What Has The World Been Upto? Iconic Infrastructure Edition
As we welcome 2023, we also recall how in the past year, the world of construction has produced bridges that broke records, underwater roundabouts, and a historic theatre that raised the roof.
But with the introduction of desert skyscrapers, amazing Formula 1 course, an entirely new city districts, the year ahead appears likely to be even more stunning. The biggest industry in the world is about to do even more incredible things.
Here are some of the top construction/infrastructure projects that will be completed this year.
Aquatics Centre
Olympics: one of the most esteemed sporting occasions a nation can host is also one of the most expensive.
In the past, host cities have been chosen in significant part due to their grand ambitions for enormous construction projects and citywide development initiatives. However, in recent years, similar actions have come under fire, particularly when stadiums end up being abandoned.
But with the Paris 2024 Olympics, where sustainability is a top priority, all of that is set to change. Amazingly, The Aquatics Centre is the sole permanent structure built for these games, and it is scheduled to be finished in 2023.
Toranomon-Azabudai District
The Toranomon-Azabudai District, a brand-new super-development in the humming commercial district of Minato, is emerging as a massive construction from the concrete jungle. With three large, mixed-use skyscrapers and a public area landscaped by Thomas Heatherwick, the intention is to create a city within a city.
The main tower, aptly known as The Main Tower, reached its height of 325 metres in 2022, making it both Tokyo’s first supertall skyscraper and the highest structure in all of Japan. Unlike most buildings, which tend to narrow near the top, this one maintains its substantial floor plate for the majority of its height.
Tokyo is in a seismic zone, and the structure is so sturdy that even if Tokyo is struck by an earthquake of magnitude 9, its occupants will be able to continue working there as a haven.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Although Las Vegas may have been the original choice for bizarre construction, the UAE has been making great efforts to catch up. The nation already has the tallest structure, the deepest pool, and a string of artificial islands that are formed like the globe; very soon, it will also have the largest aquarium.
More than 150 species of marine life will be housed in 58 million litres of the artificial ocean when SeaWorld Abu Dhabi opens later in 2023. You’ll be able to see them from viewpoints like the Endless Vista, a 20-meter-high window into the aquarium that spans several levels.
The actual aquarium itself comes next. How can such a large tank be constructed without collapsing under the weight of the water? The trick is that you avoid using glass. Since acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass and more malleable, it is the material of choice for the majority of aquariums. Acrylic can also be bent into many shapes.
Tun Razak Exchange
Staying in Asia, the Malaysian government devised a plan in 2010 to turn the country into a high-income country by 2020. (yes, now three years ago). The Tun Razak Exchange, Malaysia’s first specifically designed international financial hub, was a crucial component of the strategy.
The project was severely delayed by COVID, and a lot of the construction was also affected by Malaysia’s rigorous movement control order. However, the tallest building in South East Asia, Exchange 106, was finished in 2022, and in 2023, it will be joined by two huge residential buildings.
MSG Sphere
The Grand Prix may be a recent addition, but Vegas has been at the forefront of eye-catching architecture for much over a century. There are many world premieres and replica buildings there.
It is the largest spherical construction on Earth, at over 100 metres tall and almost 160 metres wide.
Four concrete cores joined by reinforced steel form this monstrous structure. The 11,000-tonne roof was constructed using tensioned ring beams that were added on top.
It’s difficult to construct a movie screen with a resolution of 19,000 by 13,500 pixels. It was recently revealed that the price of the sphere has increased to around $2.2BN as a result of supply chain problems and inflation.
Iconic Tower
Few places have a better track record for mega projects than Egypt, which also has an iconic structure in the desert. No, the Iconic Tower, a brand-new skyscraper, is not the Great Pyramid of Giza. Its construction started in 2019 and was completed in 2021 at a height of 393 metres, making it Africa’s highest structure and its first ultra-tall skyscraper.
It is being constructed as the focal point of Egypt’s new administrative capital’s business area. The district’s 20 projected skyscrapers, which are being constructed at an estimated cost of USD 3BN, will include the tower when it opens in 2023.
308 Exhibition Street
But do you know what’s superior to a brand-new, sparkling skyscraper? Two brand-new buildings would be nice. That’s what was constructed in Melbourne, Australia, at 308 Exhibition Street, and one of the most magnificent sky bridges we’ve ever seen connects the two towers.
Although sky bridges are not very novel, they are becoming a more elaborate means to distinguish skyscrapers from a very lofty population. At 308 Exhibition Street, a luxurious skybridge with gold trim will connect a hotel tower and a residential tower at the 46th level, providing access between the two.
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Fasten your seat belts as you move from one high-speed project to the next because this year will mark the debut of the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix.
We’ll witness some of the quickest automobiles in the world race along Las Vegas’ renowned strip in November 2023. The 6.12-kilometre circuit will have 17 turns, a chicane, and three high-speed straits that will let drivers travel at up to 212 mph.
The difficulty of staging a race in a densely populated region or Formula 1 is not new to The B1M, and Las Vegas will be no exception. Maintaining high-speed action firmly on the race track is one of the most critical jobs for construction teams since safety is paramount.
To accomplish this, 4,000 concrete barriers that each weigh more than three and a half tonnes of reinforced concrete are being built. Although Las Vegas’s traffic isn’t particularly bad compared to other big cities, you can be sure that for a few days later this year, there won’t be any traffic.
Conclusion
Infrastructure is more than ever playing a significant role in shaping economies, attracting foreign investments and paving the path for smart and sustainable cities. Now that the COVID-19 blow seems a tad bit softened, countries are going to dive in full scale into developing some of the most iconic and elaborate infrastructure projects to boost their respective industries, economies and different sectors, especially the tourism sector.
