Replicating the form and appearance of the rolling hills of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the 810,000-sq.-ft. City of Culture of Galicia cultural center will comprise six structures housed beneath an undulating roof covered with native stone. The roof system, designed by the New York City office of United Kingdom-based engineer Buro Happold, consists of steel decking supported by trusses set at various inclinations to allow the steel deck to warp and twist with the surrounding hills. Approximately 6 feet of concrete will cover the steel deck, as well as a waterproof membrane and stone pavers.
The future 11,840-sq.-ft. office complex and manufacturing plant for London-based glass treatment supplier Ritec International will utilize the company's own ClearShield self-cleaning glass to enhance visibility and reduce maintenance costs. Designed by London-based architect Geoffrey Reid Associates, the structure's glass exterior wall will feature a surface that, according to Ritec International, acts much like nonstick cookware products. Most pollutants that land on the glass cannot adhere to the surface as readily. Moreover, rainwater helps to wash away much of the dirt, while the rest of this can be washed away more easily.
Kahn do Brasil, the Brazilian subsidiary of Detroit-based A/E Albert Kahn Associates (AKA), has been commissioned to design a new 290,000-sq.-ft. medical office building and a 100,000-sq.-ft. inpatient expansion to Monte Sinai Hospital e Maternidade in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The $11.2 million project is significant for AKA, which is working to diversify its client base to markets worldwide.
