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Canberra theatre centre design concept

Architectus, Henning Larsen & Arup Announced as the Consortium to Transform Canberra Theatre Centre

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Canberra theatre centre design concept

 

Australian architecture and design firm Architectus, international studio Henning Larsen and global consultants Arup have been chosen as the winning consortium to transform the Canberra Theatre Centre into a vibrant, multi-event, all-inclusive space that will, in consultation with First Nations peoples, be the anchor project for the future of Canberra’s Civic and Cultural District into an internationally recognised arts precinct.

 

The design vision for the Canberra Theatre Centre is an environment that reflects and represents diverse cultures and voices. An internationally recognised cultural precinct with impeccable design credentials that serves as a new community meeting place for Canberrans, and a home for artists from across the globe. The winning tender included early preliminary designs that depict a new theatre building with a bold and sophisticated façade treatment, and which references to the formal landmarks of Canberra.

 

Architectus Principal and Public Sector Leader, Dr Stephen Long said, “Our collective is thrilled to be working alongside the ACT Government to deliver a world-class experience that has the potential to fuel the creative spirit of Canberra.

 

“We will approach the design process through the lens of the audience and the performers. We will continue to work from the inside out to create a National theatre with an international reputation. We will also work from the outside in to create a theatre that is enmeshed in the city and landscape, one that holds its place in the context of Canberra’s ensemble of National culture and arts buildings and brings vibrancy to the Canberra Civic and Cultural District. We seek to create a project that is an exemplar of elegance, function and sustainability.”

 

Canberra theatre centre with render

 

Henning Larsen Partner and Design Director, Viggo Haremst said, “We are honoured to have been selected for the renewal of the Canberra Theatre Centre. Our design ambition is for the centre to become a national landmark and an international destination, drawing artists and audiences from around the world to Canberra’s new cultural heart.

 

“Together with Architectus and Arup, we’ve approached the design with great care considering the architecture and all other elements of design to create a vibrant and inclusive place that honours the history and beauty of the land. A cultural hub that celebrates the community, its diverse heritage and artistic expression, where people come together to share in the power of performance and storytelling.”

 

Arup, a world leader in theatre planning, will collaborate with Architectus and Henning Larsen to ensure the theatre has the form and function required to support the highest level of national and international touring shows.

 

Arup Australasian Arts & Culture Business Lead, Hannah Slater said, “We are excited to be working in collaboration with Architectus and Henning Larsen on this landmark project that embeds dialogue and creation in the civic heart of Canberra.

 

Canberra theatre centre design concept theatre interior

 

“Our design approach will provide the opportunity for the project to knit the stories of this place into the city through establishing a transparent, connected and inviting Centre. Arup provides diverse technical engineering skills and detailed Theatre Architecture expertise, contributing to the realisation of this ambition.”

 

The team shares a long history of delivering globally significant cultural projects including the multi-award-winning Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland by Henning Larsen and Arup, and Architectus and Arup collaborated on the recently opened Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern Building. Architectus and Henning Larsen also work together on several high-profile commercial projects in Sydney and Brisbane.

Bentley Systems to Host Infrastructure Leaders at the Year in Infrastructure 2019 Conference in Singapore

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The structural design of the Marina Bay Sands was done by Arup and was the 2010 Year in Infrastructure Award winner for Innovation in Structural Engineering

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions and digital twin cloud services for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure will host its Year in Infrastructure 2019 Conference and awards ceremony at one of the most iconic buildings in Asia, the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

 

 

Advancing BIM through Digital Twins is the theme of this year’s conference, which takes place 21 to 24 October, 2019.

The Year in Infrastructure Conference is an annual global gathering of leading executives of infrastructure design, construction, and operations focused on best practices and technologies for going digital. This year’s conference features nearly 100 speakers and more than 150 informative sessions including keynotes by leading industry experts, user success stories, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and technology demonstrations.

Dr. Ayesha Khanna, co-founder and CEO of ADDO AI, is a keynote speaker for the Year in Infrastructure 2019 Conference

Dr. Ayesha Khanna, co-founder and CEO of ADDO AI, an artificial intelligence (AI) advisory firm headquartered in Singapore, is one of the guest keynote speakers for this year’s conference. Dr. Khanna has been a strategic advisor on artificial intelligence, smart cities, and fintech to clients including SMRT, SOMPO, and Smart Dubai. She was also named one of South East Asia’s groundbreaking female entrepreneurs by Forbes magazine in 2018.

Keith Clarke, chairman of the board for UK-based Forum for the Future, is the other featured guest keynote speaker. Clarke is a chartered architect with more than 40 years of experience in construction and engineering and was formerly the chief executive of the global engineering and design consultancy firm, Atkins. He is a non-executive director for Sirius Minerals plc, chair of Future Cities Catapult and Tidal Lagoon Power plc, vice president of the Institute of Civil Engineers, patron of the Environmental Industries Commission at Oxford, and has honorary fellowships from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Structural Engineers, and Cardiff University. He is also visiting professor for sustainable design at Aston University.

Attendees will hear from other industry thought leaders and learn about technologies and best practices that are shaping the future of infrastructure delivery and operations. Speakers from Bentley’s strategic partner organizations, including Microsoft, Siemens, and Topcon will participate in technology demonstrations, presentations, and discussions on numerous topics.

New to this year’s conference are ACCELERATE sessions led by Bentley’s application experts. Featuring more than 20 topics, the sessions give infrastructure experts exclusive insights into how their organizations can master the latest enhancements and key capabilities of Bentley applications to help drive efficiency through multidiscipline workflows.

