Shanghai World Expo 2010

Preparing Shanghai for the World Expo

Arup has played an important role in preparing host cities for global events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. For the Shanghai World Expo the firm worked on the masterplanning of the Expo site and successfully delivered some notable pavilions.

Masterplanning

In partnership with Richard Rogers Partnership (now Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners), Arup won first prize in the masterplanning competition for the Expo site, a picturesque stretch along the city’s Huangpu River near the historic Bund. The plan incorporates extensive renewable and low-energy solutions to offset substantial new demands.

Denmark Pavilion

Arup was the designer for structural, mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) for the Denmark Pavilion, a continuous geometric loop incorporating natural ventilation and daylighting. The pavilion utilises a ‘hidden support’ to create a ‘floating’ building that allows freedom of movement in the exhibition area.

Singapore Pavilion

Bearing a striking resemblance to a music box, Arup’s structural engineers realised the structure of the Singapore Pavilion with only four columns of different profiles. The firm’s building services and sustainable design teams emphasised the use of natural ventilation and minimal construction materials for the façade and mechanical and electrical equipment.

Korea Pavilion

Arup was also the structural engineer for the Korea Pavilion, an amalgamation of ‘sign’ and ‘space’ constructed mainly in steel. The clever structural arrangement effectively lifts the whole building a level above ground and allows visitors movement with little obstruction. The design of the foundations ensures easy disassembly of the pavilion once the Expo concludes.

Other projects

Arup provided structural design review for the UK Pavilion, a dazzling object formed by more than 60,000 slim and transparent rods containing seeds of different plants, and was invited to join the expert advisory panel for the façade design of the China Pavilion.

Events and activities

With ‘Better city better life’ as its theme, the Shanghai World Expo is expecting over 70m visitors between May and October 2010. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the firm’s Liverpool office, Arup is supporting the Liverpool Pavilion in the Urban Best Practice Area, and will also be involved in a series of events and activities throughout the Expo.