Precision engineering with digital tools — Talk with Lucio Blandini
Channel: Werner Sobek
Date: 2020-10-05

Could the Kuwait International Airport (Terminal 2) herald the start of the next generation of airports?

Prof. Dr. Lucio Blandini (Managing Director and Partner at Werner Sobek) weighs in on the challenges over the course of the Engineering and Fabrication of the Complex Parametric Structure of the Kuwait International Airport. He further elaborates that the sophisticated design of Kuwait’s International Airport demanded a high level of precision regarding the interaction of complex digital tools, methods and constructional engineering. Due to its size with a considerable edge length of nearly 1,2km, a height of almost 25m, extending to a roof area of 320,000 m2 , the Airport was bound not only to overcome economic constraints, but also ecological constraints in a set time frame without compromising on competitiveness on the market and feasibility. The new terminal which has been designed by Foster + Partner is set for completion by 2022.

Könnte der internationale Flughafen von Kuwait (Terminal 2) den Beginn der nächsten Generation von Flug-häfen einläuten?
Prof. Dr. Lucio Blandini (Vorstand und Partner bei Werner Sobek) berichtet über die Herausforderungen im Verlauf der Entwicklung und Herstellung der komplexen parametrischen Struktur des Kuwait International Airport (Terminal 2). Er führt weiter aus, dass der anspruchsvolle Entwurf des Terminals ein hohes Maß an Präzision hinsichtlich des Zusammenspiels komplexer digitaler Werkzeuge, Methoden und der Bautechnik erforderte. Aufgrund seiner Größe, mit einer beträchtlichen Kantenlänge von fast 1,2 km, einer Höhe von bis zu 25 m und einer Dachfläche von 320.000 m2, musste der Flughafen nicht nur wirtschaftliche, sondern auch ökologische Engpässe in einem festgelegten Zeitrahmen überwinden, ohne an Wettbewerbsfähigkeit auf dem Markt und Realisierbarkeit einzubüßen. Der neue Terminal, welches von Foster + Partner entworfen wurde, soll bis 2022 fertiggestellt werden.

Architecture: Foster + Partners, London/Great Britain
Planning time: 2016 − 2020
Construction time: since 2017
Services by Werner Sobek:
Structural engineering of the main structure (including construction documents and concrete shop drawings), Facade engineering, BIM (LOD400 modelling of structure and facade components)
Client: Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait

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Werner Sobek is internationally synonymous with engineering, design, and sustainability. Our company is active across the globe and is home to more than 350 employees. Our staff originates from more than 40 countries and speaks just as many languages. We work on all kinds of structures and materials. We particu-larly pride ourselves on the sophisticated designs we develop for load-bearing structures, technical building services, and facades. Our aim is to create a built environment that is breathtakingly beautiful while also serving the interests of future generations. We want to make emissions-free structures for more people with less material by producing exceptional designs, innovative structural solutions, and holistic concepts that minimise our impact on the environment.

Werner Sobek collaborates with leading architects such as Christoph Ingenhoven, Barkow Leibinger, Henn, Helmut Jahn, Populous, Sauerbruch Hutton, Ole Scheeren, UNStudio, and Zaha Hadid Architects. We support architects, commissioning clients, contractors, and property developers at every stage of the construction process, ranging from the very first conceptual deliberations right through to execution planning and on-site quality assurance. Our interdisciplinary team also develops unique concepts that draw on our core competencies of engineering, design, and sustainability to create optimal, integrated solutions for a wide spectrum of structures, including specialist projects such as trade fair stands, smaller experimental buildings, and lightweight building envelopes and roofs.

Conception & Editing: Frank Heinlein 
Camera & Cutting: Paul Levin Rohde
Photos & Renderings: Foster + Partners, London; Limak, Ankara; Werner Sobek, Stuttgart