The US Institute of Structural Engineers meets annually to present the awards for the most unique constructions of the last 12 months. In this case, the building Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, has received the award for best structural art.
The jury has taken into account the building shape, but above all the chosen elements for building design. The impression is to find nothing but glass between the floor and the ceiling. Both Apple and Eckersley O'Callaghan & Arup, have been perfectly coordinated to offer the maximum expression of the idea of simplicity and minimalism.
The Institute of Structural Engineers is based on five points to decide who the award corresponds to.
Excellence- Features that place the structural engineering solution beyond the ordinary. Demonstrable examples of how the structural design allowed the project to meet or exceed customer expectations.
Creativity and innovation: examples of originality and the application of new and improved technologies and processes in structural design, particularly when these have led to greater efficiency and economy in the solution.
Elegance and details- Engineered structures that demonstrate technical and / or visual elegance, including attention to detail, or that contribute to the elegance of the overall design solution.
Sustainability: structural solutions that implement sustainable techniques and technologies, as demonstrated through efficiency, material specification, recycling and reuse, socio-economic factors, carbon reduction and other factors.
Value: economic viability and value for money in the structural solution, as well as non-financial value indicators.
The jury evaluates in the category where the Steve Jobs Theater, the ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Awarded for projects where it might otherwise have been an appropriate and worthwhile solution, it has been transformed by the vision and skill of the structural engineer into something exceptional.
But the most astonishing point for the judges has been the solution for cables and pipes, which are not observed anywhere.
This pavilion is the largest structure in the world supported solely by glass. It features a 47m carbon fiber roof, the largest of its kind, made up of 44 radial panels, which were assembled on site before being lifted, into position on a single platform. This 80-ton roof is supported by a 7m high glass cylinder, made up of glass panels, each consisting of four 12mm thick layers, which support the roof without any additional support.
The structural systems were designed so that the necessary ductwork, sprinkler piping, data, audio and security systems in the ceiling could be accommodated at the 30mm joints between the glass panes. As Cupertino is in a highly seismic zone, various strategies have been employed to protect the structure against seismic activity.
