Monumental Project: The Metrosol Parasol

My second post on interesting construction from the Iberian Penninsula  is  highlighted by a close look at one of the more innovative projects under construction in the world today - the Metrosol Parasol in Seville. Our group was fortunate to be invited on a tour of this incredible project by Arup, the general contractor on the job. The design for the project was done by J. Mayer H. Architects, know for their funky designs and cutting edge materials, and is supposed to represent a sort of organic tree canopy over what used to be a car park which is now being transformed into a public park.

Who Says Parking Can't be (kinda) Cool?

As part of its plan to expand graduate research facilities and living quarters on campus, Virginia Tech has identified the need for compact, infill development and therefore the necessity of several new stacked parking structures. To minimize cost and the disruption caused by taking a whole parking lot out of service, the University has opted for a design/build project delivery method for the first of the new parking structures to be constructed. This delivery method will be combined with precast concrete panel construction to improve the speed and productivity of the construction crews on site. The project will be completed in a little under 1 year, and will add hundreds of new spaces to the existing parking stock on campus. The following are some photos of the ongoing construction: