to suit the at a lower level than where the waste tunnel, Arup developed an extensive it is a 20m tall striking glass building contractors, Arup assessed the size of
capabilities of both local and international originates. In Hong Kong, however, this was hydraulic model of the complete system for complete with green roof. The scale of the the construction equipment that might be
design and build contractors. Detailed not possible: the tunnels had to be deep both existing and future treatment volumes pumping station to be constructed within brought to site, and determined the number
planning was required on the placement enough to go under the harbour and below in Hong Kong. This included modelling the the confines of the existing site presented a and size of pumps needed to maintain the
of various elements of the plant, designing the foundations of the buildings on the Stage 1 systems of 23.6km of underground considerable challenge, particularly as this 32m3/s flow, designing the space – and the
how they would fit with the existing shoreline of Hong Kong Island. tunnels, which collected sewage from work was required to take place without surrounding diaphragm wall – accordingly.
9. 14.
The next step was to build the windows. In 10 & 11: The silo bins
contrast to the digitalised design process, the were topped with
manufacturing stage called for craft skills; skylight windows that
each element was to be cut and welded form the floor of the
rooftop sculpture
together by hand. Arup communicated the
garden. Bespoke
design intent to a high level of detail before
artwork made of ceramic
tender by using the 3D models produced frits was printed onto
through the parametric process. This allowed the glass. The pattern
the design intent model and the shop drawing controls light levels in
model to be reviewed and compared in a 3D the atrium and also acts
virtual environment, rather than using 2D as an anti-slip measure
drawings. This lessened the possibility of
errors. A local subcontractor, Mazor
Aluminium, came on board in 2015 to deliver
Arup’s prescriptive design.
The interstitial floors accommodate the The services in the general laboratory areas
sizeable ventilation and air filtration plant, were designed to operate as a Containment
as well as other services required to support Level 2 area. Higher containment levels are
the basement laboratories. There is a main located in dedicated areas. The write-up/office
plant area in the basement, and two whole areas are located outside the laboratories.
floors of plant are located at the top of the
building. Large vertical distribution risers, Climate control in the general laboratories is
which run the height of the building, are handled by a variable air volume (VAV)
used to distribute services from the plant system. Within secondary laboratory areas,
areas to occupied floors. In addition, additional fan-coil units supplement the
horizontal primary routes for services VAV cooling.
connecting between risers at each floor level
were created in 1.5m deep ceiling void Since the laboratories can accept only very
spaces to facilitate distribution of services. limited, low levels of vibration transmitted
within the structure, all building services plant
Services were set to minimise the building’s and equipment that generate vibration were
energy consumption. Plant operation was isolated using a mixture of anti-vibration
optimised; a combined heat and power plant mountings, spring hangers and supports. The
was installed to generate electricity, steam and laboratory floors are designed to Vibration
hot water; and an extensive photovoltaic array Criteria-A (VC-A), with inertia slabs and local
(1,700m2) was integrated into the curved roof. 6. isolation tables set up in specific areas that
require higher controls (VC-D and VC-E).
The specialist operations taking place in the 6: Arup created a 3D building model crucial to
building required specific consideration for planning such a highly complex building, which The drainage from the highest level
3.
building functionality and performance. needed to accommodate specialist equipment and containment laboratory is linked to a
Laboratories containing sensitive equipment all the associated building services packaged effluent treatment plant located in
needed to have high vibration control, and 7 & 8: Plant was housed predominantly in the the basement. This prevents any
through to handover. To achieve this a from the user groups fed into the final design. that was extended to all appropriate research basement and two interstitial floors. Two further contaminants entering the drainage system.
governance structure was developed for This had significant benefit to the client in spaces in order to provide greater floors of plant were located at the top of the building
decision-making. There were 23 user groups, assurance that the final construction would adaptability for future use. Controls
each with a dedicated lead who fed into a meet user needs. The building has extensive controls and an
senior user group. Scientists and operational In addition to domestic hot and cold water, energy management system with some
staff were drawn from across the institutes to The mock-up also allowed the contractor to special provision was required for separate 25,000 points, sophisticated diurnal lighting
develop the user requirements and brief. Arup trial its construction methods. This was laboratory hot and cold water, reverse five substations within the institute (each of control, as well as environmental,
managed the contractor to develop a full-scale particularly useful for planning services osmosis water, softened water for specialist these have two associated transformers ventilation and fire controls. Emissions from
mock-up of a typical laboratory and office coordination and construction of the high- equipment and water to support aquatic life. apiece). Back-up generation is provided by air stacks carrying exhaust from laboratories
area. Constructed off-site during the design containment laboratories. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen and compressed three 2.5MVA generation sets located in the were numerically modelled. These exhausts
stage, they were fully fitted out with air are among the gases distributed from a roof plant area. These are designed to take come from fume cupboards, the biological
equipment and user groups were able to visit Building services design central source. the entire essential load of the building and research facilities and the high-containment
the mock-ups. This gave an appreciation as to The building’s form and function were are configured so that should a generator laboratories – as well as the flue discharges
how their new work area looked and how they shaped by the significant service Due to the nature of the research carried out go offline, load can be shed and distributed from dual fuel boilers, combined heat and
would work within the space, encouraging the requirements. The 82,000m² facility consists in the building, particular attention was given across the remaining generators. 7. power plant and standby generators.
scientists to provide feedback. It also of four basement levels, including two to ensure resilience and redundancy within
improved success levels of achieving user interstitial plant floors, and eight levels above the engineering systems. There are four Laboratory areas Discharges from the building had to be in
sign-off at completion. Different types of ground, which contain laboratory, plant, independent electrical feeds to the building The general laboratory areas consist of compliance with the Clean Air Act and local
laboratory furniture were tested and input support, administration and amenity areas. from a primary St Pancras substation, and primary, shared secondary, dedicated authority requirements regarding
secondary and write-up areas, with contamination levels at street-level receptor
adaptability built into the building services points. To ensure no discharges were returned
3: General cross- design to accommodate changing scientific into the building through the fresh air intakes,
section through the
programmes. Arup’s Project Management a dispersion model was developed. The
building showing
plant and laboratory
team devised and led an adaptability numerical analysis reviewed the stack
layout strategy that recorded for the client the discharge, flue dilation and concentration
building services system capacity, furniture levels, confirming that the discharge from the
4: A full-scale
laboratory mock-up
layouts and options for future change. The 32 large extract air stacks and thermal flues
created off-site for design for the laboratory areas was was compliant with emissions requirements.
user group testing adaptable, with standardised room layouts
5: A finished
that can be readily reconfigured as the Biological research facilities
laboratory in use sciences evolve. Connection points were The biological research facilities are located
by scientists installed above the ceilings with capacity for in the basement, along with most of the
additional power, data, gas and water high-containment laboratories. Although not
services to support future technologies. high-containment, the biological research
4. 5. 8.
facilities are still subject to considerable scope, also needed to be completed and Conclusion
scrutiny by the Home Office and various external approvals obtained from the Health Francis Crick’s Nobel Prize showed how
government agencies. These facilities have and Safety Executive, the Home Office and collaboration between disciplines can
significant ventilation requirements and were the local authority, to allow occupation. significantly aid scientific research. The
designed to be capable of achieving 20 air Arup developed a comprehensive handover Francis Crick Institute continues to foster
changes per hour. plan that set out detailed requirements to this collaborative spirit, both in terms of the
be achieved by the contractor prior to layout of the building, and in the way the
These facilities incorporate stringent odour practical completion, as well as the project team worked together to project
control and ventilation regimes. Odour interfaces with the client-supplied manage, design and build the institute. The
modelling was conducted using numerical and equipment and provisions for client project team’s collaboration has also reaped
empirical testing of facility waste and feed inspections, familiarisation and training. rewards: the institute has secured BREEAM
materials on exhaust streams. This was incorporated in the construction Excellent accreditation, a particularly
contract to minimise risk and allow a notable accolade given the nature and size
As the facility accommodates advanced successful handover. of this heavily serviced building.
