The
international team who created the London Eye were reunited on Brighton seafront on 24 June 2014 as they prepare to build the Brighton i360, the tallest visitor
observation attraction in the UK outside of London, designed by architects
Marks Barfield.
The
team comprising of engineers and contractors Hollandia from Holland, Poma from
France, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc (Jacobs), Marks Barfield architects from
London and locally-based civil contractor JT Mackley and structural engineers Hemsley
Orrell Partnership (HOP) had a planning meeting at the Hilton Brighton
Metropole, gearing up to start construction next week.
David
Marks and Julia Barfield, creators of the Brighton i360 and the London Eye,
said, “We have the opportunity to create something truly unique and of
international renown here in Brighton and Hove.
We are excited to be working again with this top team and we all look
forward to seeing the opening of the attraction in summer 2016.”
The
i360 passenger pod is 18 metres in diameter and has a capacity of up to 200
people at a time. The viewing pod will provide a 360 degree view through curved
glass and will travel smoothly up from street level up to 138 metres above sea
level before returning to beach level. With an aspect ratio of 40:1 (height to
girth), the tower is a feat of cutting edge engineering combined with
innovative technology and elegant design to create the futuristic visitor
attraction on the Brighton seafront.
The
engineering structure, which is in effect a vertical cable car but on a
magnificent scale, was designed by Jacobs, a global provider of technical
professional and construction services with experience in major leisure
facility projects, including visitor attractions and passenger carrying rides. Jacobs
and local engineering firm HOP will manage the project.
Main
contractor Hollandia, who built the London Eye structure, will be responsible
for the construction and erection of the steel tower in sections named ‘cans’.
The tower will be constructed by jacking up each steel ‘can’, placing the next
underneath until the full height of the tower is reached. This method of
erection is less weather dependent than using tall cranes. The steel ‘cans’ for
the tower will be transported by sea and arrive on Brighton Beach in spring to
early summer 2015.
Nardo
Hoogendijk, managing director of Hollandia, said, “We are very proud to be
involved in such a project, following our successful partnership on the London
Eye. We are excited to be reunited with the same team again to create another
inspiring visitor attraction.”
Poma,
who built the 32 London Eye capsules, is a French company which manufactures cable-driven lift systems,
including funiculars, aerial tramways, people movers, and surface lifts. They are responsible for the
construction of the i360 pod, which will be large enough to contain 200
visitors with a birds eye view standing side by side.
Francis
Charamel, President of Sigma, the division of Poma responsible for this
project, said, “Poma is very pleased to be associated with this unique project
and we’re extremely grateful that David Marks has put this confidence in us,
following our long and successful partnership.”
JT
Mackley, who will be carrying out the ground-works and building the i360
conference centre, were founded in 1926 and are based just outside of Brighton
and bring with them a wealth of local experience of coastal and seafront
construction.
Tony
Camilleri, managing director of JT Mackley, said, “We are very much looking
forward to bringing our local knowledge and coastal experience to the project
and to working with this international team on what will become a world famous
landmark.”
The
Brighton i360 will create a moving observation tower experience incorporating a
restaurant, retail shop, exhibition space and conference facilities at beach
level. The attraction will be run by
Brighton i360 Ltd, who’s CEO is tourism expert Eleanor Harris.
About Brighton i360
At
162 metres high, and with an observation pod rising to 138 metres, the i360
will be the tallest observation tower outside London, offering a new
perspective on the fun loving seaside city of Brighton. Sited at the root end
of the historic West Pier on Brighton’s seafront, the i360 has a slender,
elegant design, with a futuristic pod allowing 200 visitors at a time to enjoy
the surrounding view as it slowly unfolds. The visitor centre incorporates a
400 seat restaurant; a shop; exhibition space; and conference and event
facilities.
Twitter: @TheBrightoni360
Facebook: Brighton-i360
Pinterest: Brightoni360
About Marks Barfield ArchitectsFounded in 1989 by
Julia Barfield and David Marks, Marks Barfield Architects is the award winning
team behind the creation of the London Eye. The practice received the Queen’s
Award for Enterprise in April 2003 in recognition of the outstanding innovation
in design of the London Eye. Marks Barfield’s approach is based on delivering
excellence and creating gentle landmarks.
@marksbarfield
About Jacobs
Jacobs is one of the world’s largest
and most diverse providers of technical professional and construction services.
Over the years, Jacobs’ partnerships have helped the company develop an wide
range of technical expertise to better serve a variety of clients in multiple
industries.
About Hollandia
Hollandia
has built a reputation as a leader in offshore construction and other
structural steel projects through its consistent track record regarding performance
and expertise. Hollandia is active in a wide range of markets and segments such
as offshore, petrochemicals, oil and gas, infrastructure, and high-rise
buildings. In the UK Hollandia are best known for constructing the steel
structures for the Gherkin (Swiss Rea building); the London Eye; and Wembley
Stadium.
About Poma
Poma
is Europe’s leading cable car manufacturer. Based in France with more than 70
years of experience. Poma were responsible for constructing the 32 ‘capsules’
and drive system on the London Eye.
About JT Mackley
Sussex based
construction firm who provide a comprehensive range of services and have a
wealth of experience in costal construction projects. Brighton projects have
included construction of the storm overflow sewer on Brighton Beach for
Southern Water; reconstruction of the Brighton beach colonnades and carousel;
coastal maintenance on Brighton beach from Shoreham Harbour to Rottingdean;
strengthening works for Brighton Pier; strengthening works for the West Pier
prior to the fire.
About Hemsley Orrell
Partnership
Hemsley Orrell Partnership (HOP) is a multi-disciplinary
practice of consulting civil and structural engineers at the forefront of high
quality building and engineering projects on both a national and international
level. HOP have particular specialisms in coastal projects and are based in
Hove.