Attendees can learn best practices through Academies Day sessions led by industry experts. Academies Day features six sessions: digital advancement, construction, constructioneering, research, reality modeling, and process industries. The academies team will also conduct live, interactive sessions in the Technology Pavilion throughout the conference.

In addition, the 2019 finalists in Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure Awards program will present their projects during industry-focused forums — Buildings and Campuses, Digital Cities, Industrial Infrastructure, Rail and Transit, Roads and Bridges, and Energy and Water Utilities. Winners will be announced at a gala and awards program at the conclusion of the conference.

Chris Barron, chief communications officer for Bentley Systems, said, “We’re pleased to be hosting our Year in Infrastructure conference and awards gala in Singapore again this year. Singapore is a leader in innovative use of technology for the delivery and operations of infrastructure and was named a Smart City in 2018, so it is a fitting and inspirational location to host an event that explores the innovations and best practices of technology use for outstanding infrastructure projects around the world. And we’re proud to note that the extraordinary Marina Bay Sands structural system was designed by Arup using Bentley software and is a spectacular example of excellence in structural design and engineering.

Arup Expands Cities Capabilities across Southeast Asia with New Leadership Appointments

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Arup, a global design and consulting firm, announces two new additions to the senior leadership team with the appointment of Andy Hodgson, as Singapore’s Advisory Services Leader and Tony Chan, as Associate Principal, Southeast Asia’s Cities and Planning team. Together they will support the firm in expanding its capabilities across Southeast Asia, furthering the aspirations of the Arup Future Cities Hub.

Andy Hodgson

“Andy and Tony both bring strong experience working in Asia, furthering our mission to deliver the best quality work for clients and shape better cities across the region. They are both solid integrators of multidisciplinary teams and have a long track record of leading sizeable projects and successful teams. We are excited to have them on board,” said Marianne Foley, Consulting Sector Leader, Arup.

With more than 17 years of experience in infrastructure advisory, Hodgson specialises in providing strategic counsel to a range of clientele including developers, investors and government institutions. As the Advisory Services Leader at Arup, he will help clients across the region formulate infrastructure strategies, assess technical and commercial viability of investments, unlock enterprise value and set long term plans to achieve economic development aspirations. He previously served as director and regional transport advisory lead for Atkins Acuity in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

“I am delighted to be joining Arup at such an exciting time for infrastructure development across Asia. Arup is an established leader in delivering large, technically challenging and strategic city-shaping projects globally. I’m really looking forward to building on Arup’s reputation with my range of experience in this area.

Tony Chan

With a strong background of 19 years in sustainable urban development, Chan specialises in leading multidisciplinary teams to efficiently integrate masterplanning and urban design with infrastructure projects. Tony joins from CPG Singapore and was previously a founding member of Arup’s Planning, Development and Design team in Shanghai, where he led various award- winning projects. Tony has since played a key role in a number of pivotal projects across the region such as the creation of the Eastern Economic Corridor in Thailand.

“With cities facing a myriad of physical and geopolitical challenges, I’m looking forward to help clients define and develop urban projects that can be delivered in an integrated and resilient manner. Arup’s commitment to shape thriving, healthy and successful cities is very aligned with what I hope to achieve in this space,” elaborated Chan.

Arup Unveils First Future Cities Hub to Drive Innovation and Growth in Southeast Asia

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Arup, a global design and consulting firm recently announced the launch of its first Arup Future Cities Hub on its 50th anniversary in Singapore.

Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Arup Future Cities Hub will serve as a focal point for Arup’s consulting expertise in advisory, planning and design across Southeast Asia. With Singapore as a springboard, Arup will be working with public agencies and private sector entities on urban development, transport, social and infrastructure in the region.

“Singapore is the home to the best talent, underpinned by high quality infrastructure and regional connectivity. With EDB’s support, we are excited to launch the Arup Future Cities Hub on our 50th anniversary in Singapore,” said Tan Yoong Heng, Arup Singapore’s Office Leader.

He added, “Arup’s vision to shape a better world is closely aligned with Singapore’s economic transformation ambitions from a trade hub to innovation hub. We aim to bring the same bold, progressive and innovative city planning vision and goal to our clients. Our ambition is to bring the design leadership that we have established in Singapore to the future developments in cities across Southeast Asia.”

Southeast Asia is undergoing a process of hyper urbanisation and with the urban populations expected to grow by another 100 million to reach 373 million people in 2030, urban infrastructure planning has become more critical than ever before. Cities in the region will need to address urbanisation challenges and plan for sustainable and resource-efficient infrastructures. 

Over the next five years, the Arup Future Cities Hub will focus on strengthening its advisory, planning, design and specialist consulting capabilities to address critical needs. Arup will also be growing its offerings in digital, advisory, urban mobility, infrastructure masterplanning, resilience and sustainability consulting.

Cities and Planning Leader, Neil Walmsley said, “Singapore is a natural choice to build Arup’s Future Cities Hub. The nation has a strong ambition to develop its highly skilled workforce and economic leadership in the region – and we are excited to contribute to nurturing designers, planners, engineers and strategists of the future. The goal for our Future Cities team is to help Singapore develop a resilient, sustainable and smart future, while exporting best practices to the region.”

The Future Cities team will be expected to grow to more than 60 staff, with a balanced, diverse and quality team that combines local knowledge and understanding with a broad range of international expertise by 2023.