scientific equipment, including electron
microscopes, temperature control was
required to within ±0.1°C over a period of one
hour while maintaining airflow at low Authors Anna Coppel, Marc Crompton, Tim Crow, James
velocity. This was achieved by designing a Steve Berry was the Project Manager and the Davison, Grzegorz Delikat, Jennifer Dimambro,
specialist three-stage air conditioning system. building service design team lead. He is an Vipul Dudhaiya, Ryan Dunne, Mike Durtnall, Sam
Associate Director in the London office. Dust, Adam East, Mike Ebsworth, Stuart Edwards,
Controlling costs Max Eyre, Bronwyn Field, Elizabeth Fletcher,
Richard Foster, Malcolm Fullard, Rafal Gawlowski,
Comprehensive value engineering studies Andrew Harrison was the Project Director for
Steve Gilchrist, Jerell Gill, Vullnet Gjakolli, Ben
were led by Arup, together with the the building services element of the project. He is
Glover, Artur Gorlovsky, Milan Graovac, Blair Gray,
contractor, Laing O’Rourke. These a Director in the London office and the firm’s
global science and industry business leader. Tony Greenfield, Ross Griffiths, Amaury Guillais,
demonstrated the value of a pre-assembled Shane Haines, Kori Hamilton, Andrew Harrison,
modular approach to much of the building Clodagh Ryan led the project management Naveed Hassan, Mike Hastings, Malcolm Heath,
services owing to the challenging construction services related to the building services. She is David Hewlett, Simon Humphreys, John Hunt, Jay
programme and constrained site. Arup worked an Associate Director in the London office. Hussain, Helen Jackson, Lucas Janssen, Richard
with the contractor to accommodate the Jeffs, Rishi Jobanputra, Chris John, Ian Johnson,
modular construction, factoring this into early Richard Smith was the lead mechanical Andrew Jones, Mario Kaiser, Pawel Karwat,
designs and reviewing proposals. engineer and is an Associate Director in the Joanna Kennedy, Peter Kinson, Simon Lee, David
London office. Lester, Mark Van Lith, Gareth Lloyd, Jenna Lobb,
Michael Lorimer, Jacek Madej, Andrew Marks,
Arup used a comprehensive 3D model, which Thomas Marr, Nazir Mawjee, Keith Mccall, Laura
was passed to the contractor to assist them. Catherine Wells was the Project Manager for
Mccann, Andrew McConachie, Ross Mills, Rayna
This was used for clash detection and routing, the overall project management and contract
Mistry, Kalpana Nepaul, Claudia Newsam, Pamela
administration element. She is an Associate
as well as to review how the services would be Nwaneri, Oliver O’Brien, Ed Oelman, Sebastian
Director in the London office.
installed – critical for such a heavily serviced Oleksiak, Alberto Padilla-Peinado, Jessica Parsley,
building. This information was tagged to assets Julie Wood was Project Director for the overall
Steve Pennington, James Perou, Charlotte Perry,
within the building and given to the client’s project management and contract administration
Hugh Pidduck, Mathura Ponnuthurai, Garry Porter,
Facility Management team at handover. element. She is a director in the London office
Anthony Proctor, Simon Rainsbury, Craig Reid,
Daniel Reid, Marcin Rerak, Charles Richardson,
and the firm’s global skills leader for programme
Kat Roberts, Michael Roberts, Alice Robertshaw,
9. The contractor incorporated more than 4,000 and project management.
Kathrine Rusling, Adam Russo, Clodagh Ryan,
pre-assembled building services modules, Stefan Sadokierski, Jodh Sahambi, Peter Samain,
along with a further 2,000+ prefabricated Project credits
Demetri Serghiou, Jamie Shantonas, Celia Smith,
sections of pipework, containment and Client Francis Crick (UK Centre for Medical Richard Smith, Thomas Smith, Michal Smolicki,
valve assemblies, within the building Research and Innovation) Yeside Sogunro, Andrew Somerville, John Steele,
services systems. Architects HoK/PLP and BMJ Hannah Stevenson, David Stoker, Jon Stokes,
Cost Consultant Turner and Townsend Jiaxi Sun, Glen Swinney, Joanna Tolloczko
Handover Structural Engineer AKT II Theodore, Mark Togher, Christopher Tolmie, Gary
The client’s objective was to start moving Main Contractor Laing O’Rourke Towens, Mutlu Ucuncu, Mike Underhay, Gregory
staff in and operate the facility immediately Project Manager and MEP Engineer Arup: Visscher, Gary Walker, Ricky Watcham, Oliver
Davar Abi-Zadeh, Michael Adams, Jim Aitken, Webber, Catherine Wells, Annabel West, David
following handover. Demonstrating correct
Christian Allison, Stuart Allison, Luke Bannar- West, Antaeus Wheatley, Will Whitby, Gordon
performance of building systems and Wills, Marcin Wojewski, Chris Wood, Julie Wood,
Martin, Alan Beadle, Steven Berry, Francesco
compliance of building construction with Biancelli, Martyn Biss, Nicolas Bittner, Stephanie Jeff Yuen, Eduard Van Zyl.
