What’s Happening?
Water Cube triumphs
consumption, the building incurs minimal
operating costs. It captures 20% of the incident
solar energy, requires 90% less potable water
than an equivalent structure, and uses 55% less
artifi cial lighting.
Dr Geoff Robinson, Chairman of the judging
panel, commented: “Its breathtaking architecture
is matched by engineering innovations in
fabrication, materials and environmental
management, and a project schedule that many
regarded as impossible.”
The team’s revolutionary use of
multidisciplinary virtual prototyping and a
holistic approach to building design represents
an industry milestone. No longer does
each new building need to serve as its own
prototype. Instead, the technologies used to
design the Water Cube will allow the building
industry to match manufacturing sectors like
the automotive industry in terms of cost,
quality, and reliability.
Engineering, design and consulting fi rm a lightweight structure, based on the The team’s new approach enables all
Arup has won the 40th annual MacRobert geometry of soap bubbles and clad in a engineering disciplines to use the same data
Award, which celebrates engineering space-age plastic material called ETFE. sets, to work in 3D and to tune a new building
innovation. The Award was given for the With 22,000 individual pieces and 12,000 for optimal performance and also model the
visionary Beijing Aquatic Centre, known joints, the polyhedral space frame is way people move around inside it.
as the Water Cube, and the setting for extremely energy-effi cient and possibly London’s Science Museum will be showcasing
swimming events at last year’s Olympic the most earthquake-resistant building the Award fi nalists in a special display. The free
Games. built to date. exhibition runs until Spring 2010. The display
Conceptually, the Water Cube is Setting new benchmarks for will give visitors a unique opportunity to see
an insulated greenhouse made from environmental impact and resource the prize-winning technology for themselves.
Mother Nature’s cure
The Copper Development Association “Copper has got a great attribute,
(CDA) is responding to clinical confi rmation that is, apart from the fact that it
that copper surfaces reduce levels of micro- kills bugs. It has great fabricity and
organisms in a hospital environment by that means you can make it into
offering free technical consultations with its all sorts of things. You can cast it
product development advisor at a series of into a complicated shape like a tap,
antimicrobial copper surgeries. then machine complex geometry
The Selly Oak clinical trial results showed into it very easily. Copper alloys can
that copper surfaces had 90-100% fewer be fabricated using hand or power
micro-organisms on them compared to presses, allowing for modern low
standard products. CDA Director, Angela infection designs with fewer sharp
Vessey, explains: “Since the Selly Oak results corners.
were announced, we have begun to see “Manufacturers who are more
both demand for healthcare products familiar with other materials, such as
which exploit copper’s natural antimicrobial stainless steel or aluminium, welcome
properties and interest from the supply a practical and frank discussion about Group, then please contact bryony.samuel@
chain in responding to this demand.” where and how to use copper,” said Mark. copperdev.co.uk. The Copper Development
Antimicrobial Product Development Surgeries will be held in central Association also offers numerous free
Consultant Mark Tur has a good London, starting in July (dates to be resources on its website www.copperinfo.
understanding of the queries raised by announced). If you are interested in co.uk/antimicrobial, including technical
companies now wishing to turn to copper booking a free consultation or wish to support on all aspects of copper use via an
alloys. join the Antimicrobial Copper Interest online enquiry system.
10
www.ied.org.uk
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