 |
| Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us |
|
BRAZILIAN ARCHITECT RECEIVES GUSTAV LINDENTHAL MEDAL FOR MONUMENTAL PRESIDENT JK BRIDGE
The award, sponsored by Bayer Polymers LLC, was presented at the International Bridge Conference at the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers by Peter Vanacker, head of Bayer's Polymers Solutions Division. One of five prestigious awards given yearly at the International Bridge Conference, the Gustav Lindenthal Medal was created in 1999 to honor an outstanding achievement that best demonstrates innovation coupled with aesthetic merit and harmony with the environment. Although the JK Bridge is less than one year old (the inauguration date was December 15, 2002), it is already viewed as more than merely a transportation link; in this short time it has become an integralpart of Brasilia's landscape. Construction began in June 2000 as part of the Orla Project, which is aimed at reversing the privatization of Paranóa Lake's edges. The 1,200 meter-long bridge, which features a polyurethane topcoat, has three central arches, each spanning 240 meters, with two support points for each arch. The arches cross diagonally over the deck, which is supported by steel stays connected to the arches. At their highest point, the arches stand 60 meters tall, and there are a number of complementary spans 48 meters long. These diagonally-crossing arches differentiate the JK Bridge from traditional arch designs and give it a visually stunning appearance. One juror described the bridge as 'a beautiful sculpture rising from the lake;' while another was reminded of a 'stone skipping across the lake.' 'Bayer is pleased to present Mr. Chan with the Gustav Lindenthal award,' said Vanacker. 'The JK Bridge illustrates the groundbreaking innovation, style and aesthetics, and harmony with the surroundings and environment that have come to define this award.' Gustav Lindenthal was one of America's most celebrated bridge engineers, and is widely admired for his vision and foresight during the technology boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Participants of the International Bridge Conference can enjoy a spectacular example of Lindenthal's work. The Smithfield Street Bridge, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and National Historic Landmark, is a double lenticular truss spanning the Monongahela River. Completed in 1883 as Pittsburgh's first river bridge, it remains a popular passage today, serving more than 18,000 commuters. The Bayer's Polymers Solutions Division offers raw materials for high-performance polyurethanecoatings that protect structures such as bridges, buildings, and major tourist attractions throughout the United States. It also provides polyurethane resins for industrial floor coatings, inorganic pigments for concrete, paint and plastics, and organic pigment for architectural applications. http://www.bayermaterialscience.com
|
| ©2008 New Materials International |