the client’s requirements was essential to Black, Dora Boese, Miroslaw Bogusz, Bartosz
achieve practical completion of a project Borowicz, Anita Bramfitt, Darren Briggs, Damian Image credits
9 & 10: The completed building enables that incorporates complex environmental Bronowski, Andrew Brooks, Nathan Bryce, Kevin 1, 2: Paul Carstairs
collaboration between scientists of different conditions and controls. Integration of the Burke, Kevin P Burke, Keith Butler, Lee Carter, 3, 4, 6: Arup
disciplines by encouraging interaction client’s specialist equipment, which was Greg Chandler, James Connell, Shane Cooney, 5, 7-10: Paul Grundy
in shared spaces installed outside the main contractor’s
10.
Pushing the boundaries of 3D printing Every April, the global design industry
descends upon Milan for the world’s best
known design fair.
At the end of Salone del Mobile, the entire
structure was dismantled within five days,
packed up and moved to a permanent
location, leaving no trace of its short
In the lead up to the 2018 event, the existence on the Piazza Cesare Beccaria as
organisers of Salone del Mobile – the everyday life resumed in the city.
A project that started as a design fair challenge has the potential to furniture fair at the centre of Milan Design
speed up the progress of 3D-printed buildings in Europe and beyond Week – published a manifesto calling for The future of construction
designers to up their game when it came to Over the past few years, governments and
Authors Guglielmo Carra and Luca Stabile tackling the global challenge of sustainability. industry bodies around the world have
hailed off-site manufacturing as the future of
With this in mind, Arup worked with Italian construction. The large-scale fabrication of
practice CLS Architetti to create a temporary building components in factories ahead of
installation that went on to win the festival’s assembly on site has the potential to
Best Sustainability award, which celebrates revolutionise the way our built environment
the project that puts ethics and sustainability is produced by speeding up the construction
at the centre of design. What started as a plan process and improving quality. It also has
to build a wall using 3D printing for an the added benefit of a more controlled and
industrial building evolved into the first safe environment for workers than the
3D-printed concrete house constructed in the average building site.
EU, and one of the first in the world made
using a portable robot manipulator. The technology used to 3D-print concrete
buildings is still a step behind that of
3D Housing 05 – a 100m² structure with off-site construction, but it is arguably an
curved walls that enclose a living area, even more compelling commercial
bedroom, kitchen and bathroom – was built proposition, as it means the advantages of
on a busy square in Milan’s city centre in full industrial off-site production could be
public view. It took just 48 hours to create the brought to the construction site itself.
house’s 35 concrete modules, each 3.2m high, Greater flexibility in building shape is also
which were printed in 60 to 90 minutes. The possible, allowing more complex shapes
completed structure, which was assembled in and structures such as double curved walls.
two weeks, weighed about 50 tons, or 1,000kg Digital plans could be used to print modules
per linear metre of printed wall. in situ, pushing the speed and efficiency of
3.
Making it a reality
Europe is believed to have fallen behind other Building a temporary structure to
parts of the world in 3D-printed construction demonstrate a technology’s potential does not
because of its building regulations. With 3D of course necessarily translate to the real
Housing 05, the Arup team wanted to change world. The installation in Milan, as it was
that. More specifically, the aim was to temporary, was not required to meet some of
demonstrate to the public the technology’s the regulations and codes that would apply to
flexibility, speed and potential to build at a permanent building. In addition, the reality
4. scale, paving the way for its use in real-world is that 3D printing is currently not cheap.
projects in the near future.
