Shanghai Expo Features World's Largest Membrane Roof

摘要

It has been widely reported that Expo 2010, which opened in May in Shanghai, China, will be one for the record books, as it will have the biggest budget and most spacious site of any world exposition in history. So it seems only fitting for such a record-setting event to also feature an engineering marvel that trumps all others like it: the world's largest membrane roof.rnThe roof has a total surface area of 65,000 m~2 and covers Expo Boulevard, the largest stand-alone structure at the show. With a length of 1,000 m and a width of 100 m, Expo Boulevard serves as the fair's central entrance and thus will welcome at least 350,000 visitors each day. Located amid the show's national and theme-based pavilions on the south side of the Huangpu River, it serves as a main axis for pedestrian traffic and provides 350,000 m~2 for transportation and commercial operations, including a subway connection, restaurants, and shops. The architecture firm SBA, based in Stuttgart, Germany, designed the building, which features two levels below grade, one level above grade, and a rooftop terrace.