A Monument To Engineering Excellence

摘要

The Spire of Dublin project originated in 1998 when architects Ian Ritchie Architects (IRArch) with Arup as engineering advisors won the open international design competition for the monument. Arup collaborated with IRArch during the competition stage and undertook the detailed structural, geotechnical, services (mechanical, electrical and public health) and wind engineering design and supervised the on-site construction activities. The Flint and Neill Partnership acted as independent checkers on behalf of Arup, while the specialist and aviation lighting design was undertaken by others. The Spire is supported on the reinforced concrete walls of a subgrade chamber used to house the electrical and drainage systems. The chamber, in turn, is supported by eight steel-reinforced concrete piles that measure 900 mm in diameter and anchored into the bedrock 20 m below grade. Once the piles were in place, the pile cap was then mono-lithically connected to the bottom of the concrete chamber. The structure required a soil excavation of approximately 8 metres diameter by 5 metres depth and involved the excavation and removal of approximately 750 tonnes of material. The support piles were installed using specialist-drilling rigs. A 7 metre diameter circular base of bronze is laid at the base of the monument, which will be flush with the surrounding paved area. There is an underground access and maintenance chamber to accommodate electrical supplies and drainage equipment.