The robot is priced at €349,000 and 3D
construction to its limits, as was the case with relative ease, either for use elsewhere Design and fabrication Housing 05 cost about €800/m2 to build,
with this project. or to recycle the basic material. Also, as Arup, collaborating with architects CLS costing €80,000 in total, excluding fit-out and
artificial intelligence technology develops, Architetti, provided structural engineering fixtures. This might be attractive to a client or
In such a scenario, every centimetre of several printing robots could work in and materials consulting services. While an architect looking to create a customised
material produced is used and placed exactly combination quickly and efficiently Arup had previously done research into the structure with complex and unusual shapes;
where needed without the requirement for without human intervention. potential of robotics in 3D concrete printing, for example, all the modules that made up 3D
formwork. This minimises materials, this was the first time the firm had used the Housing 05 were double-curved. However,
reduces waste and conserves energy. Using Today, there are still only a few examples of technology to create a real building. The this level of expense is not yet competitive
digital technology, the structure can be 3D-printed buildings erected directly on site. design process commenced in January 2018, compared with the cost of traditional methods
analysed and the design refined before it is At present, China is the furthest ahead in the leaving just 90 days to plan and complete the of construction. This means it is not yet
rendered in real life and without the risk of race to complete 3D-printed buildings of scheme. With no time for test runs, the team’s realistic to use the technology to build at scale
miscommunication or human error. several storeys. The designs for these tend to capability would be demonstrated for the first or in contexts such as refugee camps and
mimic those of traditional houses, with 90° time live on site, with no room for error. disaster zones, where temporary but cheap
Such structures, designed to the principles angles, rather than the complex shapes Arup buildings need to be quickly erected.
of the circular economy, can be dismantled helped create in Milan. Conscious of the risk, the Arup team spent
the months leading up to Milan Design This is partly because the process itself is 7.
Week conducting simulations to ensure that complex, with the flow of concrete needing
– at least in theory – the process was to be in sync with the robot’s printing speed.
5 & 6: 3D Housing 05 was built in Milan’s busy
Piazza Cesare Beccaria in just two weeks,
seamless. Arup used GSA, LS-DYNA® and The main expense is materials, which technology to design structures that withstand
Rhinoceros 3D software to develop the account for approximately 60% of the cost dynamic loads. Assessments are currently Authors
demonstrating the flexibility of this technology,
design, with the 3D model used on site of a 3D-printed structure. For the house in underway of the engineering and materials Guglielmo Carra was the Project Manager.
which can create distinctive shapes such as
He is a Senior Engineer in the Milan office
curved walls with ease during the construction process, all of which Milan, CyBe Construction provided a considerations, with a view to completing
and is Arup’s Europe Region Materials
helped visualise and resolve issues in concrete mix with performance set to meet such a project before the end of 2019. Skills Leader.
advance. Before starting on site, the team the robot’s features, therefore ensuring an
needed to consider factors such as the curing optimised result. To bring the cost down The widespread adoption of 3D printing Luca Stabile was the Project Director. He is
time of the concrete, the intricacies of substantially, different materials for 3D in construction will require a systemic a Director in the Milan office and is the
3D-printing unusual shapes, and the printing need to be investigated. Arup is change within the industry, rather than building practice leader for Arup in Italy.
reinforcement that would allow each panel exploring the possibility of reusing recycled just technology enhancements. Traditional
to be lifted out when the house was concrete, as well as experimenting with construction sites also need to adapt if Project credits
dismantled at the end of the design fair. natural materials – such as cellulose – and they are to become suitable and safe for Architect CLS Architetti
natural fibres, which would also mean rapid, factory-style production. Neither Contractor CyBe Construction
Structural engineer Arup: Guglielmo Carra,
What made the project possible in a busy materials could be sourced locally. The more is the regulatory environment nor the
Daniele Dozio, Eleonora Lai, Luca Stabile.
central Milan square was the use of a robotic buildings that are constructed in this way, supply chain currently designed to take
manipulator, mounted on a movable base and the cheaper the technology will become. into account the specific technologies and Image credits
caterpillar tracks, to fabricate the components processes required to build in this manner. 1, 5: Arup/Luca Orlandini
directly on the pavement of the square. While Following the success of this project, Arup Having completed this landmark project, 2-4, 7: Arup
most 3D printers are large, fixed devices aims to build the first permanent two-storey Arup is now leading efforts to transform 6: Arup/Giorgio Giunta
supported by heavy infrastructure, Dutch 3D-printed building in Europe. At present, the industry so that 3D-printed buildings
company CyBe Construction’s RC 3Dp is no such structures exist in Europe or the can go from being a niche today to
smaller and weighs just three tons. US because of the challenge of using this commonplace tomorrow.
5. 6.
1.
