ENGINEERING INSIGHTS | At Marina Bay Sands, around 1.4 million litres of water sit almost 200 metres above ground, across three towers that do not move in exactly the same way.
ENGINEERING INSIGHTS | At Marina Bay Sands, around 1.4 million litres of water sit almost 200 metres above ground, across three towers that do not move in exactly the same way.
Supporting that weight is only part of the engineering challenge. The pool also has to accommodate movement.
In its technical account of the project, Arup describes how differential movement between the towers had to be considered under gravity, wind and seismic loads. The SkyPark incorporates separate structural zones and movement joints to accommodate relative movement.
Pool specialist Natare Corporation constructed the main pool as three separate stainless steel shells, with four movement joints beneath the main pools. More than 500 adjustable support points allow the pool system to be relevelled as the towers settle differently over time.
That becomes particularly important along its 146 metre infinity edge. If the level changes, the way water spills along that edge changes with it.
The same coordination challenge carries into building services design at Goldfish & Bay.
Pipework, drainage, waterproofing and equipment connections all interact with the structure around th
A movement joint only works as intended when the services crossing it are designed to accommodate that movement too.
Technical references: Arup, The Arup Journal: Marina Bay Sands Special Issue (2012); Natare Corporation Pools, Marina Bay Sands Pool project case study.
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