Report on The Scottish Parliament Building (Edinburgh) Assignment

Report on The Scottish Parliament Building (Edinburgh) - Assignment Example The building was officially opened by the great Queen Elizabeth on 9th October, 2004. The first debate to be held in the building was on 7th September, 2004. Since its construction, the building has been successful in achievement of its objectives and has won various awards as well as the Sterling Prize of 2005. Construction of Scottish Parliament Building The Scottish parliament building design has been rated among the most innovative in British even to date (Heaphestus, 2011, p.17). This is because of the materials used to make it, comprised of a mixture of oak, granite and steel. The building is also a combination of many buildings, showing diverse architectural styles. However, the construction of the building was not easy. It brought up heated arguments and faced very strong criticisms. The construction company received criticisms from the media, politicians and the general Scottish public. This did not hinder its completion and today, it is the most adored building whose story and attractive nature continue to attract millions of people. Due to the criticisms and the political environment surrounding the construction of the building, Scottish parliament building was completed three years later than the planned time (Dainty, 2006, p. 179). According to plans, the building was estimated to cost around 40million and be completed by 2001. This was not the case as it cost 414million and was completed in the year 2003. The Scottish parliament building was constructed with features which ensure its sustainability. To begin with, the building was constructed on Brownfield which has good proximity to public transport and the hubs. These have been seen to be very sustainable. The building also has solar panels, which assist in saving energy up to 80%, the building thus relies more on its renewable sources of energy than the purchased electricity. The building possesses features, which are linked to land and nature. It has motifs which are leaf shaped and its roof n ear the garden lobby. The debating chamber has large windows. While one is inside the building, you will not fail to notice the link of land reinforced using Scottish rock like granite on the walls and gneiss. Sycamore and oak is also used in its furniture’s construction. Management of the Project There has been sound management of the Scottish parliament building project (Alec & Burnside, 2010, p.142.). This achievement however, was arrived at, after a bitter struggle which saw the cost of the entire project multiply over ten times of the original estimate. It also delayed three years behind time schedule. The fact that there were changes in major design and costs of the project, the management of the project was in question and a commission of enquiry was set to investigate into the matter. Right from its inception, the management foreseeing the construction received constant pressure as to the location, design, architect and the company awarded the contract of constructing the building. Despite these, the building has been very instrumental in representing national identity and uniting the Scottish people, their landscape, Edinburgh city and the culture. Taking into consideration uniqueness of the project, the project manager was questioned as to whether he provided the best

Engineering The palms in Dubai aka 8th wonder of the world Essay

Engineering The palms in Dubai aka 8th wonder of the world - Essay Example The Islands add about 1, 600 km to Dubai’s coastline and have already been termed as the eighth wonder of the world. The three islands facilitate over 100 luxury hotels and a large number of residential and entertainment centers [1]. This report presents an analysis of one of the best engineering marvels, the Palm Islands project. The report will first give a background of the project, including the construction process, and then discuss the challenges faced by the engineering team. The impacts of this mega project on the local environment and the coastal eco system will also be discussed in detail. Table of Contents Abstract 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Reasons for construction of the Palm Islands 4 Construction Process 4 Curving the land 5 Engineering Challenges 6 Environmental Impact 8 Project Result 9 Conclusion 9 References 11 Introduction The UAE is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies. This country has witnessed immense investments in the construction industry hence becoming the largest construction market in the GCC [2]. According to Noack [3], the country’s construction industry managed to record a strong development between 2007 and 2009 despite the global financial distress. In 2009, the industry contributed approximately 8% to the country’s GDP. ... An island is made up of piles of lava rising above the water level. Technically, the Palm islands are manmade peninsulas made of sand dredged from the Persian Gulf [4]. Among the three islands, the Palm Deira is the largest and is also the largest artificial island in the world. Construction was commissioned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The islands were constructed by Jan De Nul and Van Oord, the former being a Belgian company and the latter a Dutch company, with each settlement shaped like a palm tree. Palm Jumeriah was the first island to be constructed. Its construction commenced in June 2001. Also situated on an artificial island in Dubai is the Burj al Arab. This is a luxury hotel standing 280 meters from Jumeriah beach. It is the world’s fourth tallest hotel and has a private curved bridge connecting it to the main land [5]. Reasons for construction of the Palm Islands The Palm Island is unquestionably one of the most ambitious and enterprising ventures to h ave ever been imagined and constructed. The core purpose of the entire construction of the islands was to increase the tourism sector in Dubai. This was to be achieved by providing a tourist destination that stands out from the rest, brimming with world class hotels, upscale amenities and hundreds of miles of beaches all in one unique place [2]. The other objectives of the construction project were to complete reclamation of land and as a result, achieve pioneer status as well as fame. The reclamation would then allow for construction of hotels and housing facilities. This would involve many foreign investors and hence improve Dubai’s international recognition [3]. Construction Process Construction of The Palms began in mid 2001 [5]. The Islands are made of sand