A new phase for transport in Singapore By 2030, the Singapore government aims
for 80% of households to be within a
10-minute walk of a metro station. A key
to the public. Downtown Line Stage 3
(DTL3) comprises 16 stations linked by
21km of tunnels. It connects the central
1: Bencoolen Station opened to the public
after completion in October 2017
part of the strategy for achieving this is business district with the eastern residential
a significant expansion of the city-state’s areas of Bedok and Tampines.
One of the most technically challenging underground projects ever undertaken in Singapore, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, a vital
part of its transport infrastructure that Arup’s involvement in the project began in
Downtown Line delivered more than just a new transport link is used by more than three million people 2008, when the firm undertook alignment
every day. design for the entire length of DTL3. A year
Authors Charles Im, Gordon Lee and Michael McGowan later, Arup was appointed to carry out the
In October 2017, the final phase of the latest full engineering design for Package A of
line to be added to the network was opened DTL3, through the historic districts of Fort
HDB Block 34
State Courts
Key
Arup worked on the early phases of the DTL up an in-depth understanding of the ease of access. This was vital because of
Stage 2, carrying out the reference design challenges involved in designing, building the built-up density of the corridor. For
Thomson-East Coast Line for the 10km stretch of tunnels and stations and operating such a mass transit system, example, the tunnels between Fort Canning
from Chinatown to Botanic Gardens. Arup and how these could be resolved. and Bencoolen stations were constrained
North South Line
was subsequently appointed to develop a by existing MRT lines, and passed directly
concept design for DTL Stage 3, including For the concept alignment study, Arup below a national monument, the National
2.
Circle Line station location and alignment within all developed a comprehensive horizontal Museum of Singapore. The tunnels had to
the existing under- and above-ground and vertical alignment of the tunnels, pass over the North East Line, with a 1.3m
infrastructure. This allowed Arup to build considering buildability, operations and clearance, then under the North South and
North East Line
Circle Lines, with clearances of 8.7m and
Canning, Bencoolen and Jalan Besar, and 2: Downtown Line set against the 3.2m respectively. The tunnels between
the neighbourhoods of Bendemeer and pre-existing MRT system and planned lines East West Line Fort Canning and Chinatown stations had to
Geylang Bahru. The scope included the pass through a very narrow corridor between
Downtown Line – Stage 1
design of a station in each of those five the State Courts and a public Housing and
locations, along with 5km of connecting Development Board (HDB) building,
Downtown Line – Stage 2
twin tunnels and associated escape shafts. requiring the tunnels to be in a stacked
configuration. At one point in this corridor,
Downtown Line – Stage 3
The line’s central location means it runs challenges, while maximising ridership the MRT tunnels had to be constructed a
under a dense, complex mix of modern and the benefits of a mass transit system for mere 640mm away from the foundations
and historic buildings, making it the city’s commuters and businesses. Arup carried of one structure.
deepest underground link. It also weaves out more than 1,000 building impact
under and over various existing subterranean assessments along the proposed route, environment. In doing so, it has set a Following this alignment design, Arup was
infrastructure, including telecommunications, with design solutions suggested and precedent for sustainability and innovation appointed, as part of a competitive tendering
fibre optics, power, traffic and street implemented to navigate the varied for future rail developments in the city-state. process, to carry out the full engineering
lighting cables; water and gas pipes; and design constraints, including developing station and tunnel design for DTL3 Package
three existing MRT lines. In addition to the concept for temporarily diverting the Alignment A, running from Chinatown to Geylang
those obstacles, the line drops below the Singapore River during construction. The latest addition to Singapore’s MRT Bahru. The scope of design work included
Singapore River and skirts arterial roads and system, the 42km Downtown Line is the infrastructure, alignment, geotechnics,
underground road tunnels. This combination Arup worked with Singapore’s Land longest underground and driverless rail tunnels, civil and structural engineering,
4: The alignment is
of design constraints made it one of the most Transport Authority (LTA) to develop line in Singapore and was designed to link acoustics, traffic impact assessment,
so fine between Fort
technically challenging underground safe, buildable designs that were not only the downtown district with commuters in the Canning and Chinatown
environmental impact assessment and
projects ever undertaken in Singapore. innovative but improved the overall north-western and central-eastern parts of stations that at one geographic information systems.
productivity of the construction works, the city. The line was developed in three point the tunnels pass
When Arup took on the project, it was while pushing the boundaries of ground stages. Stage 1 opened in 2013, Stage 2 in just 640mm from the During the preliminary design stage, studies
conscious of the need to tackle all these engineering methods in an urbanised 2015 and Stage 3 in 2017. foundations of a building were carried out to eliminate, minimise and
4.
