Asia Pacific & Middle East NEWS
Singapore and in the wider region. Scott Brownrigg launched its Singapore studio back in 2013, with an official launch at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioners Residence. Five years on the move to its new offices reinforces the success of the Practice’s Singapore operation, which over the last three years has seen the completion and opening of its first project – the University of Reading Malaysia, in EduCity and the appointment of Mr Raymond Hoe, who leads the studio. Through the strong leadership of Mr Hoe, the team is growing, and has most recently seen the appointment of Project Director Mr Will Ringer, who joins the studio from the UK. Tasked with driving t h e A d v a n c e d Te c h n o l o g i e s S e c t o r within Singapore and the wider region, Mr Ringer said of his appointment: “The Advanced Technology sector focuses on the transformative impact of technology on cities and architecture; we believe that this will be a key differentiator for Scott Brownrigg here in Singapore and the wider region. It is already gaining momentum with a number of live projects and a pipeline of exciting opportunities.” The Advanced Technology Sector currently has a number of data centre projects including one for China Mobile in Tai Seng. Wider work from underway from the Singapore studio includes a medical facility for the University of Newcastle in EduCity, Johor, set to complete in October, hotels - Park Inn by Radisson in North Luzon, Philippines and Vietnamese hotels - Bay Capitol Hotel in Danang, and Pearl Resort in Hoi An. The team also worked on the design competition for an international school in Manila - Everest Academy. Recently completed projects by the Singapore team include the Newcastle Research and Innovation Institute for Newcastle University within the Devan Nair’s Institute at Jurong East and DODID data centre on Tagore Road. Of the move, Director Mr Hoe said: “The Singapore studio is undergoing a period of growth, as a result of a number of key wins within the region. The move to these new offices provides a more central, strategic location, and enables us to further develop our expertise and offering to clients.” The studio’s 5-year plan focuses upon the key expertise areas of Advanced Te c h n o l o g i e s , O f f i c e s , H o s p i t a l i t y, Education, Transport and Aviation.
Aurecon engineers the Constellation at The Founder’s Memorial in UAE Abu Dhabi, UAE – In Abu Dhabi, Aurecon has engineered an unconventional public artwork to celebrate the life, legacy and values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. To commemorate Sheikh Zayed’s 100th birthday, the UAE unveiled The Founder’s Memorial to honour the founding father in 2018, thus creating a space where future generations can gain a deeper understanding of his legacy. Aurecon, was appointed to help bring the Memorial and the Memorial’s monumental centrepiece – the Constellation – to life. Designed by American renowned artist Ralph Helmick, the Constellation is a 3-D portrait of Sheikh Zayed, framed within a 30-metre tall prism-like pavilion that is open on two sides. The Sheikh’s well-known likeness was respectfully recreated with a pointillist array of 1,327 “floating” geometric elements anchored to 1,110 strands of 30 metres long cables. These elements comprise varying sizes of the five complex polyhedrons known as “Platonic solids”. As Sheikh Zayed is much beloved, every single solid had to be placed perfectly. This is the first time Helmick has designed a public art sculpture of this scale. In fact, this icon counts among one of the world’s largest public art installations. Aurecon’s design goal was to design a buildable solution and engineer the structure, cables and materials to allow Helmick to articulate his masterpiece. According to Steve Daniels, Aurecon’s Global Facades Leader, the challenge was in creating an overall design solution which could continue in parallel with the artist’s sculpture work. This resulted in a set of rules allowing structural design of the Constellation’s “frame” and cables to continue while still providing the artist with a ‘blank canvas’ upon which to work.
Photo: © Aurecon
NOV-DEC 2018 SEAB
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