Cripple siding
10. 11.
embankment and the temporary bridge were structure for the siding. This was a design 10: The cripple sidings for temporary train storage provided the necessary high level of wall The monitored ground and building roadside parking was removed at Waterloo
removed, and the diversion canal filled in, and operations first for Singapore. were placed within Fort Canning Station rather restraint against deflections and ground movements were within acceptable limits. Street, and Selegie Road, previously a
restoring the river to its original route. than along the tunnels, which significantly movements in this critical area. The one-way street, was made two-way.
Jalan Besar Station reduced costs station, measuring 170m long, 23m wide Bencoolen Station These adjustments ensured the extra traffic
Fort Canning Station The construction of the four-level Jalan and 35m deep, was constructed using At rail level, Bencoolen Station is 43m volumes along existing streets were
Located within a constrained site on the Besar Station was particularly challenging. top-down methods, further enhancing below ground, and is the deepest accommodated even with the closure of
north side of the Singapore River bank The station is immediately adjacent to movement control. underground station in Singapore. It Bencoolen Street.
between Liang Court and the CTE, this conservation shophouses that are founded required the temporary closure of a nearby
station extends towards the southern end in soft soils and required retention. The major street because of the complexity of Following completion of the works, a
of the historical Fort Canning Hill. Station proximity to these heritage buildings posed construction work required within the tight redesigned Bencoolen streetscape was
Entrance A is located next to the CTE significant space constraints for the works, construction programme. This station depth constructed with wider pavements, an
tunnel, with a minimum clearance of as well as prompting concerns that the deep was required to avoid the existing North all-day bus lane, dedicated cycle paths
approximately 5m. A robust design excavation (>30m) could cause damaging South Line and Circle Line tunnels and more bicycle parking. This ‘car-lite’
solution comprising propped diaphragm vibrations or movement to these buildings. immediately west of the station. The station streetscape is one of the first in Singapore.
walls and top-down construction methods comprises six levels and is 190m long.
was required to control movement of the During the design stage, Arup carried Critically, it is only 23m wide in order to fit Steel fibre reinforced concrete
sensitive CTE. An extensive impact out pre-construction inspections to establish within the streetscape corridor. The Arup Arup proposed the use of steel fibre
assessment was necessary to demonstrate the existing condition of all structures within team not only developed a system of reinforced concrete as permanent lining
that the effect of the main station 250m of the station excavation. This escalators and lifts that allowed rapid for a section of the bored tunnels of DTL3,
excavation works on the existing CTE determined if there were any pre-existing and seamless vertical transportation of a system not previously used for tunnels in
tunnel was acceptable. building defects and what type of passengers from the concourse to platform South-East Asia. The decision to use this
foundations were in place supporting the level, but also designed the interiors to method was made to reduce the need for
Fort Canning cripple sidings buildings. Building impact assessments make this journey memorable. labour to fix and place traditional steel
Arup designed the cripple siding, which were conducted to predict the potential reinforcement, saving time and costs during
is an extra track that is used to facilitate effects of the station work and show that During construction, Bencoolen Street lining fabrication, resulting in increased
withdrawal or storage of trains, to be located impacts were acceptable. was closed to traffic. Arup prepared a construction productivity. The use of fibres
within Fort Canning Station. Typically, microsimulation model of the road network in concrete also enhances durability and
cripple sidings are located along the tunnel Shophouses that required precautionary surrounding the site, incorporating all improves concrete performance under fire
length, but given the very tight site protection had propping systems installed junctions and other relevant infrastructure loads. Using less material is also more
constraints along DTL3, there was no for the façade and were monitored closely such as car parks and traffic exit points. This sustainable: a typical steel ratio for a tunnel
suitable site available between stations. during construction. allowed the traffic pattern to be simulated to in Singapore averages about 120kg/m³,
Arup’s solution to locate the cripple sidings ensure that the existing road network could compared with a steel fibre ratio of 30-40kg/
on each side of the Fort Canning Station The earth retaining and stabilising system carry the increase in traffic volumes with the m³. Arup developed the approach for testing
platforms made the station wider, but at the station comprised a combination temporary Bencoolen Street road closure. the material and its performance, as well as
ultimately saved significant construction of 1.2m and 0.8m thick diaphragm walls, proving the feasibility of using steel fibre
cost by removing the need to find additional crosswalls, ground improvement and The surrounding road network required concrete in underground construction in
land to construct a discrete cut and cover concrete walers. This retaining system a number of junction upgrades. In addition, Singapore. This required Arup to engage
12. 13.
2.
1: Opened in The Bloomberg Center was the first production offsetting the building’s
September 2017, the academic building completed on Cornell consumption. Cornell Tech, a partnership
Bloomberg Center Tech’s new New York City campus. The between the Technion-Israel Institute of
was the first
building has the aspiration of net-zero Technology and Cornell University, won a
academic building
on Cornell Tech’s
energy use as part of the campus’s competition run by New York City to secure
new campus on broader sustainability programme the site for the development of a campus.
Roosevelt Island and has achieved the highest LEED
2: The Bloomberg
Platinum certification. Collaboration
Center (left) and Tata Cornell Tech was willing to change the typical
Innovation Center Through close collaboration with Cornell form and function of an academic building to
(right) under Tech and Morphosis Architects, Arup pushed promote collaboration and innovation and set
construction the boundaries of what could be achieved in new standards in building performance and
creating such a large-scale, low-carbon sustainability. Flexible spaces were designed
energy-efficient building. to encourage collaboration, and open-plan
offices were adopted.
Arup provided multidisciplinary services,
including: structural, mechanical, electrical, The culture of collaboration that the finished
plumbing and fire protection engineering; building needed to facilitate was also to be
acoustic and audio-visual consulting; found in the project team during the design
communications, façade and lighting/ process. Arup worked in partnership with
daylighting design; security; and Cornell Tech and Morphosis Architects
smart building consulting. In addition, with the aim of creating a net-zero building
Arup’s responsibilities included key that would serve as a model for future
sustainability services, LEED advice and development on the campus. This
net-zero-energy goal consulting for the collaboration was essential to meet the energy
160,000ft² (15,000m²) facility. efficiency goals, and Arup’s multidisciplinary
design philosophy helped with the delivery.
Roosevelt Island development
The new university campus is located on the Sustainability
two-mile-long Roosevelt Island in New York The aim was to create a building that is
City’s East River. The campus had its genesis low-carbon, energy-efficient, healthy and
in an initiative of the administration of then pleasant to be in. Throughout the design, Arup
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to evaluated opportunities for reducing energy
promote the city as a hub for tech innovation. demand through internal load reductions; for
The development on Roosevelt Island example, through the use of low-energy
represented a great opportunity for the city, as workstations and lighting, energy recovery
large sites such as this do not become systems and design for reduced solar heat gain.
available very often.
To achieve this, the façade and roof canopy
The city focused on a net-zero-energy were used to limit solar heat gains, thereby
development, with on-site energy lowering the amount of energy needed within
1.
8: Michael Riedel’s
sprinklers), satisfied code requirements and black and white
met both the architectural and artistic inkjet print graphic
requirements for the space. decorates the café
ceiling and tables
Structural design 9 & 10: The feature
The building has a single-level basement staircase is located
under part of its footprint and is founded on above the campus
footings bearing on rock (with rock anchors) plaza and forms
and mini-piles socketed into rock. These act the apex of the
against uplift from groundwater – a key building’s canopy
requirement, as in the event of flooding the support. Its central
resulting hydrostatic uplift pressure on the spine truss provides
structural support to
basement would exceed the building’s
the canopy
permanent weight.
3 4
5 6
1. Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, Hong Kong: Arup; 2. V&A Grain Silo Complex, Cape Town, South Africa: Arup/Tessa Brunette; 3. Francis Crick Institute, London,
UK: Paul Carstairs; 4. 3D Housing 05, Milan, Italy: Arup; 5. Singapore Downtown Line: Arup; 6. Bloomberg Center at Cornell Tech, New York, USA: Iwan Bann.
Front cover and inside cover images: V&A Grain Silo Complex, Cape Town, South Africa: Arup/Tessa Brunette.
Published by Arup
13 Fitzroy Street
London W1T 4BQ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7636 1531
All articles ©Arup 2018
www.arup.com